Dead Poet's Society - Analysis in relation to What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Essay by simplycomplexHigh School, 12th gradeA-, January 2005

download word file, 3 pages 3.0

Title: Dead Poets Society

Date: Released during 1989

Author: Tania Modleski

Source: Paramount Pictures

Type of Text: Film

Summary:

Dead Poets Society explores the conflict between realism and romanticism as these contrasting ideals are presented to the students at an all boys preparatory school. Welton Academy is founded on tradition and excellence and is bent on providing strict structured lessons prescribed by the realist, anti-youth administration.

John Keating is a new English teacher with a passion for poetry. When he returns to his own strict childhood school to teach, his unconventional methods quickly prove to be inspirational to a group of students. He inspires them to pursue their desires and live life to the fullest.

The students re-institute a secret society that Keating used to run called the Dead Poets Society. The society meet in an old cave and recite famous poetry and works of their own. Problems soon start to arise when the actions of the students become unfavorable with the conformist attitudes of both the school and the boys parents.

How it relates to self-discovery:

Dead poets society relates to the area of self-discovery in many ways. Most people find out something about themselves through their experiences.

Among them, Neil Perry discovers that his real passion in life is acting and proceeds to land the role of Puck in a Midsummer Night's Dream at the local theater. He begins to weave a tangled web of deception by failing to inform his father, then lying to Mr. Keating when his father finds out and demands he quit the play. Feeling trapped, after his final performance and a standing ovation, he takes his own life.

The most important discovery made in the film was by Todd Anderson. Todd is painfully shy and terrified that what he says is insignificant...