Dangers of Nonconformity

In the movie Dead Poets Society conformity is everywhere. The school thrives on all the students being the same and all the teachers teaching in the same old-fashioned way. The students who graduate from Welton go on to do great things and go to Ivy League schools. When Mr. Keating came, it was clear he was not like the other teachers. He did not look like the other teachers, he was not balding, and did not have gray hair. Though, his looks were just the beginning of how he was different. His teaching style was vastly different from the old and boring style of the other teachers. On the first day of his teaching, he the students rip out pages from their text books, something no other teacher would have asked them to do. The reason, because the introduction was all about how to read and score poetry, but Mr. Keating believed that poetry was from within, not something one could just read and score. Mr. Keating was trying to teacher the students to be different, and not conform to what the school and their parents wanted them to be, but it back fired on some of them.

When trying to follow Mr. Keating's advice, Neil went out and did something he really wanted to do, which trying out for a play. As it turned out, he was very good, and got the lead, but his father did not approve. Neil's father thought he should spend more time on academics, not on "silly things".  Neil did not quit the play though, and took Mr. Keating's advice to carry on with something he loved. During the performance, Neil's father came, and even though Neil was very good, his father did not see it as something that was a worth while way to spend time. When Neil's father took Neil home, his father sat him down, with Neil's mother, and said that they were taking him out of Welton. They were taking him out of Welton because his was not following orders. That night, Neil committed suicide. The school blamed Mr. Keating for Neil's death, and got the other boys who were in the Dead Poets Society to sign a paper saying that Mr. Keating encouraged them to do different things. If any of them said that they would not sign, they would have been kicked out of the school. Nonconformity has it dangerous, as shown in this movie. Mr. Keating lost his job, and Neil lost his life. If Mr. Keating had taught in the "normal" way, none of it would have happened. Though, Mr. Keating teaching in his unorthodox style, enriched the lives of the boys.

Modern Day Transcendentalists.

My sister, Allie, is a modern day transcedndentalist. She most of the time does not care what people think of her, and she does not try to fit in. She is 20 years old, and studying early childhood education at college. Even though she is going into a profession that should probably have pretty conservative dress, Allie has 9 piercings, and dies her hair black. Now, she does not look scary, even though that description might make it seem that way, but it is not the image one gets when thinking of a grade 2 teacher. My sister not only does not care what people think of her when it comes to her choice of hair colour and piercings, she pretty much does not care what people think of her at all. She will make funny faces in public, across the room to me sometimes, so others will think she is making the faces at them. Allie will embarrass herself sometimes, and embarrass those around her, but for her she does not see it as embarrassment, she sees it as being herself. She will fall down, then make fun of herself for it.

She just does not care what others think of her.While Allie might fall down sometimes, she is always trying to pick peoples spirits up. Of course she can be mean sometimes, what sister isn't, but she really does have an ability to make others happy. Now usually the things that are funniest usually make her look like a fool, but that does not matter, because she is just being her. One time she found a cape in her closet, a Harry Potter cape to be exact, and she ran around with it for a good half hour. She was more excited about that cape then a 7 year old boy would have been, but that's just Allie being Allie.

Allie is a transcendentalist because she does not care what others think, she will be herself no matter who she is around, and what situation she is in.

Simplifying Life

It is not necessary to put oneself in isolation, like Henry David Thoreau did, just to simplify  life. In this modern age it ma seem difficult to simplify, but it is not impossible. By not relying so much on technology and not living in excess, one's life will become much simpler. As time goes on, these steps towards a simpler life will made one a better person. To make a simple life in this modern age, one must take time to oneself and be award of one's surroundings.


Taking time for oneself is one of the most difficult parts of simplifying life. It should be a time to just think, without the distraction of a cell phone, T.V., or computer.One should do something they enjoy during this time. like spending time with family or friends.The simplicity of spending time with family and friends without the distractions will make relationships better. Technology can make relationships much more complicated, because over text, or Facebook chat, one cannot tell if a person is angry, upset, or being sarcastic. By taking technology out of the picture, and taking time for oneself, a person can have a life that is much much simpler.
Being aware of one's surroundings is very important when i comes to living a more simple life. The simple act of riding a bike or taking the bus, will not only help the person, but it will also help the environment. Just driving a car a little ways has a big impact. Also, if one rides a bike, or takes the bus, gas would not be a worry. This way a person can be more green and have a simpler life.
Making life more simple is possible in this modern age. By putting down the technology, and spending time with family and friends, will help take away the complicated relationships and lead to a simpler life. When someone is aware of their surroundings, they will be more green, which will help simplify their lives, because one will not be worrying about mundane things, such as gas. These acts are something anyone can do, and they will make life more simple.