Characterization in the Film Dead Poets Society

The film is set in the year 1959 in a Vermont boarding school named Welton Academy. This academy is a very strict all boys school that demands the most out of every student so that they are completely ready for university. The term that this takes place in welcomes a new English teacher, Mr. John Keating who attended Welton himself, and follows the transfer student Todd Anderson whose brother was one of Welton’s finest students. Todd’s roommate is Neil Perry, who comes from a middle-class family that made multiple sacrifices to put him into Welton. Neil’s father is extremely strict with his son and dictates his schooling and extracurricular activities. Friends of Neil, and later Todd, include Charlie Dalton the rambunctious one, Knox Overstreet the romantic, the very smart ones Steven Meeks and Richard Cameron, and Gerald Pitts. The movie follows the seven friends through the school term starting with how strict and very stressful the courses and teachers are then showing the drastic difference of Mr. Keating. The movie remains on the lives of the boys, mainly focusing on Keating’s class and how he wishes for his students to become free thinkers which leads to many different issues with the friends.

The main problem that Todd faces is the struggle to maintain a sense of self-confidence as a result of living under his older brother’s shadow of success. Instead of becoming a lawyer like what his father expects, he has a passion for writing which contradicts with his father’s anticipation. However, unlike Neil, he keeps these thoughts and ideas to himself and dares not to speak them out loud to his parents. He remains obedient whether or not his opinions match theirs. There were various obstacles that prevented him from delivering his thoughts and he was often labeled as shy or timid. He was unable to present the well-prepared poem he wrote in front of the entire class due to these traits and the lack of self-confidence but Mr. Keating recognizes his strengths as well as his potential to do something marvelous. By using unusual techniques, Mr. Keating was able to bring out his potential and he receives one of the first applauses which was the beginning of his emerging confidence. It was evident that he debates against himself and requires a lot more courage to get up in front of everyone simply because he did not see the value in both himself and the work. The overall conflict is man vs. self and man vs. man. Most of the time he was bothered by himself for being pessimism and the fact that others have huge expectations on him due to his brother’s outstanding achievements.

"The Dead Poets Society" is an awe inspiring film set in the 1950s about a teacher who went against the grain and taught his high school students to think for themselves and not allow their attitudes and behavior to be constrained by conformity by older generations. In our class lectures/discussions, we have touched on many aspects of human culture and communication and this movie illustrates many of these concepts. Perspectives, gender, communication theories, persuasion, language, verbal and nonverbal communication, interpersonal relationships, public speaking, intercultural communication--these are all included and exemplified in this film.

Critically acclaimed by movie critics around the world, Dead Poets Society follows a group of teenage boys in a New England preparatory school setting. Robin Williams stars as an English professor, whose unorthodox teaching style urges his students to discover and reach their own self-actualization through understanding poetry. Because Williams’ teachings do stray from the traditional culture of the school, Williams is often labeled part of his own outgroup, stigmatized, and eventually used as a scapegoat. While this film culture and setting may be an inaccurate representation of the majority of the population, themes of Social Psychology successfully portray how people interact every day. Examples such as a cultural norms, minority influence, and how a

Transcendentalists in the 1830s challenged society’s normality. They broke stereotypes and began not depending their actions according to others. Director Peter Weir and Author Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote about transcendentalist’s ideals of education to rebel against commonly accepted behavior. Transecdiliasts assured and trusted themselves that the outcome is for the better. Similarly, in the film, Dead Poets Society, Mr. John Keating teaches an English class navigating the class through the uncertainties of life. The boys in Keating's class, discover themselves and begin to live life focusing on their passions. “Self- Reliance,” is an essay about expressing your individualism and overcoming the social expectations in life. Together they both share the fundamental virtues that to a live successful life with no regrets, one must trust their self-identity and carpe diem.

The Catcher in the Rye and Dead Poets Society are very similar stories. Both deal with the coming of age in the lives of prestigious young men. These two stories also deal with the conformity of these young men in their transition from private boys school to the real world. There are two young men from each of the stories whose lives are alike yet different in some ways.

