This is right after Neil's death, and to me, at least, is one of the most affecting, sad, and beautiful (in how its filmed) parts of the movie. What "Dead Poet's Society" gets so well, in my opinion, is the life of these young men (and woman, when we include Chris). I believe everything they say and do—I believe that Chris would be taken by the romantic Knox. I believe that the boys would be self-conscious and nervous when Charlie—Nuwanda!—brings the two girls into the sacred cave. I believe it when Neil kills himself, just as I understand why he cannot bring himself to tell his father what he thinks when asked. I believe that Nuwanda ends up being the only one of the gang to not betray Keating—just as I don't hold it against the rest that they do. The adults in many ways are sketches and one-dimensional, but not the kids.
So much to ask you guys about. So:
1. Reaction to the movie? Like? Dislike? Why? What moment or scene in the movie stays with you—and why?
2. Of the boys (and girl), which one did you feel most drawn to—or liked the most? Neil the actor? Todd the shy one? Charlie the rebel? Knox the romantic? Cameron the overachiever? Meeks and/or Pitts who make their own radio? Another? And why?
3. John Keating. Robin Williams' first dramatic role. But of course he got to be "Robin Williams" with his imitations and humor. We know actually little about Keating. He went to Welton—Hellton. He started the DPS. He taught in Europe. He has a wife still in London. He came back to his alma mater to teach, leaving his wife behind. He appears to be the youngest member of the faculty. His students love him. He teaches literature, which for him means only the romantic poets and Walt Whitman. He tells his students to "seize the day" but here he is at Hellton, living a monastic life. He urges them to rebel, but gently chastises Charlie when he does actually rebel. In the clip above, after Neil's death, we see him look at his DPS book, which has so influenced these very innocent boys, and break down in tears. Did anyone wonder why? Because Neil is dead? Because he may have had some role, tiny as it may have been, in Neil's fate? Because he recognizes the distance between what he says and teaches and how he actually lives?
The real question(s): is Keating a good teacher? Why or why not? What is it exactly that he teaches? Would you want him for a teacher? In a world where the boys' parents and school administrators in many ways let them down, has Keating in any way, shape, or form, let them down too? Why or why not?
That's four questions in number 3, I realize. But answer them all. As well as 1 and 2. And we'll see you guys tomorrow for "To Sir With Love." Here's a preview:
ReplyDeleteI really liked the movie. I think the two scenes that stick with me the most are the scene where Mr. and Mrs. Perry find Neil dead because their reactions seemed very real and made Neil's suicide even more moving than if we had heard the gunshot and saw his body. The second scene that sticks with me is when the boys stand on their desks as a show of loyalty to Mr. Keating.
I liked Todd the most because his character was one of the characters who changed the most over the course of the film. Todd changes from the really shy boy who doesn't talk in class to the person who knows that he needs to stand up for what and who he believes him even if it gets him in trouble. We also don't learn a lot about Todd's past or personal life but we know that his older brother was valedictorian, his parents have gotten him the same present two years in a row, and he has a fear that what he says and/or feels doesn't matter. I think at the start of the movie everyone expected Todd to follow in his brother's footsteps, but by the end the other characters began to see him as his own person.
Yes, I believe Keating is a good teacher. He reminds me of a lot of teachers I have had at paideia because, while he does teach his students about literature, the main emphasis of his class is freethinking. The idea about wether or not teenage boys have the capacity to think for themselves is a theme throughout the movie with Mr. Keating being one of the only adults who believes that the boys can. Keating uses unorthodox teaching methods and not everything he does is about literature, but I think that he is able to instill in his students a love of poetry and of literature that might not have been there before. He also is able to teach his students that their ideas and thoughts matter and that they deserve to have a say about what and who they become.
I really enjoyed the movie. This isn't a specific scene but it struck me how nice Neil was to Todd, and how he really wanted to be inclusive.
