Transcendentalism

 Thinking Activity

Transcendentalism

This blog is written as a part of the thinking activity assigned by Megha ma'am department of English, MKBU on the topic Transcendentalism. In this blog I am going to relate two movies with the 19th century American movement Transcendentalism.

What is 'Transcendentalism'?

    Transcendentalism is a 19th-century movement of writers and philosophers in New England who were loosely bound together by adherence to an idealistic system of thought which is based on 

• A belief in the essential unity of all creation
• The innate goodness of humanity
• The supremacy of insight over logic 
• Experience for the revelation of the deepest truths

    It is an American literary, philosophical, religious, and political movement of the early nineteenth century, centered around Ralph Waldo Emerson. Other important transcendentalists were Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Lydia Maria Child, Amos Bronson Alcott, Frederic Henry Hedge, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, and Theodore Parker. 'TRANSCENDENTALISM' is a very formal word that describes a very simple idea. People, men and women equally, have knowledge about themselves and the world around them that "transcends" or goes beyond what they can see, hear, taste, touch or feel.

Eat Pray Love:

Eat Pray Love is a 2010 American biographical romantic drama film starring Julia Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert, based on Gilbert's 2006 memoir of the same name. Ryan Murphy co-wrote and directed the film, which was released in the United States on August 13, 2010.

The movie like it's title is decided into three parts along with the journey of the protagonist Elizabeth. She in the initial part of the movie is to much foody, then she turns to pray - Spirituality and the story is being resolved by love. 

The movie talks about the concept of Transcendentalism in many ways. She comes to India in persuit of peace. But in a way she gets what she has left. But we can also say that now she is a more spiritual being. 

The pursuit of happiness:

     The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 American biographical drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino and starring Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman. Smith's son Jaden Smith co-stars, making his film debut as Gardner's son, Christopher Jr. The screenplay by Steven Conrad is based on the best-selling 2006 memoir of the same name written by Gardner with Quincy Troupe. It is based on Gardner's nearly one-year struggle being homeless. 

       The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner tells the story of a struggling salesman who never gave up trying to find true happiness for himself and his son. He faced many challenges in his life but overcame adversity to succeed above all odds.

           In this film the transcendentalist belief of non-conformity is shown by the main character, Chris Gardner when he overcomes various obstacles in order to end the struggle both him and his son must endure.

           Throughout the whole film Chris maintains a positive attitude and his passion to move on and triumph in many of life's obstacles in order to climb the chain of "Happiness". At once in the movie, while he is playing basketball with his son, Chris tells his son he doesn't have much of a chance to play in the professional leagues. After a short pause Chris tells his son

 "Don't ever let somebody tell you, 'you can't do something' not even me. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can't do something themselves they want to tell you, you can't do it. You want something, you go get it. period." 

        This quote proves non-conformity and transcendentalist thought. This quote allows the viewer to realize Chris's aspiration to overcome poverty and his intention to give his son a better life. This quote is in a sense a main theme of the movie, Chris is faced constantly with ovewhealming obstacles which he manages to overcome with dedication and by not giving in to poverty or his situation.  

The male protagonist is from the very beginning is in search of happiness. He wants to provide his son everything. So in all his life he is in search.

                   Christ in between admitts phase of life in pursuit of happiness and also gives it various titles:

• Riding the Bus
• Being Stupid
• Internship
• Paying Taxes
• Happiness

                  These phases of his life are essential to consider the chase of each and every individual. The initial frame of  the movie is the whole or the essence of the movie. 

In this frame the camera plays the vital role ana here at the very beginning the title has been revealed with some text and then suddenly it moves upon a little boy who is sleeeping and then a person comes to see him. This initial part reveals the plot of the story which is based on a father's desire to bring happiness to his son which he couldn't get.

             Chris is time and again reminds to a person at 'Daycare' to amend spelling of Happiness because it was "Happyness". But what is happiness is not certain. He is selling Scanner machine by which heis earning. Standing in front of the stock broker's office, he observes that everyone is looking happy and have happy life(aparently). So to get happiness he tries his hand. But while doing so he has to fisrt go through training and after the final test out of 20, one can get job. He loses his home, his wife also left him but the only hope for him that gives him strength is his son Christopher. At the end of the movie he gets the job and so Happiness. After beginning his career as Dean Witter, Chris Garner went on to found the investment firm Garner Rich. At the end when he and his son go to his home he asks his son, "How many planets are there in the universe?" His son says 7 and replies 9 and the last question of him is also interesting,"Who is the King of Junngle?" And his son replies "Gorrilla" and he says Lion. The last words are "Knock Knock", which as per my understanding, is the happiness which is knoking everyone of us door of life. 

In the movie there is a wonderful dialogue between Chris and his son Christopher. Christopher tells a story to his father:

One day a man was drowning in the water and a boat came by and said, "Do you need any help?" He said "No thank you. God will save me." Then another boat came and said, "Do you need any help?" He again said "No thank you. God will save me." Then he drowned and he went to heaven and asked God, "God why don't you save me?" And God said, "I sent you two big boats, You dummy."

If we consider this dialogue in terms of transcendentalism, we can connect the dots of it with the struggle of Chris who is in pursuit of happiness.  

       He referred to the moment in his life as "happiness. Chris's non-conformity allows him to succeed and become a successful owner of a multi-million dollar brokerage firm.

In a way, the movie deals with the concept of transcendentalism in a much broader way which is Happiness of an individual.

I hope this blog will help you to have better understanding of the these movies.

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