Acceptance and originality are keys to prosperity. In the novel O Pioneers! by Willa Cather, the protagonist Alexandra thrives in what seems to be a hopeless situation due to her strong beliefs. Alexandra has the beliefs of a transcendentalist. Transcendentalists rely on intuition. They also believe human truths can be found with a strong connection to nature, individuality is more important than conformity, and it is important to see the good in all people. Success in life can only be attained with a transcendental perspective. Life on the Divide is not an easy life for Alexandra Bergson. Unfortunately, her father dies and leaves her in charge of the farm and her brothers. While in charge, her brothers, Oscar and Lou, express great doubt about her farming techniques but she believes in the land. She cannot understand the doubt of her brothers because she has such great faith in the future of the Divide. This faith in the land drives Alexandra to be successful. If she did not trust that the land would flourish, she would have never succeeded. Alexandra is trying to explain to her brother Emil about her confidence in the land. “’We must …show more content…
She invites Ivar to work at her farm after it becomes prosperous. There are rumors around town that Ivar needs to be put into an insane asylum because many think he is not mentally stable. Alexandra tries to comfort Ivar after he hears these rumors, she says, “’Only don’t come to me again telling me what people say. Let people go on talking as they like and we will go on living as we think best’”(Cather 60). Alexandra does not judge Ivar for his spells and strange behaviors and is nothing but kind to him. She ensures that he is safe, and although people may judge her for letting Ivar work for her, his loyalty pays off. Ivar is a loyal employee who helps Alexandra to continue her work and have some stability on her ever-changing
A Soon to Be Transcendentalist What is a transcendentalist? How is Chris “Alexander” McCandless a “true” transcendentalist? A transcendentalist is someone who believes in a philosophy that consists of being a non-conformist, being one with nature, and rejecting materialism. Throughout Krakauer’s novel, Into the Wild, it just occurs that McCandless achieves all of the above.
Nature Is Real Life Society could stress us with fake desires but, “In the woods, we return to reason and faith.” (Emerson 243) In the book, Into the Wild, John Krakauer documents Chris McCandless, fighting to find truth in the nature away from society. Ralph Waldo Emerson's views of finding truth in nature include leaving society, noticing life around yourself, and understanding that nature is filled with truth. Chris McCandless is driven by the transcendentalist ideal of finding self-truth in nature.
Alexandra had multiple difficult struggles on the farm. She had crop failures, death of livestock, and was looked at with disgust as she was a woman who took charge of “male lead” jobs. As Cather said, “(Her) persistence was a fierce necessity” (Cather 1) During Raisman’s time in Gymnastics, her coach, Larry Nassar sexually abused her. Raisman decided she wouldn’t put up with it so she took the case to Capitol Hill and testified in front of the senate about her issues. Raisman was persistent in her beliefs and never backed down.
Samantha is Alexandra’s sidekick. She walks around in Alexandra’s shadow following her every order. She is often found doing Alexandra’s assignments as well as delivering messages to other students from her so-called superior.
Transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement that emphasizes themes of nature and self-reliance while going against society and materialism. Many transcendentalists including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are the creators of this movement impacting many others. Chris McCandles, the young and fearless main character, in Jon Jrakauer’s text Into the Wild, follows these transcendental leaders shown in his actions. Chris finds himself exploring throughout North America and reaching his goal to make it to Alaska. Like Thoreau, McCandles loves nature and finds it his “congratulation”, “greets everyday with joy”, and “follows his genius”.
In the book “O Pioneers!” Willa Cather discusses her views on the three philosophies of life. She makes it clear as to which one she personally adheres, from a Realistic, Romantic and Naturalistic view of the world. Cather uses many circumstances of each type of philosophy. Willa uses Romanticism lots of times in her story.
Transcendentalists were a movement of this time that had both its ups and downs. In other words failure and successes. When it comes to reform movements the things most people really care about is the success of it and if it made any real change to people during the time period. Transcendentalism had an effect on people of the time that really started something completely unheard of and misunderstood. What transcendentalists did was take what was known and look far beyond it.
“So many people live in unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation” (57). Chris McCandless was determined to not be one of those men, he strived for a life in solitude, away from the demands of society. For that reason he went on an epic transcendental experience that took him from Mexico to Alaska. Along the way, he met and made an impact on peoples’ lives, people like Wayne Westenberg and Ronald Franz. Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild discusses Chris’s journey, and makes the reader question Chris’s reasons for going out into the wild.
In the novel, “O Pioneers!”, the character Alexandra Bergson ties to the author, Willa Cather. When Cather wrote this story, she used a lot of her own characteristics to develop Alexandra. In the story, Alexandra learns that Realistic, Romantic, and Naturalistic views exist throughout everything one might go through in life, very similar to what Cather most likely experienced. Cather’s three philosophies on life go along with the topics of Realistic, Romantic, and Naturalistic. I personally think Cather had more Realistic tendencies in her writing and overall mindset.
Kevin Sun Mrs. Cohen English 2CP --D February 22, 2018 Another Perspective The film Into the Wild is based on the life of Chris McCandless, a young man who rejected the consumerist society of America in order to live a more simple life. Through his travels, Chris carried essays by Transcendentalist philosophers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, suggesting that McCandless is impacted by Transcendentalist ideals. Two key tenets of Transcendentalism that clearly influenced McCandless’ choices are the value of simplicity and the importance of self-reliance.
Holden Caulfield, in the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, is an ideal transcendental hero. Though the question here is to what extent is Holden a transcendental hero. Holden’s way of being can be hard to understand, he has those “soft” moments where he seeks for his sister for comfort, or his red hunting hat, but most of all, a baseball glove that belonged to his younger brother, Allie who passed away. Other time, it’s the complete opposite, he goes for cigarettes, or alcohol. Another way that helps him with his moments, is going out into nature and relaxing.
The characteristics of transcendentalism is individual vs society and the connection between human and nature. A subject of Into the Wild is individual vs society because Chris McCandless tends to desire to chase freedom and be alone rather than with people. In the last letter ever received from Everett Ruess, to his brother Waldo on November 11th, 1934. He explains that he wants to live in isolation.
In the 19th and 20th century transcendentalism was a new and exciting topic that caused tremendous controversy. In the novel Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless was a man with a very unique character. In more detailed words Chris McCandless was a transcendentalist. His actions and moods played a big part in his life, from beginning to end. He was a transcendentalist because of his self-reliance, confidence and non-conformity.
Ever since its creation, the United States of America has given people the opportunity to speak and practice their own philosophies and religion. As a prime example, transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement that gained followers during 1836-1860 that encouraged social reform, self-transformation, and people to rise above their immediate experiences. Developed by Ralph Waldo Emerson and lived by Henry David Thoreau, the essence of transcendentalism was to live life with simplicity and to elevate intuition and imagination over logical reasoning. However in today’s society, true transcendentalism is irrelevant and cannot be practiced.
Lena and Alex realized that the real enemy is not love but the government and its rules. As Lena and Alex realize that the real enemy is not love but the government and its rules they start to rebel and try to break out of the system. Aber sie rebellieren nicht für die Allgemeinheit sondern mehr für sich selbst und zu Gunsten ihres eigenen Lebens.