ReplyDeleteI was really drawn the Charlie. I felt like he was the most unmovable in his beliefs and that was cool to witness. Especially when all of the boys signed the letter saying that Keating was responsible for Neil's death but he settled for expulsion. I also feel like he was the most unpredictable of the boys and I enjoyed his spontaneity.
I also liked Todd because of how much his character developed. Watching him gain confidence throughout the film was really interesting.
I think Keating is a good teacher. Even though his lessons may not always be filled with just literature, he's, as he said, teaching the boys to be free thinkers, which I think is a much more valuable skill. He's also able to instill passion in the boys about something that they may not have otherwise been passionate about. He's given them the opportunity to have the experience of being a part of the Dead Poets Society, which I feel was really pivotal for each of them as people. He's teaching them really applicable skills and concepts, like nonconformity and looking at things from a different perspective, under the guise of literature, which seems like a good way to do it. This may be far fetched, but I feel like the boys would take him less seriously if he tried to teach them these life lessons without tying them into another subject. I don't think Keating let them down. I think he made them see more clearly the ways that their parents and the administration were letting them down. And he seemed to make them realize that there was something that they could do about the shortcomings of the people around them. And even if he did let them down by teaching them less literature than the administration of the school thought he should, the lessons that they learned from him unrelated to poetry will last them longer than memorizing what the different types of rhyme and meter are, I think.
I really like this movie, mostly because it because it doesn't have a clear cut bad guy and good guy, (other than the principal of course). Yes, I still strongly dislike Neil's father for being so obstinate, but he seriously thought he was doing what was best for his son. This movie does a good job of showing that in situations like these, there is no one person to blame.
ReplyDeleteI have multiple favorites in this movie; Neil, Charlie, and Todd. Neil because he is a very good leader and really truly cares about the people around him. Charlie because he's hilarious and is very sure of himself. He's not afraid to stick it to the man. And I like Todd because he is just a genuinely nice person.
I think Keating is a good teacher, because he really cares and is invested in his students, and he wants to teach them something useful. He teaches because he wants to help these students out and make them realize there is more to life than the four pillars of excellence or whatever. I would personally love to have him as a teacher, since he is so enthusiastic and creative, and tries to make his classes fun. I don't think that Keating really let them down at all. In the case of him reprimanding Charlie, I think he had a point. While Charlie was rebelling, he was being kinda reckless. Yes, Mr. Keating was telling them all to "Cease the day!", but not stupidly and carelessly. He wanted them to improve their lives by adding variety and excitement; he didn't want them to throw all their chances away by not thinking. No one is perfect, but I think Keating did a good job of really making the boys think about how they want their lives to turn out.
I did enjoy this movie, particularly the last scene, because of, how, stated above previously, believable it was. The characters were authentic and well rounded, and even the adults has more than one side to them. I found the scene were Neil's father finds him dead heartbreaking, as it shows the love, if incredibly tough and close-minded, he had for his son. The movie showed well how difficult the situations the characters were put in were, and how they responded as humans do. Even when Todd signed the paper, you could empathize with him, having seen him fall into step with the principle moments before, showing how difficult it is not to conform.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite in this play was Todd, simply because of how great the actor was. I felt so uncomfortable listening to him talk in class, and thats what a good actor does-make you feel the characters emotions. As just a character he was a well-developed shy kid, but the superb acting made him all the better.
I thought Keating was a good teacher, one who tries to teach his students to be free thinkers, but I could definitely see where Charlie was confused. His lessons and ideas made sense to him mostly, and he could be misleading when conveying them to his students. I think that might have explained his tears at the end, he wonders if he misguided Neil on accident, that he was not clear enough with his reasons. It was not his fault, obviously, but that doesn't always stop a person from feeling that way. He was a great teacher, one that I would want, but sometimes his brain probably put his lessons into a better order than he spoke them in.
