Character Analysis: Dead Poets Society

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Dead Poets Society - Essay
Christian Frahm

Dead Poets Society deals with the problem of finding your own identity. Welton Academy is founded on tradition, excellence, honor, and discipline. Every semester hundreds of parents abandon their sons in the hands of Welton, hoping they will raise doctors and lawyers. When a new english teacher arrives the lessons changes. He brings a passion for teaching poetry, thus opening a whole new world for the students.

The story is primarily told by two different students Neil Perry and his roommate Todd Anderson. Who is a new student at Welton. Todd is the character we see undergo the biggest chance in the course of the story. Upon entering Welton he tries to fulfill his older brothers shoes, who was a …show more content…

He admires Neil for his artistic abilities and his personal manner. Neil cares for Todd, which Todd feels like he has been missing in his childhood.
Todd seems to consider Neil as a mentor. He can talk to him about personal issues, and feel more alive. Todd also tries to calm Neil down, when feeling like Neil’s ideas has a big risk of failing.
Another character Todd develops a strong relationship with is Mr. Keating. At first Todd fears Mr. Keating’s classes. He is “in agony” when asked to make up a barbaric yawp or asked to make up a poem on the spot. Especially Mr. Keating makes Todd feel alive. Todd goes way above his own limits, and expresses his feelings.
Both relationships plays an important role in Todd's development as a character.

His relationship with Neil Perry and Mr. Keating helped him developing into an independent leader. At the end of the movie Todd proved that he could stand up and express himself. When the school board blames Mr. Keating for Neil Perry's death, and Mr. Keating is released from Welton. Keating entered the classroom for the last time, Todd showed his abilities, and stood up on his table, showing his disagreement with the school board. This lead to many of his fellow students following his

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