Peck's Theory of Love and Discipline As Applied to
Character Relationships in "The Dead Poets Society"
Life is difficult.
These are the words with which M. Scott Peck begins The Road Less Traveled. In his opinion, realizing that life is difficult is the first important step on the way to solving life's problems. The second, and perhaps most important, step to solving life's problems is realizing the need for discipline and understanding what discipline is. According to Peck (1978), "without discipline we can solve nothing. With total discipline we can solve all problems" (16-17). The relationships of various characters within the film "Dead Poets Society" shows that even total discipline is unable to solve all problems if its application does not involve love as well.
It appears appropriate to discuss the film using Peck's ideas on love and discipline since "The Dead Poets Society" involves numerous instances where individual interests, driven by love, come into conflict with discipline invoked by the proponents of social conservation and conformity. It is the situation where the older generation intends to exercise control over the younger one through what it sees as discipline, while at the same time failing to see that the real reason behind the acting out done by the younger generation is not the need to rebel but rather the desire to find their own way in life, to explore the future according to their own interests, while at the same time seeking approval from the older generation towards which the younger one often feels nothing but love.
One relationship that attracts major attention in the film, probably due to its tragic culmination, is the one between Neil Perry, one of the students at Hilton...
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...e presence of corporal punishment in the school, without realizing that it breeds nothing but resentment and hatred, especially among the upperclassmen who can judge the long-term consequences of their actions without having their bottoms paddled.
Students feel Knowland's complete indifference, combined with an almost absolute power over them, and their usual reaction to Knowland is fear-inspired awe, with some resentment showing itself sometimes as well. Overall, of course, this is non-loving relationship.
Overall, it appears that Peck's theories on love and discipline provide an effective tool for analysis of relationships between characters in "The Dead Poets Society." This mutual relevance is even supported symbolically, when Professor Keating quotes Robert Frost and his "choosing the road less traveled," which is actually the title of Peck's book.
Perhaps one of the most meaningful maxims Emerson wrote would have to be "Insist on yourself, never imitate." This statement captures the total essence of transcendentalism; deny the will and aspirations of others, and follow your own heart.The movie Dead Poets Society begins by introducing the viewers to Todd Anderson, a very subdued and quiet young man. Todd has the average inferiority complex. He is a very bright young man with exceptional abilities. Todd is unwilling to speak his mind for fear of non-acceptance. Charles Dalton is a seemingly average student with a rebellious attitude. He has already realized that the students are being "brainwashed" into living a preordained life.
Keating is very adamant about how his students need to be their own person in a society that tells them not to. He is a huge inspiration to his students, especially Neil, and impacts all of their lives in a unique way. Neil has a father which represents society as a whole on the youth of today. He tries to force his son down a one-way street and for many years Neil complied, but once Mr. Keating opened his eyes to poetry and the beauty of life Neil had a new view on things. He always tells them to find their own voice and to express it to the world, and he tells them how poetry is a profession of emotion. The students recreate the Dead Poets Society as the story goes on and Mr. Keating gets a quote from poetry which compares life to this powerful play to which people can contribute a verse to. He asks them what will their verse be. He is encouraging the students to speak out and be their own person to make a change in the
In the movie Dead Poets Society by Peter Weir and Tom Schulman, Neil Perry, Todd Anderson, Knox Overstreet, Charlie Dalton, Richard Cameron, and Steven Meeks are seniors in the Welton Academy. This academy is a prestigious prep school with a strong tradition, expectation, discipline, and honor. The students are expected to behave as well as focus on learning. Later in the school year, the students meet Mr. Keating, their new English teacher and they experience a new style of teaching which changes their lives and outlook forever. Mr. Keating possess traits that are different from other teachers in the school because he believes the students should have their own choice in order to pursue their own dream and they should not be force to follow
Keating, and now by The Headmaster, Mr. Nolan. Nolan brings back reference to the introductory essay by “Dr. J. Evans Pritchard Ph. D”. When this passage is being read, a symbol of the banking concept returning to the classroom, the students who were members of the dead poets society stand up in rebellion of Mr. Nolan, and his oppression. This scene shows both education methods present throughout the film and described by Friere. Nolan makes an attempt to force the banking concept back on the students, and ignore the principals of the problem posing critically thinking students they have become “Education as the exercise of domination stimulates the credulity of students, with the ideological intent (often not perceived by the educators) of indoctrinating them to adapt to the world of oppression” (Friere
“Dead Poet’s Society” is a film set in the late fifties at a prestigious school for boys called the Welton Academy. The story focuses on an unorthodox English teacher and his impact upon his students, especially a group of seven boys. The primary focus of this film, in my opinion, is the theme of coming of age. The film itself highlights many important and relevent issues that teenagers face in the process of trying to find out who they are as a person. The students are constantly pressured to conform by adults throughout most of the film. Although these adults are only trying to help the boys, it is important that they figure themselves out and develop their own way of thinking. When the boys realize this, they grow up themselves. The character of Todd is a fantastic example of this. Throughout most of the film, this shy boy is ultimately unwilling and reluctant to go against what he is told. When Neil commits suicide, he begins to see the world in a very different way and understands that sometimes questioning the decisions and regulations accepted by society is necessary.
