FREE ESSAY ON DEAD POET'S SOCIETY

DEAD POET'S SOCIETY

"Carpe Diem"
In the film Dead Poet's Society there is an environment created that was rigid and
strict. At Welton Academy there were four pillars of ideals that students must attain to
and follow. These were excellence, honor, tradition, and discipline. A new teacher was
appointed to teach English. John Keating brought with him a style that promoted the
individual. This was in direct contrast to the four pillars of ideals. Mr. Keating's
Latin saying of Carpe Diem, which meant seize the day, was something that would cause
problems to arise at the academy. A few of his students would deviate from academy's
path.
Knox Overstreet was a young man who was attending Welton Academy. He had followed all the
rules as everyone else and obeyed. However after a few of Mr. Keating's classes he
changed his outlook of life. Knox had an affinity towards this girl, Chris Noel, but it
was against school policy to have women on campus during a semester. With the new saying
of Carpe Diem in his mind, Knox ignored the rules and ensued after Chris. In his wooing
he attended parties and even met her at her public high school. If the Headmaster found
news of this, Knox would have been expelled. Despite all the consequences Know decided to
seize the day and forget the whims of society to follow his dreams.
Another student of John Keating's was Charles Dalton. He was more laid back than Knox but
he still adhered to the academy's rules and regulations. Charles was completely taken by
the saying, and changed his lifestyle. At the boys illegal Dead Poet's Society meetings
in which they read aloud poetry, he brought tobacco pipes and alcohol as well as girls.
As seen by his new name, Nwanda, Charlie broke free of the strict life he had to follow
at Welton. He even defied the Headmaster during a meeting by interrupting his speech with
a phone call from "God". Although this new behavior ultimately led to his expulsion, the
life at Welton was probably not suitable for an individual like him.
Neil Perry was greatly moved by the Latin words, Carpe Diem. His father set forth such
high demands and little choice for Neil. His disciplinarian father mapped out his career
and life. Neil always submitted to his father but was always left unhappy and not content
with all that his father had planned and all the rules that he had to abide by. Neil had
dreams of acting and earned the lead part in the local play. Although he was overjoyed,
his father thought otherwise. When his father ordered him to quit and never to act again,
he resisted his father's order and told him what he wished to do. Neil acted brilliantly
in his play and his childhood dream was accomplished. He told his father his individual
needs and desires. However his father's response to his son led to tragedy, as he
committed suicide.
Walt Whitman wrote, "Two roads diverged in the wood, and I chose the one less traveled
on, and that has made all the difference." By following your own beliefs, your desires
will be fulfilled. The boy's introduction to Carpe Diem led to happiness for all of them.
They followed their own desires and were for once happy and free from the chains of
Welton Academy.
Bibliography
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