Seize the Day!

       O Captain My Captain! The film Dead Poets’ Society directed by Peter Weir presents dynamic changes in three main characters due to the inspiration of their Captain, Mr. Keating. Based in a fluent and wealthy academy in the United States, a group of boys feel a restriction on their choices due to their parents wants. However they feel inspired to defy them by the ideals of their new English teacher. The three characters that changed the most dynamically were Knox Overstreet, Todd Anderson and Neil Perry.

         

Primarily, one of the inspired students was Knox Overstreet. After meeting his true love at a dinner party he attends, Knox feels hopeless that he will never be with her. Following this evening, Keating’s newest lesson unveiled the Carpe Diem philosophy “to seize the day”. With the latest inspiration, Knox willed up and called her, and Chris invited him to an upcoming party. At the party after planting a kiss on Chris’ forehead, her boyfriend punched him straight in the face. Rather than fleeing and deserting his feeling for her, he continues to follow them and his heart. His new relationship would never have succeeded without the advice of Mr. Keating.

         

Another student moved by their captain’s class was Todd Anderson. After recently starting at Welton, Todd is very reserved being a new student. In Keating’s English class he struggles with writing a poem to present, and is not prepared. However when he is brought up in front of the class he is enlightened by Keating’s lesson on searching your inner self to find poetry. This provided Todd with confidence he needed to speak up for himself and his own beliefs. Following Keating’s removal as he is departing the classroom, Todd milks every ounce of courage from himself and stands on his desk saluting his respect for his Captain. Following this courageous act, the other members of the Dead Poets’ Society follow him and overpower their professor, showing their admiration for their released teacher.

         

Finally, the last student who was inspired by Mr. Keating was Neil Perry. He is a very smart and well rounded boy, however is choices are severely influenced by his father. Though he had straight a’s from last year, his father unreasonably forces him to discontinue his involvement in the senior annual.  After another rousing lesson from Mr. Keating, Neil feels compelled to disobey his fathers command by taking the lead role in  a community play. This inspiration by Mr. Keating, drove Neil to his greatest passion, that of acting.  Alas, after being told by his father following his first performance that he was being pulled from Welton, Neil was lost for words. Sadly, instead of telling his father about his new found passion, like Mr. Keating said. Neil felt it was easier to take his own life.

The students of that class will never be the same following the leadership of their teacher Mr. Keating. For Knox and Todd they changed positively and will continually grow because of their inspiration. Neil also found something he loved due to Mr. Keating’s literature. Unfortunately, he was again denied involvement is his passion for acting, by his father. This empowered Neil to take his own life following his brilliant performance.