I like this movie as a movie, but not as something to analyze or think about in the slightest. The events in general seem highly unrealistic and everything is way overdramatic, especially Neil standing in the window in his crown of thorns. The movie itself is interesting enough, but it doesn't leave me with a feeling of not being able to get it out of my head. To me, a good movie is one that is interesting when I'm watching it and plagues my mind for weeks after. This movie will be gone in a few days if I don't try to keep it in mind. It doesn't make me think about some flaw in society that must be fixed; the flaw in society in this movie is the principle, and once he's gone, everything is better. It does raise the point that people need to think for themselves and follows through with this point, but it's the kind of idea that you think about during the movie, and once it's over, it doesn't apply anymore. After all, you can't change how people think without doing anything extremely drastic, as Keating has done.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the most fascinating of the boys was Charlie. He seemed at first like someone who was very hormonal and lacking in thought. He played this part completely until Neil's death, when we see his true love for the people around him. He may seem like the unfeeling person that he tries to be, but he is really the most emotional of the group, in my opinion. He was also the most complex character of the group. He didn't just start one way and stay that way, and his change wasn't brought on by someone else, like Todd's was brought on by Keating. Charlie's visible change was only a reaction to his surroundings. I believe that he always had deep feelings about people and just never showed them until something tragic happened to someone he loved. I would like to know about his family and his past. I think he would be a very interesting character to have a back story on.
I think that Keating's response to seeing his old poetry book had something to do with Neil's death, along with his history with the DPS and that book. I think he feels bad about Neil's death and the role that he may have played in it by teaching him to think differently, but I think his reaction is primarily one to the memories that he has with the DPS. I think he remembers something that happened to him (possibly how the DPS changed his life as it did the boys') in his years at Welton that was triggered only when he saw his own handwriting. I think he is remembering how he changed when he was young, and how unfortunate it is that he could have this change and Neil couldn't have it while still being alive.
I think that Keating is a good teacher, and I think that Welton needs someone who teaches students to think for themselves, but I think that Keating is a bit too extreme in his wish for the boys to be individuals, especially in their surroundings. Because Welton is such a conservative school, there are going to be problems when children learn to defy their parents (who want to control their children's lives). This is shown with Neil and with Todd when he doesn't want to sign the paper. Essentially, it's good that the students learn to be who they want to be, but an idea such as this needs to be integrated slowly at such a conservative school.
I enjoyed the movie. I thought that the cinematography was beautiful in its self. With beautiful images of the settings and great ways of portraying the characters, the movie captures the viewer’s eyes. I think what mad the movie truly great though was the level of depth from the characters. They were all different and unique. They were very realistic. I found myself laughing at many moments during the movie. There was happiness and laughter coupled with teenage angst, insecurities, and heartbreak. I think that is what makes this movie so relatable; the common teenage and human emotions are relatable for the viewer. As much as I disliked seeing Neil die, probably the most tragic scene in the movie, I think it offered a level of complexity to the movie. When something as terrible as this happens, we see true characters come out. Overall, I would say that I greatly enjoyed this movie.
ReplyDeleteI am most drawn to Neil. Though he is the character that kills himself, that is not what sticks out most to me about him. He brings his friends together, he brings back the Dead Poets Society, and he shares the common teenage dilemma of dealing with independence and still security with one’s parents. He is a character with a level of complexity that is revealed throughout the film. He is a happy and seemingly good-hearted guy, but he is scared. He fears failing his parents and their expectations. I think it is the layers of Neil that draw me to him. His exterior shell is much different than his inner shell. That is a realistic characteristic that I think all teenagers can relate to. It was very sad to see Neil die, but his death brought meaning to many of the other boys’ lives. They were finally able to think for themselves.