He, too, had grown up oppressed by prominent people in his life. His mother and father had never allowed him to make his own decisions, especially when it came to school. In Dead Poet’s Society, Neil realizes his passion for the performing arts and quickly auditions for a play in which he is given the lead role. His teacher, John Keating, said, “Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.”

“Why fit in when you were taught to Stand Out!!” -Dr.Suess. Individualism is greatly discussed by many viewpoints, many for it, as well as against it. “Dead Poets Society” is a film that shows why individualism is needed in our society. Another great example is “What to a slave is the Fourth of July” -Frederick Douglass. Individualism is a great deal in the world, and people should understand what it is like to be an Individual to see that the world wouldn’t be the same if everyone was alike. People should know that we are all meant to be our own person in life and if we were all the same as everyone else in society, the world would be dry and lame.

Connections made with people and place are the most powerful influences that impact on an individual sense of belonging. This is demonstrated through the texts ‘Dead Poet’s Society’ directed by Peter Weir and the autobiographic article Born in Vietnam made in Australia. Both texts explore how an individual sense of belonging can be undermined as a result of negative influences as well as how connection to people and place can have enriching effects on the lives of individuals how a individual sense of belonging can be undermined by trauma and lack of acceptance which prevents an individual sense of belonging however both texts also explore how connections to people and place can have enriching effects on the lives of individuals. An individual sense of belonging can be can be undermined by trauma and lack of acceptance.

On March 4, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt stated in his first inauguration speech, “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance," (Baughman). This quote translates to a confusing concept at first, but once discussed is practical: the fear of an individual should not be the concern, yet it should be the damage fear itself has on one. Little did we know at the time that this quote, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” would turn into “the very symbol” of Roosevelt’s Presidency (Baughman).

In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, there are many different themes expressed in many different ways. For example, one of the of the most important themes throughout the story is courage. Courage shows up many times throughout the story in its six main forms, physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual and moral courage. These forms of courage help create a better understanding of the characters as well as change the characters as time passes.

Professor John Keating was a new teacher in the school who had unorthodox methods of teaching his class. Originally, he was supposed to teach a very serious class with no fun and games, the only focus is learning and that is it. Mr. Keating was also a rebellion of this strain theory. With his unorthodox methods of teaching his class, he stressed the idea of carpe diem. This concept affects all of his students and they were to “seize the day” by setting themselves free of the order their society had imposed on them. Mr. Keating was a big influencer in Neil’s decision to pursue acting. The pressures to succeed placed on Neil by his parents and society prevent him from exploring his own individuality. He felt as if he were enclosed in a box with nowhere to go. Neil’s father had warned him that if he did not stop acting he would have

In dead poets society the school setting is displayed as a strict and unfriendly place where student’s individuality is oppressed. The school immediately gives the impression of being highly traditionalistic from the first scene. It opens with the start of a new school year and new boys are being initiated into the school through a ceremony involving the lighting of a candle. The candle’s flame represents traditionalistic conformist views being passed down to the new students from a previous student, showing that new knowledge is not considered of value by the school. After this ceremony Mr Nolan is scene making a speech about why tradition is important to the school. We see in this scene that the conformity has a strong, suffocating grasp on this

Many poets and directors believe in the concept of living life to the fullest. In this quote, by Sir Henry David Thoreau, he shows that we should live life to its fullest and make sure we make our mark while we still can, so people remember us. In the Movie," Dead Poets Society," a group of students from the Welton Prep School are moved by the teachings of their English teacher, Professor Keating. He teaches the boys to be their own boss, leaders and not followers. This quote relates to the movie because this quote tells what Keating wants to teach his kids. Many events take place during the movie that asks whether or not Professor Keating's teaching are appropriate, it is also questionable whether or not he

The statement that conformity and tradition are in opposition to individualism and defiance of authority is very true in The Dead Poet Society, and even more so in today’s society in general. One can walk into any high school and see this is true. In a typical high school, people seem to have very much in common, especially in dress, hair style, etc… which is in opposition to individualism in and of itself. People are so caught up in conforming to how society says they should live their lives, it really tarnishes the spirit of individuality human beings are meant to have.