The Dead Poets Society

The boys learn to look at the world through a different perspective.

The film Dead Poets society is greatly influenced by Walt Whitman’s idea of individuality.  The whole story is based on the notion of being yourself and doing what you want to do.  To be able to express yourself in anyway that you want; whether it is by poetry or acting.  Whitman’s influence creates this movie by inspiring people to be individuals.

 

            Being a part of such a strict and disciplined catholic school, the boys of the Dead Poets Society all have their paths laid out for them to follow.  Neil Perry, the main character, dreams of being an actor.  Instead of following this aspiration, his father tells him that he’s going to be a doctor, and all he was ever taught to do was listen and obey.  Everyone who attends Welton Academy is automatically expected to be something extraordinary. 

            The first step towards change in these boy’s lives was the arrival of Mr. Keating.  He taught them to follow their own path and to “Carpe Diem”, or “Seize the day!”  This one phrase brings so much inspiration to the boy’s lives.  Neil follows his passion and tries out for a play (making the lead role), while his friend Knox Overstreet follows his heart and asks the girl of his dreams out on a date.  Mr. Keating also helps the quiet, tentative boy Todd Anderson find his own voice.  He teaches him to speak his mind despite what others may think.

            Mr. Keating shows these boys that their opinion is worth hearing.  That every individual should be able to do what they want, and to be able to find the beauty in anything.  The Dead Poets Society is all about expression. Expressing yourself through a poem, expressing how you fell, or expressing what you want to do.  Charlie Dalton stood as an example when he gave his opinion about making the all boys catholic school coed.  He ended up getting beaten, which emphasizes the point that all other authority figures wanted the children to keep to the rules and not express any opinions of their own.

            What Mr. Keating teaches in this film was what Walt Whitman preached all his life.  It’s OK to be yourself.  Everyone is beautiful and talented and should be able to express themselves however they choose.  “Carpe Diem” is a central idea that says life cannot be wasted.  Sometimes you have to stick up to authority in order to do the right thing.  Walt Whitman’s individualistic idea is what made this film so powerful.

Complexities of John Proctor

 

Daniel Day-Lewis plays John Proctor in Arther Miller's "The Crucible"

 

 

 

                John Proctor is a man with many qualities. As all humans do, he has weaknesses and strengths; some more prominent than others. Throughout the story we see all different sides of him laid out and all different emotions. He is a complex man who struggles through guilt as he tries to find himself.

                Proctor is an honest man. After his short adulterous lifestyle with Abigail Williams, he confesses to his wife without hesitation. He admits to lechery, and goes in front of the court in order to stop all the lies. Honesty is a definite strength, but with all strengths come weaknesses and his weaknesses are guilt and lust. As he is confessing his crime to the court he says, “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And while she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat.” He recognized his crime and came forth, all to save the ones he loved.

                John Proctor is a loving man. Love, for him, is both a strength and a weakness. The love he has for his friends and family forced him to speak about what he knew, even though it was a risky attempt. That same love for his family almost made him ruin his name; for he feared being without his wife and children. The love he has for his family turned out to be a weakness in itself, since it silenced him forever.  

                Dignity and honor are both strong attributes involved in the complexity of John Proctor. His honor and name are things that he strives to keep good. “Because it is name! Because I can not have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given my soul; leave me my name!” From this statement, it is evident that he does not want others to judge him, nor think negative thoughts at the sound of his name. When Elizabeth, his wife, inquired about his sultry affair, Proctor could only reply with harsh words and cruel conjectures. He would not have people relate his name to witchcraft. His sense of honor and dignity truly make him a good man.

                For John Proctor, there is a fine line between weakness and strength. His strengths may be considered weaknesses because they ended his life. Knowing that you died a good man and for reasons that should be honored can be of great satisfaction. All the qualities of Proctor make him an honorable man, loving husband, and trustworthy friend.

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!