I still believe that Keating is a good teacher. He provided the kids with how to think for themselves and how to learn not by memorizing and reciting. He as a teacher had the basic role of making the kids learn literature. He did much more than that; he touched the kids’ lives. He taught those kids something a textbook would never have taught them. He taught them real life. He taught them to think for themselves. He taught them to stand-up (quite literally as well). I would want him as a teacher. I think he would take my learning beyond memorization and recitation. He would not just prepare me for college, but he would prepare me to be an adult with my own thoughts. I will play devil’s advocate and say that he may have let the parents and administration down by not fulfilling their expectations of him as a teacher. What I personally believe though is that he gave their kids, their students a reason to be interested in learning. The parents and the administration jumped quickly to conclusions about Keating. I do not think they ever heard him out or looked at the good work he had done on their kids. I think that outweighs any let down the parents and administration had about Keating.
I thought the movie was amazing because it shows a perspective into a life that’s different from anything that I’d ever experience. It was interesting to see the differences between the school in the movie and Paideia, like the strict regulations, the boarding school lifestyle, and the overwhelming percentage of boys. One scene that stays with me is of the first Dead Poet’s Society meeting. While the boys joke around and have a good time, there are moments where they are completely entranced by the beauty of poetry. I thought it was symbolic for their relationship with Mr. Keating: he’s funny, engaging, and even quirky, but still manages to teach them the lessons that classic literature offers.
ReplyDeleteNeil was the most relatable and likable young character to me. His positivity and willingness to include Todd immediately indicated a hero-esque attitude driven by justice and other noble motivations. He was never ashamed to show respect for adults and bravely met with Mr. Keating when he was struggling with a tough decision. Nevertheless, Neil was still a teenage boy and could have a great time with his friends. His downfall was following his passion, a reason that no one can put down.
Another scene that left an impact with me is the one of Mr. Keating crying. Often times, especially in this movie, adults, teachers, and other authority figures are represented as heartless droids whose purpose it is to ruin the lives of young people. Although the audience had already seen many humane aspects of the English professor, Mr. Keating’s moment of pain over the death of his student was very touching. I believe he’s crying because he blames himself for Neil’s suicide, as most people do when they’re close with somebody who dies. I disagree with the idea that Mr. Keating is crying because of how his own life turned out in comparison with how he tells his students to live. He tells Neil that he’s at Hellton because he’s loves teaching and that love is obvious when we watch him in any academic environment.
I thought Mr. Keating seemed like he could easily be found in the English department at Paideia; couldn’t you see him getting a laugh out of Joseph Cullen? His creative ways of engaging his students through movement and various voices felt very familiar to me and it would not be out of place at this school. I’d love to have him as a teacher. I think Mr. Keating let the boys down after he was fired. The kids welcomed Mr. Keating as a brief glimpse into the joy of learning after living in a dull, strict environment for so long. Though it was not truly his fault, Mr. Keating was terminated after warning the boys to be careful about the consequences of rebelling in the wrong ways. This can lead the boys to conclude that Mr. Keating’s only real crime was teaching them in a way that they enjoyed and that all good things in life must come to a brutal end.
I had heard a lot about Dead Poet’s Society but never watched it and I must say that I am glad that I have now seen it. I thought it was a good movie, and even though I don’t enjoy it emotionally, I do try to make myself see movies from time to time that aren’t run of the mill romantic comedies or comedies. I would consider Dead Poet’s Society one of these movies. It was hard to watch towards the end, but I think that it was a good break from ordinary blockbusters. My favorite scene was the scene where Neil was acting in A Midsummer Night’s Dream because I think it was one of the only scenes where everyone (minus Neil’s father) was happy. I liked many of the scenes though, and the close runners up of my favorite scene are the scene with Neil wearing Puck’s crown at the open window, and the final O Captain! My Captain! scene.
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite character or the one I was drawn to the most was Neil. His character was really believable and it was heartbreaking that he felt he needed to end his own life in order to escape his father’s orders. He also was a very likeable character in that he was so friendly to Todd from the very beginning and I loved the scene on Todd’s birthday when his parents gave him the same desk set they had given him the year before and Neil urges him to destroy it.
