Dead Poet Society

Do you let people tell you how to live your life? Or do you tell them how you're going to live it? The movie Dead Poet Society discusses a number of themes and lessons that Mr Keating is trying to teach the boys.

Neil Perry, a senior student has always done what his father has told him to do and never questioned it. His father has his own idea for Neils future and is set on it. Though Neil wants nothing to do with it, but he is not able to stand up to his father and tell him how he really feels. Mr Keating tries to speak to Neil about telling his father the truth but Neil takes a different approach. He makes the decision to take the easy way out, and takes his own life. However, if Neil had listened to Mr.Keating's advice things possibly could have turned out differently.

Furthermore, we meet Knox Overstreet. A boy hopelessly in love with Chris, a girl who attends a public school in town. Unfortunately for Knox, Chris has a boyfriend making her unavailable. Though this doesn't stop Knox from feeling the way he does. A phrase from Mr.Keating "Carpe Diem" meaning seize the day, helps Knox get over his fear of rejection. He is able to tell Chris how he feels about her, which in the end gets him the girl.

Finally we meet Todd Anderson. A socially awkward boy who is afraid of expressing his feelings. When in class one day, Mr Keating assigns the boys a job of writing a poem of their own creation and explains that they must present to the class the next day. For Todd this is social suicide. He becomes very stressed and anxious for the presentation. When Todd's turn comes he tells Mr Keating that he has nothing prepared for the class, so Mr Keating being the supportive man that he is, takes things into his own hands. He forces Todd to the front of the class and tells him to close his eyes. He helps Todd to speak a poem and helps him build up the courage to do it alone. He is able to get over his fear and has the courage to do things that he couldn't before.

All in all, these boys all had problems that they couldn't face, and with the help of Mr Keating they were able to rid themselves of these problems and were built up with courage and a high self eteem.