Death of a Poet, in 'The Dead Poet Society'

There comes a point in every one's life where we feel trapped by conformity, some more than others, perhaps, and at one particular all-boys prep school the pressure, seems to dull the minds of these children, and in some cases push the over the edge. However one teacher, hell-bent on maintaining originality, takes his conformity-breed English class and turns them into a band of hopeless, free-thinking individuals. They later form the 'The Dead Poet Society' (thus being the name of the movie, and directed by Peter Weir), and sneak off late at night to read poems, discuss inner callings, and dream about what the future has yet to behold. Unfortunately, when one boy tries to confess his love of acting to his overbearing father, his dreams are rejected, and he later commits suicide. There are three major themes that can be discussed in this movie, the first, to seize the day. The next, to not live life like your expected to, and finally to stand up to conformity.


The concept of 'Seize the day' wasn't readily adopted by the students of Welton prep school. Yet their English teacher, Mr. Keating, persistently encouraged them to brake free of their narrow thinking, and do things they normally wouldn't even dream of doing. Knox, one of the member of the Dead Poet Society, falls head over heels for a young girl named Christine. With the help of his friends, and Mr. Keating's lessons, he eventually reads her a poem he wrote for her, much to the dismay of her boyfriend, and asks her to go to the play with him. Neil, another student, whose dreams of becoming an actor weren't readily approved of, decided that he would addition for 'A Mid-summers Night Dream', a play written by William Shakepear, and he undoubtedly receives the part. Had these students not seized the day, they still wouldn't known what it was like to chase their dreams, no matter what stood in there way.

The next theme is to not live life like you are expected to. This is probably one of the most interesting lessons Mr.Keating ever taught and it is also the one lesson that is mostly centered around Neil. In this lesson Mr. Keating instructed the students to rip out the entire introductory chapter in their poetry text, and by doing this he taught them to break free of their simple minded education. Meanwhile Niel, trying to be an actor convinces his emotionally, ignorant father to let him stay in the play. By breaking the first mould Neil felt brave enough to stand up to his principle, saying that God was on the phone with him, prompting him that they should have girls in Welton. But probibly the most important example of being unexpected in life was joining the Dead Poet Society, because by doing so they learned the tools that would define the very lives that they would learn to leave behind in their quests to break the mould.

The last theme is to stand up to conformity, and although it may seem alot like not living life like your expected to, I can assure you, it is very different. The first example of the conformity that the students had learned to stand up to, was the lesson in which Mr. Keating took the boys out into the courtyard and told them to march. At first they all walked differently, but eventually they all adjusted there strides to match each others, the rest of the students all clapped along. Once they became aware of what they were doing, they then all took to their own way of walking. The Dead Poet Society, although being a crucial part of standing up to conformity, was not the main example. The main part of the Dead Poet Society that really taught them to stand up to conformity was sneaking out at night, printing the article in the school paper, and uniting their thoughts, then allowing themselves to think uniquely. The last, and most crucial example is after Neil's suicide, when Tom finally understood the point of Mr.Keating lessons and erupted in fury during the middle of class, explaining how the members of the Dead Poet's Society, were pressured into blaming him. After being yelled at, and threatened to be expelled he sits back down, only to stand up on his desk and address Mr.Keating by ''O Captain my Captain.'' Along with the rest of the Dead Poet's Society, they ignore the new teacher they had been given, and all stand on their desks. Therefore, finally understanding how to stand up to conformity.

As you can plainly see, the seemingly petty tomfoolery of these conformity driven youth, taught by the adored Mr.Keating, showed them how to live life like many can only dream to. Although Neil could not escape the clutches of conformity, he too learned to seize the day, and was able to act at least one time before his untimely demise. The rest of the Dead Poet's Society leaned to follow there dreams, and to not live life like they were expected to. Although standing up to conformity is never easy it, for the most part, can change lives in ways you can never imagine. I can only that you in turn, will also watch this movie and learn to stand up to seize the day, not live life like your expected to, and stand up to the conformity that has it's hands grasped so tightly around all of us.

"Well, let's hear your excuse. It better be good."

I shifted from one foot to the other, "Well," I began, "It's sort of a long story."

Mr. Van Camp seemed to be shooting invisible daggers from his eyes, " Dont bore me with the details," He snapped, " Just tell me what happened."

"Well sir, I went for a walk this morning and tripped." I replied.

"Your homework isn't done because you tripped?" asked Mr. Van Camp.

I hesitated, "Yes, well no, sir. You see, after I tripped my essay flew out of my hand. It landed in a very muddy puddle, sir. A very muddy puddle indeed."

"So where is your essay now?"

"Not here i'm afraid, sir. Afterwards when I went to pick it up a dog grabbed it, I suppose he liked it so much he didn't want to let it go. I had to chase him all the way around the block."

''Okay i've heard enough-''

''Wait theres more! After I chased the dog and got my essay, the wind snatched it and threw it down a storm drain. Then there was no point in trying to get it.'' I said.

''Well,'' Said Mr.VanCamp,''That is quite a story.''