Dead Poets Society

The movie has flaws but it is difficult not to get moved by Ethan Hawke’s “O’Captain, My Captain”, every time! The movie is about teaching kids to be free-thinking, free-spirited, original and daring, and questioning the education system which suppresses these qualities. The lead characters - students of the all-male Welton Academy are shown as case studies of different personality types and how each personality matures. Neil Perry is the talented kid from whom ‘great things are expected’. But his heart is in acting, something which his dominating father detests as it is not a financially-secure career choice. Knox Overstreet is the dasher, who is hesitant to propose to the girl he likes, as she is dating a football player. Charlie Dalton is the rebel, deriving pleasure in breaking rules but who would stand for his friends at all costs. Steven Meeks and Gerard Pitts are the geeks, happy to carry surreptitious science experiments. Richard Cameron is the diligent, un-original, self-preserving kid, who is scared of breaking rules. And Todd Anderson is the reserved kid, unsure of his abilities and scared of expressing himself. We would have seen all these shades while growing up, in school and colleges; and also associate some shades with our own personality. In that respect, Dead Poets Society is a bit formulaic, jarring in its effort to cover all bases.

In the setting of the disciplinarian Welton (called Hell-ton by students) where the tried and tested curriculum is taught in an efficient manner to prepare the students for a secure, though unimaginative life, enters John Keating (a solid Robin Williams, on a sure turf). He is an alumnus of the school but has somehow escaped the rote learning. The movie oversells him by using phrases like ‘the man most likely to do anything’ or ‘hell raiser’. These departures from subtlety are the main weaknesses of an otherwise inspiring movie. Mr. Keating wishes to ingrain originality in his pupils, much to the bemusement of his colleagues and disapproval of the headmaster Nolan. There are seemingly weird tasks like stepping on the benches (to see the world differently), strolling in the courtyard with different gaits (to ‘illustrate the dangers of conformity’), ripping apart the portion of textbook which reduces poetry appreciation to mathematical analysis, making students kick football with full vigour while reading heroic poetry. Some of these appear far fetched and the movie gets a bit carried away in making its point. Keating gets the message across more emphatically with ideas like ‘communication developed to be able to woo women’, or ‘we read and write poetry because we are members of the human race’.

Gradually, his teaching hits home. Standing by his virtue of Carpe Diem (or ‘Seize the day’), the boys decide to form a club ‘Dead Poets Society’ which meets clandestinely at night, in a cave, to read poetry, smoke, and do as they please. Knox proposes, caring little about the consequences. Neil auditions for and gets the lead role in a local enactment of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by writing a fake letter from his father to the headmaster. Todd had to be delicately extricated from his shell, Keating says “Mr. Anderson thinks that everything inside of him is worthless and embarrassing. Isn't that right, Todd? Isn't that your worst fear? Well, I think you're wrong. I think you have something inside of you that is worth a great deal.” He ends up pushing him to be able to recite an extempore poem in front of the class, something which surprises Todd himself. In the next scene, to signify a completion of the transformation, the boys are playing football with euphoric abandon with Keating on the sidelines jumping to the background opera music. Todd scores a majestic goal and Keating is hoisted away.

Dead Poets Society exhorts to be original, to be imaginative, to be creative, to be different, to have the courage to break the monotone, to do more with life, to ‘live deep and suck out all the marrow of life’. But at the same time, it advises caution - when Charlie pulls a stunt in front of the headmaster and gets physically punished. Keating wants him to appreciate the balance between courage and foolishness; to not mistake Carpe Diem to cheap publicity.

Thankfully, the movie is beautifully restrained and realistic in its last half hour. Neil shows promising acting skills in the play but his father is not impressed. Neil was advised by Keating to convince his father, and that his father would understand him once he sees him act. But his father forces his choice of withdrawing Neil from Welton, and setting up a safe career of a doctor. Now Neil, who has an actor’s sensitivity, is heartbroken. This, and his inability to stand up to his father pushes him to suicide. Todd is devastated. An investigation is initiated against Keating. Cameron lives up to his character and buys his freedom by revealing everything, blaming Keating’s teaching style and advice for pushing Neil to suicide. On the other extreme, Charlie too plays his part, refusing to do any such thing, instead punching Cameron and getting expelled. All the others - Todd, Knox, Steven and Gerrard have no other option but to sign a written statement which incriminates Keating. The movie did not go overboard at this point, by depicting an unrealistic heroic rebellion by the boys. Now each has to take his own decision, with only their parents for support. Young, impressionable, kids, fall to the pressure of their practical parents, and reluctantly sign the statement. They are overcome with grief and guilt - a real world learning.      

The movie is also about coming of age of Todd, played beautifully by Ethan Hawke. He is the capable yet unsure kid. In the end, Keating has been fired, and he comes to collect his belongings while the English class is being taught by the headmaster Nolan. As Keating passes Todd’s desk, Todd bursts out explaining to Keating that they were all forced to sign the statement and that Neil’s death was not his fault. As he is forced to sit down by Nolan, he is torn between guilt and the fear of taking a stand, crying profusely. He is finally able to take the leap (only Charlie had been able to do it, for him there was never a dilemma). As Keating is about to leave the room, Todd stands up on his desk, saying ‘O, Captain, my captain’. The act and the words are meant to be a tribute to Keating’s education. The words give me goosebumps every time. Gradually and with courage, others join Todd, by standing on their desks, now overlooking protests and threats from Nolan. Todd’s face is now glowing with a warm resolve, happy with his courage, and finally at peace with himself. Half the class is on the desk, ignorant of Nolan. Keating says “Thank you, boys”, deeply moved by the fact that his lessons have reached home.