I think that Keating is a very good teacher. He works very hard to break away from the monotony and mediocrity of the boys’ daily lives and classes and tries and I think succeeds, to change the boys’ perspective not only on poetry and English, but on life. Keating teaches his students that having a different perspective can change your whole outlook on things and also to “seize the day” which helps the boys free themselves from their limitations. I would like to have Keating as a teacher because I think he would make learning very fun and therefore easy and enjoyable to learn. I think the only way that Keating let the boys was in the end when he was forced to stop teaching at Welton, which is not his fault, but I think the boys thought that he should have put up a fight and tried to explain himself to the parents and faculty.
I like this movie so much. Maybe this is an obvious scene to comment on, but one of the most memorable to me is the last one, when the students stand on their desks. It’s the perfect ending to the way things shape up in the movie. At this point, Neil is dead, Charlie is gone, Keating has been fired, the Dead Poet Society has essentially dissolved, the boys have been made to betray their beloved teacher and sign something they don’t believe in—everyone and everything is in a bad place. The horrible old principal even comes in and starts teaching Keating’s class all wrong. But then the students, led by Todd of all people, stand on their desks in a tribute to Keating as he is walking out their class forever. I think it’s really a beautiful ending—not too tidy and happy, but as happy as it could be under the circumstances. It serves as a last reminder that their experiences with Keating and Neil made an impact on them and changed them for the better.
ReplyDeleteI think I was most drawn to Neil. He was more or less the leader of the gang, if there was a clear leader. He always made sure to include everyone and encourage them to be their best selves. He was just a really nice guy, and all the others clearly respected him a lot looked up to him, particularly Todd.
Keating is undoubtedly an unbelievable source of inspiration and encouragement for his students. I think he’s particularly valuable and unique at Welton, to these boys who definitely have never had a teacher anything like him before and who have been forced to conform and obey and are badly in need of someone to encourage their individuality. And that’s what he teaches them—how to explore and express their individuality, how to “carpe diem,” how to suck the marrow out of life. And I think he is very good at teaching them that. But I don’t think he’s perfect. He urges them to seize the day, but he suggests no limits except to reprimand. His controversial lessons are sure to counter what every Welton boy has been taught by his family and his effect on his students will no doubt cause conflict with their families, but he never moderates the extremity of his lessons based on that. I personally would love to have Keating as a teacher, and I think he would fit in well at Paideia, but I think he sometimes should have reminded himself who he was influencing. Also, he was always singling out the boys and calling them out in front of the class, especially Todd. I know he was just trying to get Todd to break out of his shell, but sometimes it seemed a little unnecessary to embarrass him in front of his classmates.
I really enjoyed the movie. I thought it was extremely well done. Everything about it-the characters, the costumes, the scenery was very tasteful. A moment that stuck out to me in particular was the first moment the dad came in and yelled at Neil, forcing him to drop out of the extracurricular he enjoyed and would help head this year. It stood out to me because I had a feeling it would later play a part in the story, and it certainly did.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the character of Todd because throughout the film we get to see his transformation from a quiet, shy teenage boy to one who stands atop his desk to salute the teacher who really helped him to come out of his shell. I liked the scene in which Keating spins him around the room with his eyes closed and tells him to ignore the other kids so that he can for the first time in his life speak out loud and from the heart. At the end of this scene, we find that Todd is in fact a wonderful poet-it was a secret talent until then.
I think Keating was partly crying from sorrow due to the death of one of his students whom he shared a close relationship with. However, I think Keating is a smart enough man to know that it was not he who killed Neil. I also don't think he was criticizing himself in terms of not living up to his own standards because he said so himself that he came back to the school because he loves to teach, there's nothing else he'd rather be doing. I think his tears were partly as a result of knowing exactly what Neil was going through- perhaps he had experienced it himself- but felt helpless that he couldn't do anything about it. Keating had a good sense of what Neil was going through-perhaps he'd wished to have done something about it.
