Todd Anderson's Growth
Lesly Lopez
Mrs. Scapino
English III
5 October 2012
Todd Anderson’s Growth “I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived”(Thoreau). After reading this, Todd Anderson, from the movie The Dead Poets Society, realizes he does not want to die like this. Anderson arrives to an all-boys school, not knowing that his whole way of thinking was about to change. Before, he lived not for himself, but to please his parents by attempting to be like his successful brother. Living like this made him quiet and conscious of all of his actions. He has to think reasonably before doing anything too spontaneous. One would say this is the way of a Rationalist thinker. Throughout the class taught by an imaginative teacher named Mr. Keating, Todd Anderson slowly develops ideas that become actions of a true Romantic. Although Todd Anderson begins as a Rationalist thinker, his actions, which are inspired by Mr. Keating, proves that he transformed in to a free-thinking Romantic. Declining many invitations and choosing to focus on assignments, Todd shows actions of a Rationalist. After class, Mr. Keating assigns homework due the next day. It’s a beautiful day out and many choose to ignore the deadline of the assignment to play outside. As Todd focuses to finish the assignment by himself, his friend, Neil Perry, invites him to join him outside. Anderson declines and explains that he needs to complete the homework. The pressure of pleasing his parents is pushing him to do his best in his education without any having any distraction. He shows his want to obtain knowledge by using reasoning that he cannot finish this homework if he goes out and plays. Without reference to the external world, Todd continues to study. Todd was much like a rationalist thinker. Rationalist thinking can come in many situations. In this case, Todd urges Neil Perry
Mrs. Scapino
English III
5 October 2012
Todd Anderson’s Growth “I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived”(Thoreau). After reading this, Todd Anderson, from the movie The Dead Poets Society, realizes he does not want to die like this. Anderson arrives to an all-boys school, not knowing that his whole way of thinking was about to change. Before, he lived not for himself, but to please his parents by attempting to be like his successful brother. Living like this made him quiet and conscious of all of his actions. He has to think reasonably before doing anything too spontaneous. One would say this is the way of a Rationalist thinker. Throughout the class taught by an imaginative teacher named Mr. Keating, Todd Anderson slowly develops ideas that become actions of a true Romantic. Although Todd Anderson begins as a Rationalist thinker, his actions, which are inspired by Mr. Keating, proves that he transformed in to a free-thinking Romantic. Declining many invitations and choosing to focus on assignments, Todd shows actions of a Rationalist. After class, Mr. Keating assigns homework due the next day. It’s a beautiful day out and many choose to ignore the deadline of the assignment to play outside. As Todd focuses to finish the assignment by himself, his friend, Neil Perry, invites him to join him outside. Anderson declines and explains that he needs to complete the homework. The pressure of pleasing his parents is pushing him to do his best in his education without any having any distraction. He shows his want to obtain knowledge by using reasoning that he cannot finish this homework if he goes out and plays. Without reference to the external world, Todd continues to study. Todd was much like a rationalist thinker. Rationalist thinking can come in many situations. In this case, Todd urges Neil Perry
Cited: Anderson, Robert. “Characteristics of a Rationalist and Romantic.” Elements of Literature. Ed. Bill Wahlgren et al. Fifth Course. Austin: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston, 2008. 214. Print. Dead Poets Society. Dir. Peter Weir. Buena Vista Pictures, 1989. Film. Henry David Thoreau, Walden (Oxford University Press: 1997), 83.