Dead Poets Society
By MARVIN SHIM
Set at an elite boarding school in New England not dissimilar from Exeter, Dead Poets Society follows the story of a few students at Welton Academy who are inspired by their passionate English teacher to break free from the fetters of convention and chase after the potential of every day. John Keating, once a star student at the academy, returns to Welton from England to teach poetry and literature as an English teacher. From the very first day, he strives to create a welcoming, fervent, and thought-provoking atmosphere for the boys in his class. Although his teachings are viewed as exotic and sometimes heretical by his colleagues and the headmaster, he soon becomes a beloved father-like figure to many of his students. The film chronicles the teacher’s journey with his students, a poignant exploration of the conflict between conformity and independence and a celebration of the human spirit.
His pupils, including Todd Anderson and Neil Perry, struggle under the domineering influence of their parents who wish them to follow their rigid expectations. In addition, the strict education imposed at Welton, which are constituted by four “pillars” (tradition, honor, excellence, and discipline), weighs them down with the burden of duty. However, Keating had other things in mind. In his very first lesson, Keating teaches them the phrase “carpe diem”, meaning seize the day. This ideal would become central to the theme of Dead Poets Society and encapsulates the freedom all the students yearned for: living their life to the fullest. Keating uses this concept to inspire his students to break free from their constraints and pursue their passions.
Later on, Perry, Anderson, and five other friends find Keating in Welton’s old yearbook and discover his participation in the Dead Poets Society. After they corner their teacher, Keating shares that he and his fellow classmates had once created the society in an old Indian cave, where they secretly read poetry verses out loud past curfew to fuel their passions. The boys take Keating’s doctrine of carpe diem into action, risking their attendance at the Academy by reviving the society. This revival became the first step for many of these boys in their refusal to conform and search for their personal passion. Keating refuses to be called anything, even “Sir”, but “Captain” by his students, referring to Walt Whitman’s poem.
Anderson, always timid and shy since coming to Welton, emerges from his shell. Charlie Dalton, already extroverted and a troublemaker at the Academy, publicly calls out the academy for their refusal to include girls at the academy and renames himself “Nuwanda”, painting a lightning bolt on his chest to depict his masculinity. Knox Overstreet uses passion to overcome his fear and chase after the one he loves. Perry breaks free from the restraints of his father’s wishes and auditions for a Shakespeare play. The struggles of these students depict the state of society: our inherent gifts and inclinations are not accepted by the status quo. Students of our age must fight to show their true self in full understanding that they will be scrutinized and criticized by their elders. Despite being a film made more than three decades ago, the moral of the story remains as relevant as ever, especially for teenage audiences.
It is simple and romantic, but the story ends with a calamity. When Perry approaches Keating about his overbearing father and his wish to audition for a play, his teacher convinces and encourages Perry to foster his love for acting. Neil’s audition lands him a main role in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. However, despite watching his son’s fabulous performance on the day of the play, Perry’s father, enraged with his rebellious behavior and betrayal, forbids him from performing again. Moreover, he removes Perry from Welton and enrolls him into military school with the hope that he would attend Harvard and become a doctor. In a heart-wrenching turn of events for Keating and his fellow peers of the Dead Poets Society, Perry, finding no hope for freedom, commits suicide with his father’s gun. Like a Shakespearean work, the story ends in tragedy.
His death demonstrated the implications of the struggle between individualism and conformity and the devastating impacts of suffocating parental expectations. Perry was the most influenced by Keating and his ideas, and the moment Neil sits back down after Mr. Perry lashes out is the exact point where he gives up. And thus, Perry pulls the trigger to seize the day, since he knew he would never have the chance to do it again. Eventually, the investigation conducted by Mr. Nolan, the headmaster, on his death would expose the members of the Dead Poets Society and lead to Mr. Keating’s removal. Nuwanda honors Neil’s death by punching Cameron, who reported the existence of the Dead Poets Society and Keating’s involvement, and frees himself through expulsion. With Keating soon to leave, Nuwanda expelled, and Mr. Nolan serving as the new English teacher, the tension shifts to Todd.
In the final scene, as Keating makes his way to leave the classroom one final time, Todd stands upon his desk and exclaims “O Captain! My Captain!” Witnessing his audacity in the face of Nolan’s threats, half of the class climbs upon their desks as well, including all members of the Dead Poets Society except Cameron. The image of these once-timid boys atop their desks in salute to their teacher is a testament to the inspiration Keating has imparted upon his students. Despite his death, their defiance in the plain view of the school ends the tragedy with a heartwarming celebration.
In one of Keating’s lessons, he uttered, “To quote from Whitman, ‘O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?’ That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.” The stories of the students of the Dead Poets Society have concluded, but today’s students struggle with the same shackles that bound them. We often forget to ask the most important questions of our teenage life: “Who am I? What is my purpose?” The question is now upon us to answer Keating’s question and continue his legacy. What will your verse be?