How does the director, Pete Weir, shape our response to the issue of conformity versus individualism in the film Dead Poets Society?

Essay by ross1221 September 2014

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How does the director, Pete Weir, shape our response to the issue of conformity versus individualism in the film Dead Poets Society? Respond to the question in an essay.

In the film Dead Poets Society there are two main issues that are focused upon. These two issues include the battle between whether conformity or individualism is right. We are shown the two end results of choosing both of the different approaches with your life moral. The director takes us through both the good and bad of both conformity and individualism. The school in which the movie is based around is very formal, making the battle of individualism very hard and frowned upon by most people. Throughout the movie we are shown by the director the different ways in which the school is against individualism, but we are also shown breakthroughs of individualism in both the teachers and students.

The director Peter Weir clearly shows us his opinion towards the fight between individualism and conformity. He shows us how he thinks conformity may be the right path to success, but showing us sometimes you need to go off that road to chase your dreams and be happy in life, which may also result in a great deal of success. He puts a bad twist to the results of people being forced into high expectations in which they do not think they can achieve. Despite Peter showing us how we should be individuals, he also shows us how hard being an individual can be, being totally different to everybody else and having many people against your decisions.

Right at the start of the movie we are given an insight at the general manner in which the school commences. The director focuses on the morals of the school;...