Dead Poet's Society

I had never seen the movie Dead Poet’s Society, so I had no idea what to think when we started watching this film. I absolutely loved it and was filled with emotion throughout the it. Watching the boys grow throughout the film filled me with pride for them. I thought of my family and how hard parents can be on their kids and the pride I feel for my own children. Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs a person can do in my opinion. You always want what is best for them, and sometimes it may be seem to be the best, but not right for them. I felt a little sad for Neil’s father as I could empathize with him, wanting the best for your child, and being too hard on them. My husband and I have fallen into this trap, as it’s easy to do when you want

They had a difficult relationship because his father pushed him so hard to succeed. Neil of course would not stand up to his father and tell him how he really felt. He hid his true feelings from his father until it was too late, with dire consequences. I felt terrible for Neil, and his relationship with his father. I realize that at the time that this movie took place things were different than they are now. Children did not disobey their parents and talk back with their own opinions. You did what your parents said, no questions asked. Neil may not have killed himself though, if he would have thought there was some way to talk to his father. Mr. Perry, I’m sure, would have given anything to have his son back. It’s hard to get teens to talk the way it is now though, so I can’t imagine being a parent in the early

Keating was the personification of “swimming against the stream”. He started the Dead Poet’s Society when he attended school Welton Academy and when Neil hears of the group, they are inspired to start it again. This was a way for the boys to buck the system and not conform to the normal standards. There were hints of them not obeying rules before this as they were smoking in their study groups, and one pair of boys were trying to make a radio for music. It seems that the underlying message and theme of the film was being your own person, carpe diem (seize the day), and of course swimming against the stream. Mr. Keating tells them this repeatedly in the film, but the idea was already forming before he began teaching there. When Neil talks with Mr. Keating about the play that he will star in, my sense of foreboding began. I could see the writing on the wall, but didn’t want to believe it was true. He couldn’t stand up to his father, and I felt like Mr. Keating knew this. I don’t think the notion of Neil committing suicide ever crossed his mind though. It was such a sad ending, and a waste to see someone with such potential take their own