The general acceptance, and sometimes support, of corporal punishment as a method of discipline is an aspect of the American culture (Barnett, Miller-Perrin, Perrin 61).
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Dead Poet Society explore the struggle for independence through characters who are subject to an environment in which they are rewarded for their conformity. Dead Poet Society outlines the complications of young students at Welton Academy after a respected English teacher named Mr. Keating inspires them to seize the day. However, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest explore the events that transpire in a mental institute after an exceedingly ‘difficult’ patient arrives and the impact this has on Chief Bromden. Both texts critically explore the struggle for independence.
If you haven’t seen the film “Dead Poets Society” what just happened might seem a bit confusing to you. That is what I am here to talk about today. The fact that one single line could invoke so many feelings in a person who has seen and loves a film shows us the power of quotes themselves.
"The Dead Poet’s Society" is a movie about a group of kids. The conflict, characters, plot and theme are very interesting. So now I am going to tell you a little about it.
	The Discipline section of M. Scott Peck’s The Road Less Traveled first deals with life’s difficulties. He makes it clear that we all have problems and pain but we have to deal with it to get by and to make life less difficult. "Life is difficult... Once we truly know that life is difficult--once we truly understand and accept it--then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters."(p.15)
Film Review of Dead Poets Society Dead Poets Society explores the conflict between realism and romanticism as these contrasting ideals are presented to the students at an all boys preparatory school. Welton Academy is founded on tradition and excellence and is bent on providing strict structured lessons prescribed by the realist, anti-youth administration. John Keating is a new English teacher with a passion for poetry. When he returns to his own strict childhood school to teach, his unconventional methods quickly prove to be inspirational to a group of students. He inspires them to pursue their desires and live life to the fullest.
On a student’s cell phone, a teacher is caught hitting students with a thick stick. He continually hits everywhere from the students’ hips to the head harshly without a hesitation. This video is opened to the public by a student in the class posting it on the Internet. According to the other students, they were punished because they skipped class when the school inspectors came. All the people who looked at it on the Internet were surprised to see this kind of behavior. Recently, we’ve heard a lot on the media about punishment by teachers in school. Some people agree with the teacher’s power to punish, claiming that it is a part of education. However, contrary to this opinion, I disagree with corporal punishment because physical punishment brings only temporary effects in correcting children’s behavior. Also, it can humiliate a child by insulting his or her personality and have a poor affect on their self esteem. Besides, physical punishment can be abused because there aren’t any concrete standards to regulate how much punishment is proper in disciplining.
Dead Poets Society, a movie set in Welton Academy, a rigorous and elite all-boys private school, brings to life the philosophy of transcendentalism through its characters. The philosophy, which believes a person needs to find their individual, unique self and not allow the conformist ways of society to hamper the ability to have self-reliance, is introduced by Mr. Keating, the new English teacher who, through his distinctive teaching methods, exemplifies the transcendentalist idea and breathes life into it. His personification of this philosophy is not only readily welcomed by the boys, but acted upon, consequently impacting his students in a profound manner.
Dead Poets Society is a classic film that surveys some of the most important factors in education. Following several students and their English teacher Mr. Keating, the movie displays the importance of free thought and living a unique and bold life. Through Mr. Keating’s lessons, the students learn the importance of following what they love and resisting the authority that prevents them loving what they do. The film is mainly focused on being different and creative and societies fear of creativity and change and the consequences of this ideological battle.
Corporal punishment means to educate by implement of physical pain on learners in order to enhance their ability of studying. As we know, students will often follow the instructions which given by their instructor. However, if they don’t, many instructors are likely to introduce the corporal punishment such as hitting, slapping, spanking and kicking rather than promotes the oral education method to force their students to have a better performance. Gradually, corporal punishment have become a widely known phenomenon all over the world. According to the Department of Education’s 2006 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC), it clearly showed that a total of 223,190 students without disabilities received corporal punishment in that year around the