I think Keating is a good teacher. He's not conventional or rule-oriented. He knows exactly how to engage his students, how to get them to open up, to not be so close-minded. He gets them to perform exercises, to move around, all in an attempt to do this. He teaches them skills that are important in life. He teaches them to make the most of what's in front of them and to stand up for what they believe in. I would be only too happy to experience his teaching methods. Though I may feel shy or self conscious in the beginning, I would hope to learn to warm up and to not take everything so seriously and to not look at everything a certain way, but to see from different angles (Something else he teaches). I don't think Keating has done anything to let his students down. If anything, the fact that he no longer teaches there would be the biggest let down. He was good for those boys and by the end of the film we can tell that they've learned his teachings well.
I really enjoyed watching the movie, especially because I have heard about how great it was for so long. I too agree that many parts of the movie and its plot are realistic and the characters are relatable. The scene that stays with me the most is when the boys are taken into the principal's office one by one. I still don't know what I would do in their situation, considering how much Mr. Keating did for them and how well he taught them. I never have been and (most likely) never will be in such a school as Welton, so it is hard for me to determine what stance I would take in their situation.
ReplyDeleteI was drawn most to Neil due to his courage and personality. He was always willing to include Todd when Todd was just "the new kid." He was courageous enough to go and try out for the play, even against his father's wishes. He was stuck with his father's expectations for years and couldn't do anything about it. Unfortunately, Neil believed the only solution was suicide, causing easily the saddest scene of the whole movie. Neil is a character we all become attached to.
I do believe Mr. Keating is a good teacher and very unique in his methods. Mr. Keating went through Welton himself, and knows exactly what not to do due to the fact that he was taught just that when he was there. He knows how to get through to his students, something a lot of teachers are unable to do. He teaches them to think outside the box and push the limits of their learning. That is something a traditional teacher does not do.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I could match each character in the movie with people that I knew in my own life, making the storyline and character development relatable and believe. Because of this, seeing Neil's death was heart-wrenching, but at the same time it felt right for the story. One of the most memorable moments for me was seeing Neil's face in the window of his car as his dad slowly drove him away from the theatre. Every emotion in his face was raw. It was the last time all of Neil's friends, and Keating, saw him before he died. That image will be in my brain for a while. My other favorite (and probably cliché) scene was the final scene where the boys stand on their desks in honor of Keating. It wasn't like they did it to persuade the principle to let Keating stay, it was as if they had something to owe to Keating. Their act of rebellion was their way of saying "thank you," even though Keating ended up thanking them.
ReplyDeleteI felt drawn to all the characters in different ways. I liked Neil's spirit and passion for whatever he put his mind to, his leadership in the group that brought the boys together, and his incredibly big heart towards Todd and the other boys. Todd was a powerful character from the beginning, seeming like someone who distanced themselves from others, but really connected with his friends and eventually led them to standing on their desks. It was interesting to see his character grow as he emerged from his shell. I loved Knox because of his determination and success to get Chris. That alternate storyline worked well for the movie.
Although Keating may have subtly encouraged breaking the rules, he did so for all the right reasons. He cared about the futures of these boys. Not necessarily their successes as doctors or lawyers, but the person they would soon become. He gave them wisdom that no textbook or "traditional" teacher could provide. I would love to have him as a teacher, despite the fact that his character is so mysterious.
I enjoyed the movie because of the commentary on teaching, parenting, and overall environment a kid grows up in. There are many moments that stay with me–pretty much the final 20 minutes or so. The scene that stuck out to me the most is when Neil is talking to his parents in his living room and he and his dad are yelling. Neil says something like about how he feels, and his fathers asks him how he feels, and Neil says “nothing.” At that moment you could tell Neil had given up and that something bad was going to happen.
ReplyDeleteTodd was the most interesting character to me. Becoming friends with Neil and the gang, along with Keating’s teaching, really help shape who he is. At the beginning of the movie he already feels like he is in his brother’s shadow and is very closed off. That isn’t his personality, however–he is acting how the new kids always act. But there a few turning points where he begin to feel comfortable in his own skin, and it ultimately leads to him standing up to the headmaster.
