Contemporary Example of Transcendentalism

Contemporary Example of Transcendentalism 

WaLL-E

     I have found that the Pixar movie, WaLL-E, and transcendentalism, share many similarities. WaLL-E represents transcendentalism through the ideas and beliefs of Emerson and Thoreau.

     Both WaLL-E and Emerson use nature. The whole plot of WaLL-E is centered around the condition of the Earth. In WaLL-E, humans did not care about nature, but when WaLL-E found the plant in the trash, he did everything he could to protect the plant. A quote from Emerson that expresses  the moment when WaLL-E finds the plant is, “Each moment of the year has its own beauty.”

 

Individualism: WaLL-E took being different from the rest of society to his advantage, and never conformed to society. By him never conforming to society, he caused a revolutionary change. Emerson states, "To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature" (Emerson 180). WaLL-E can "see" nature. By finding the plant, WaLL-E found hope in the world.

 

Optimism: Due to WaLL-E's short circuit, he was curious and brave, yet at the same time adventurous and successful.

 

Self-Reliance: WaLL-E stuck to his true self and did not let anything, even society change him.  Thoreau's "Walden" explains this perfectly by saying, "I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours" (Thoreau 208). By not letting society change him, WaLL-E was able to change society.

 

Intuition: While going into the unknown world, WaLL-E never questioned himself on what he was doing. He followed his instinct and ended up bringing human life back to Earth. WaLL-E took finding the plant to an all new level for society then, he used the plant as a way to change life on Earth.