Teachers are wonderful heroes. In the movie, Dead Poets Society the teacher/hero is John Keating, played magnificently by Robin Williams. The film takes place at a small preparatory boys' school (Welton Academy) in the late 1950's. The story follows the lives of a group of students and the way that Mr. Keating's teachings influence them. He encourages the boys to become freethinkers and to live life for the moment. The message hallowed by Keating is one of mortality--do not waste your life, for you will get no other, and when you are 'food for worms' will the world have been a better place because you were in it? This message is prevalent throughout the film.
Keating…show more content…
Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary!' (3). Sadly, it is Keating's dogmatic charisma that proves to be his undoing as 'the drama races from high comedy to heartbreak to tragedy' (3). His 'live life for the moment' attitude leads the boys to a sorrowful fate and in the end Keating is sacrificed by the school for the good of the boys. One can only wonder if the director, Peter Weir, was trying to emulate the sacrifice that Christ made for his followers. If this is not the case, certain symbolism found in the architecture cannot be missed.
The architecture of Welton Academy appears gothic and reminiscent of old England. Perhaps this led Georgia Brown, a columnist for Village Voice, to remark that, 'Weir's conspicuous moonstruck silhouettes make the boys look like Druids' (59). The buildings and grounds do not characterize a modern day institution of learning. Welton Academy is more like a prison than a school, and this comparison is evident in the drab uniforms worn by the students, which Georgia Brown describes as 'charcoal-gray flannels, gray sweaters and, [sic] for outside, hooded duffle [sic] coats' (59). The addition of prisoner identification numbers would complement the ensemble very well. The school is the ideal place for forcing
Dead Poets Society Summary
Feb 19, 2014 Dead Poets Society. Is a Terrible Defense of the Humanities. The beloved film's portrayal of studying literature is both misleading and deeply seductive. Touchstone Pictures.
Dead Poets Society takes place within Welton Academy an elite, upper class WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) boarding school where tradition and being proper are the most important attributes. Into this mix comes John Keating (Robin Williams) the new English teacher who actually graduated from Welton. In honor of this quarter-century milestone, I’ve assembled a little reading list, which includes texts referenced in the film, as well as a few other books that have a similar theme. (And for a great Dead Poets Society live-blog, check out Jeff’s post here ). “Ulysses” (1833) by Alfred, Lord Tennyson- Remember that scene where the guys.
Dead Poets Society Full Movie
Despite Robin William's fine (if a tad cloying) performance, Dead Poets Society belongs to the boys, and the ensemble cast of young male actors (including Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, and Robert Sean Leonard) is up to the task. The movie also has a spell-casting ambiance, especially in the cave scenes. A thank you to the wonderful Robin Williams. May he rest in Peace.The scene is taken from 'Dead Poets Society' where the students tribute to their teacher Mr.