I think Keating fits perfectly at Welton. His class is the only time of the day where the boys can be creative and think for themselves. Keating teaches them to think for themselves, and the behavior of most of the boys change with his influence. Todd begins to work his way out of his shell, Know builds up the courage to talk to Chris, and Charlie does some stupid stuff. I would want him for a teacher even though I’m not a fan of poetry.
I think it’s unfair to say Keating let the students down. Many of the students are stuck in difficult situations–they are sent to school to behave like robots to become doctors and lawyers, and haven’t developed the skills to think for themselves. Keating understands this, as he attended Welton, and he sets out to change the lack of thinking in the boys’ school lives. What Keating doesn’t realize is how significant a role he plays. He wants to change how the boys think, but he doesn’t want to do so as dramatically as the boys think. Charlie thinks he does what Keating would want with his prank, but Keating know that is too far. In hindsight, Keating probably realizes that some boys could have responded in extreme measures to his teaching tactics. Many of the boys at Welton don’t think for themselves–their fathers or teachers do–so when they finally feel free to think for themselves, they take it too far. The boys have stored up all their thoughts for so long that when they decide to start thinking, all of their thoughts take over their brain and lead to impulsive decisions.
I really enjoyed this movie. I loved all of the characters and found them to be very relatable and adorable. Along with being able to relate with the characters, which I think is one of a key factors in a good movie, the scenery of the movie was beautiful as well as the way the movie was filmed. It was overall wonderful. One of the parts that stayed with me the most is when they were all marching out of the cave, singing a poem. It displayed their friendship as if it was a brotherhood and showed how close they were.
ReplyDeleteI think that I enjoyed Charlie the most as a character because of the hilarity he brought to the movie. The best quality that I felt he had, that really stuck out with me, was his ability to stand up for himself and what he believes, which was something the rest of the boys were only learning to do. Even when he was punished by the headmaster for his rebellion, he kept his chin up and continued smiling and goofing around, which I thought was a great quality.
The moment where Keating breaks down in tears mainly showed two things for me. The first idea shown was that Keating truly allowed himself to grieve for the loss of Neil, who I believe he had become particularly fond of. Maybe Neil resembled how Keating was when he was at Welton, which was why he was so ready to help him stick up for who he truly is and what he wants. The second idea is that Keating felt some guilt in driving this boy to his death. I am sure Keating is aware that it was his father’s overbearing presence that truly sent Neil over the edge, but Keating did show him the path to make Neil’s father that upset and cling to the idea of Neil he had in his head as the perfect, obedient son.
I believe that Keating still is a great teacher. I love the idea of him teaching these boys to stand up for themselves and form their own opinions in life. Though we talked today, John, and I know you feel as though he wasn’t really a great teacher at all since he never asked them any questions, I do believe he was a positive influence in these boys lives. Along with that, Keating did let them down. When teaching them how to be who they want to be and challenge those who restrict you, he forgot to tell them the limits. He neglected to teach them when it is the right time to back down, as well as what are the best ways to approach fighting for yourself.
I loved this movie.It says so much about education, parenting and what it's like to be a teenager. All of the characters are extremely relatable and authentic which makes it such a great movie. While there are very memorable scenes throughout the film, the last scene really stood out to me. I was so shocked by the fact that Todd was the first to stand on his desk. It really showed his growth from a shy kid into a slightly more confident young man because of the help of the Dead Poet's Society and Mr. Keating. I love this scene because they finally stand up to their horrible principal and honor their great teacher, Mr, Keating.
ReplyDeleteOut of all of the characters in the film, I was most drawn to Neil. From the start, I felt horrible for the kid. His father completely dominated his life and it made Neil miserable. He does so because he want Neil to succeed in life but he goes about it in a horrible manner. Neil is really a brilliant and talented kid who had the ability to participate in a number of extracurriculars and still make great grades. His dad just feared that he might lose focus. I admired Neil's passion and his courage. He displays both of these qualities when he auditions for the play even though he knows that his father would never allow him to do so. He was really just a great guy.
