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"We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us."
-Henry David Thoreau

As society pushes further away from a life of simplicity and nature, materialism grows and in return, destroys nature; this picture displays the railroad imposing on nature(figuratively us in some sense).

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"But the walking of which I speak has nothing in it akin to taking exercise, as it is called, as the sick take medicine at stated hours—as the Swinging of dumb- bells or chairs; but is itself the enterprise and adventure of the day. If you would get exercise, go in search of the springs of life. Think of a man's swinging dumbbells for his health, when those springs are bubbling up in far-off pastures unsought by him!"
-Henry David Thoreau

The walker in the image, clearly not running, is observing the bright greenery and beautiful scenery; it fits the phrase "springs of life" as the sun shines brightly and adventures seem to be waiting.

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"Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child. The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood. His intercourse with heaven and earth, becomes part of his daily food."

-Ralph Waldon Emerson

The sun is reflected in the eyes of a person, whether it is a child or an adult remains unknown; but it's clear by the awe in one's eye that nature is far too captivating and only few can comphrend it's beauty.

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"And as the eye is the best composer, so light is the first of painters. There is no object so foul that intense light will not make beautiful. And the stimulus it affords to the sense, and a sort of infinitude which it hath, like space and time, make all matter gay. Even the corpse has its own beauty."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Graves hide the grotesque images of corpses, they are seen as a symbol of grief and death, words that are typically not associated with beauty; and yet Emerson's acknowledgment of a corpse's beauty recognizes the beauty a grave holds as it surrounds by the very definition of beauty, nature.

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“Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense; for the inmost in due time becomes the outmost,—— and our first thought is rendered back to us by the trumpets of the Last Judgment.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

The trumpets of the Last Judgment are valued by many as it's a person's final warning before the decision over the morality of their actions comes to question; Emerson is encouraging his audience to speak their mind and to worry when it's due time.

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Walt Whitman's poem and Dead Poet Society are more similar than one might think so; they are both written as cautions given to the audience warning them it's better to live your life to the fullest rather than following society's expectations. The unhappy ending of the movie and the hopeless tone of the poem seem like discouragement, but it's the hidden meaning between each piece of art that truly makes it so special. The theme of carpe diem ties in with the idea of appreciating life even if it's meaningless; existing is already a blessing as it gives you the ability to contribute your verse to society. I only could describe the positive attributes of both the movie and poem; I have deep respect for both their creators, and I only wish that Neil and Whitman could have had their happy endings.

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#2B. Dead Poet' Society Striking Element

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#2B. Dead Poet' Society Striking Element

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As Mr. Keating was fired and Charlie was expelled, it all seemed hopeless for the members of the Dead Poet Society; and yet, the impact of "Carpe Diem" and Mr. Keating's teaching became more for the boys than a simple lesson as this scene of the boys shows their thanks and respect for what they learned.

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#3A. Declaration of Self - Living to the Fullest

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#3A. Declaration of Self - Living to the Fullest

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My verse shall be, as cliche as it sounds, is to live the best life I could have; to "suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like" as Thoreau likes to describe it. I'll contribute to the world by being my best, an objective that falls barely higher than the line of the bare minimum yet is so easily missed by the population. I know that I will not be able to contribute to the world by going way and beyond, as Einstein had done with science or as Isaac Newton did with gravity; these were scenarios that only stayed as dreams and are for millions across the planet, one being me. A dream that has been tossed away for a much simpler and individualistic goal; rather than focusing on changing the lives of millions of people globally, I want to change the lives of those around me and mine. Change starts small, and as I continue to care for and help those people around me, I know I will be making a change to the people that have genuinely changed my life in return. I wish to expand further on my virtue, to not be a bystander but an activist; to help the community and world with the best of my efforts, a person who has yet to find their passion. It’s a journey that has yet to end; it’s only begun, and along the way, my goals and verse will continue to change.

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I witness the seeker become a weeper

As she flies against the turbulent currents slowing

Yet going and only digging deeper,

So close, so weary, so cold, yet still so distant.

Her ethereal wings, so young and meek, light up by the sun;

A fire remains in her heart, that had yet to be quenched,

She swoons and dreams, muttering easier said than done,

A butterfly with human dreams that is so entrenched.

Looking for a light that shines on all, yet clouded by

Sheep in the sky whom jump and cry.

Fellow wisps scandalized by her silent anarchy,

Feeding pollen to innocent yet corpse-like blooms;

Their role of all and nothing in the eyes of the mighty.

The convict is left strained and with gloom,

Her journey of autonomy only cut so short with duty

To a town so strict and dripping with doom.

Her bravery is one of spring beauty,

Yet locked in a gardener's room.

Her goodness spreads through her flaps;

As she wonders shall she ever be glad?

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#5A. Modern Transcendentalism - Women's Social Reform

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#5A. Modern Transcendentalism - Women's Social Reform

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History is a set of events that only continue to be repeated throughout centuries; women are still fighting for their rights, a century after their battle over finally being given the right to vote in 1920, yet in this instance, the fight is for the autonomy of their bodies.

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#myjourneytosimplelife

I have started my journey of wanting a simpler lifestyle that allows me to be closer to nature and myself; yoga is a new activity I added to my schedule to have an hour in my day in which I can think without worry and be one with myself.

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As the sun shines and glows, as my eyes flutter and glance, the fragrance of the flowers surrounds me; I'm at peace next to nature, next to a bush of bright blossoms, so simple and so sweet.

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The sky is so wide, the planet is so big; my journey to finding my verse is bigger than a school project, and 'tis a lie if I say I'm ready to begin.

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In a mess of lifeless clothes and bags, which attract no spectators, I stand there; I'm an individual, a person who is unique and sticks out, and with a heart so pure who is ready.

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#8A. Challenges in Living Out Transcendentalist Lifestyle

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#8A. Challenges in Living Out Transcendentalist Lifestyle

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As technology develops and the world becomes more interconnected, certain figures rise in social classes and challenge many transcendentalist views; there is no return to a life of simplicity as society discourages individualistic behaviors and bring out the worst in humanity with the few at the top almost controlling the whole globe.

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Rather than exploiting nature, humanity should try to build a stronger and more equal relationship with nature; this can lead to social learning from nature and be able to create a more open and unified community that encouraged individualism and self-reliance.

Thesis: Transcendentalism uses nature to teach individuals by guiding them on how to become better versions of themselves, thus creating self-reliant individuals who can think for themselves and be able to make society a better place for nature and humanity.

“...in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” (Self-Relience, Ralph Waldo Emerson)

“...the poet, the painter, the sculptor, the musician, the architect, seek each to concentrate this radiance of the world on one point, and each in his several works to satisfy the love of beauty which stimulates him to produce. Thus is Art, a nature passed through the alembic of man. Thus in art, does nature work through the will of a man filled with the beauty of her first works.” ("Beauty", Ralph Waldo Emerson)

“In my afternoon walk I would fain forget all my morning occupations and my obligations to Society. But it sometimes happens that I cannot easily shake off the village. The thought of some work will run in my head and I am not where my body is—I am out of my senses. In my walks I would fain return to my senses." (Walking, David Henry Thoreau)