Like Emerson, Thoreau also wanted to live a simple life, in order to find deeper meaning in life. Thoreau says, I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartanlike as to put to rout all that was not life, ... and reduce it to its lowest terms (Thoreau 235). Thoreau also says, We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us (Thoreau 237). This means that some things which we believe make our lives simpler actually make it more complicated. Both Emerson and Thoreau believe that in order to find deep meaning in life, you must live simply.
Flowers for Algernon Essay In the story “Flowers for Algernon”, Charlie undergoes an experiment that triples his IQ of 68 and makes him into a genius. Even though it was temporary, Charlie expressed deep joy over this, and therefore I believe that this was a positive experience for Charlie. First of all, he stated near the start of his regression that he felt glad that he was able to find out so much for science, even if he had to disprove Dr Nemur and Dr Strauss’ theories. Secondly, he pointed out in the beginning that he didn’t care that the intelligence wouldn’t last, and that he just wants to be able to experience it once. Finally, Charlie stated in the end that he was very glad he was able to see things from a smart person’s perspective for once and he was happy that he saw things he never even knew existed.
The Truman Show Analysis Cristof uses power over his creation to control and facilitate in his mind how a peaceful world would be. This would make anyone ponder over whether or not another human being has the right over another human. When we are created we have freedom of life, to do as we please without being controlled, so when we are deterred from this, it can be life-changing obstacle to get through and understand. Beyond ones’ own eye and human belief we all have a purpose to be here on earth, in which we might not know right away, but we might learn later in life. The Truman Show conditions peoples’ way of thinking, in that their living in their own reality, because it is a live show filming 24/7 a day.
The character Peter Keating embodies altruism and only feels he shouldn’t exist for his own sake but the services that he receives from others reason for existing is for fame and approval for others. Peter Keating lives off of his good looks, success and people around him. To have resources to only justify his own existence, self- sacrifice is only his highest right of responsibility, benefit, and importance. Peter will do whatever it takes to succeed in this world even if it means stealing, lying, or Killing. "He had forgotten his first building, and the fear and doubt of its birth.
“I just remember walking between them and feeling for the first time that I belonged somewhere”. Wanting to belong and the feeling that we get from belonging is what we strive for, which is in our human nature. The benefits we gain from belonging by far outweigh the costs but those costs are inevitable and can change a lot about ourselves. Our sense of identity can be compromised by belonging to a group. In Amish communities, individuals all obey the one simple way of living without modern technologies and plain dressing and face being shunned from the community if they do not respect the Amish way of life.
A Humble Source of Inspiration Some people argue that Elvis is still alive, afraid to give up the dream that he is no longer with us to drastically shape our lives. Others make pilgrimages to Graceland just as Muslim devotees’ journey to Mecca in order to pay respects to one they consider just as real and instrumental in their lives a God. The mystery of Elvis makes him so much more compelling than artists that came before, or even after. Maybe it was his humble roots and attitude that he never abandoned even long after he achieved unprecedented heights. Elvis made people believe that they too, could accomplish something extraordinary, even if they were an average citizen.
He, Voltaire, envisioned the inhabitants of El Dorado as being compassionate and stunning; he saw the government as unbiased and rewarding, and it is known that the culture seemed to breathe the very spirit of Voltaire’s enlightenment movement. (El Dorado in Candide) He wrote about how time flew by for Candide and Cacambo, how they spent months in the retreat of El Dorado examining and exploring every inch of the legendary city. He wrote that El Dorado was unreal for Candide and Cacambo, they who experienced the horror of the real world, could not enjoy forever the comfort of a utopia. El Dorado is meant to be the ideal utopia. It is the legendary lost city of gold.
This leaves George feeling confronted with the reality that his life until that moment has been worthless and that his existence would not be missed by anyone. He makes a decision that he will spend the small remainder of his life attempting to rebuild who he is as a person by finding a purpose in life which involves showing love to those around him and breaking down his past self. A strong theme in this movie is the meaning of life and the questioning of our own purpose here on Earth. It is because of this self-awareness that humans are so easily able to change their view on what is right and wrong. A good example of this is religion.
Our sense of endurance and perseverance allow us to laugh and live under the poor and unequal. Of course we want to change, for sure we want a better life, but we do not know how to achieve these goals. We know nothing. Who does not wish to be born in the wealthy family? Who want to live in such poverty and hunger without pride?
Thus when the death time comes there is a void or nothingness. Epicurus asks why should we live our lives according to an irrational fear of a void of death when our life ceases. Our fear of life and death comes from the unknown, or trying to imagine a life in the unknown after this life. Thus by removing this unknown that creates the potential for an afterlife we are in fact free to engage in this life. The sensations we perceive according to Epicurus are that which we feel are actually real, we can choose to feel a little pain through exercise for example, in order to improve our body to achieve better health in the long term or the absence of pain.