I think that Keating is a great teacher. He not only taught the boys about poetry, but he also taught them to be passionate about life. The boys at Welton need Keating. They never have any opportunities to express themselves like they get in Keating's class.I would love to have Keating or any teacher that could make me as interested in something as Keating made his students in poetry. I don't think Keating let the boys down at all. He really had a positive influence on the boys and we see that they really like him in the final scene where they stand on their desks.
1) I definitely couldn’t help but love this movie. Something about it pulled me in and kept me there, probably somewhat because it dealt with celebrating poetry and romanticizing what life has to offer. I think I liked this movie most though, because it was so refreshing and so genuine. Often when kids from boarding schools or Ivy Leagues are portrayed in movies, they come off as snobbish, full of themselves, and not very emotionally available (and only concerned with the hardness of life.) This movie presented a much different image. Though the group of boys the movie focuses on are unique, I think the movie shows that all the students at Welton are just young boys, who all have passion and desire and romance somewhere inside of them, and shouldn’t be so demonized for it, as it is perfectly natural. Keating recognizes this, and celebrates this, pushes them to find their drive, and to find what makes life worth living. The characters were each complex and varied and realized they didn’t have to be so rigid anymore. It was liberating to watch. I think the scenes I most liked were Keating’s sermons. Though they might’ve been cliché, the guys at Welton had never heard stuff like that and it was very powerful.
ReplyDelete2) The character I was most drawn to was Neil. He was energized, expressive, and definitely a leader in their group. As Todd said, “people actually listened” to what Neil had to say. Even though Neil is certainly popular, he talks to everyone and tries to get to know his roommate. I like when Neil says to Todd “whose side are you even on?” It seems like Neil is always pushing Todd a little bit, and I don’t think Todd would’ve come out of his shell without Neil. I like Neil’s hopefulness, drive, and passion. He doesn’t really care what other think and has the courage to pursue acting against his father’s will.
3) I think when Keating sees the book in Neil’s desk after Neil’s suicide, this is the first time he is really aware of his direct link to their rebellion. He knew they re-organized the Dead Poet’s Society, but seeing the book, his own handwriting, he knew that they had really taken it seriously and used his exact words. I think he breaks down in tears out of tremendous guilt and sadness over Neil’s death. I think he is a good teacher and did everything he could. He couldn’t have forseen the effects of his teaching and though Neil was inspired by Keating, his suicide had much more to do with his parents than Keating in my opinion. Keating made some mistakes, but he changed their lives forever, and they really found themselves.
1) I liked the movie in total. I thought it was an interesting and very true perspective on the lives of these people who go to prep schools. The thing that stayed with me the most from the movie is just the tensions of stress. I could definitely relate to that going to Paideia which is such a hard school. Everywhere in the movie there was stress whether it was from schoolwork, homework, classes, girls, parents, or sneaking out.
ReplyDelete2) I think I felt most drawn to Charlie the rebel. I think this is because throughout the whole movie, he shows the most genuine change of nonconformity. I think that this is proven when he is the only one who doesn’t betray Keating. He also changes his name to Nuwanda and is a pretty funny guy. His love affair with Chris was also pretty funny and I loved how he showed so much effort to try and win her over.
3) I think that Keating is a good teacher. I felt as though he was very knowledgeable about his subject and taught it in a unique and interesting way. I though it was brilliant that while he was teaching his material, he incorporated life lessons into it, the most notable and obvious being of nonconformity. This can be seen as he marches them around the schoolyard and has them rip pages out of their textbooks that he doesn’t agree with. I think that I would love to have Keating as a teacher because he seems to respect and have a deep empathy for all of his students and wants them to succeed. I think it would be great to have a teacher who could inspire like Keating can. Also, I think that Keating has been a bright spot in the otherwise bleak lives that they have been forced to live. His class always comes with a sense of freedom and his nonconformist attitude gives them hope that they are the true leaders of their lives.