A Classic: Dead Poets Society

O Captain! My Captain! A movie made in 1989 that became one of the classics of cinematic history. I’m talking about a movie nearly everyone has heard of- and should watch- at least once in their lives: Dead Poets Society. I’d like to tell you all about the reasons why you should watch this movie but first, let’s get to know what Dead Poets Society is about!

Dead Poets Society follows the story of seven boys who are attending Welton Academy, a prestigious all-boys university prep school. When the new year starts, the boys meet their new English teacher, Mr. Keating, who is quite a unique teacher, with quite unorthodox teaching methods. With the teachings and help of Mr. Keating, the boys discover their love for poetry and learn to “carpe diem”, meaning “seize the day” in Latin. They learn to think for themselves and follow their passions, although some obstacles in their way cause unexpected, tragic turns in their story. In my opinion, this movie is truly a masterpiece. From its wonderful cast of characters to the messages it conveys, I would say it just may be one of the best movies to have graced the screens. And now, because I think it deserves to be known by everyone, I’d like to give you three major reasons to watch this masterpiece!

1- Relatable Cast of Characters

I think everyone would agree that the characters are crucial in determining how much love any work of fiction is going to receive. This element can easily be counted as one of the “make-or-break” elements. With this movie, there is such a wide range of characters. It was so impressive to me how each of the characters were completely unique to themselves. Their dreams, their personalities, their flaws… I found all of the main characters to be relatable in some way, even found myself in some of them. Mr. Keating, the inspiring English teacher with quite the “unorthodox” teaching methods and ideas ahead of his time has become my ideal of a teacher. Our main cast: Neil, the role model student with a passion for acting; Todd, the shy poet; Charlie, the misfit and troublemaker; Knox, our lover-boy; Meeks, the academic friend; Pitts, the fun and loving friend and Cameron, the teacher’s pet and goody-two-shoes. You’re sure to relate to and love this diverse cast! (Well, maybe not Cameron, but you’ll see that for yourself.) And last but not least, the amazing Robin Williams stars as our favorite teacher, Mr. Keating. What more could we ask for?

2-    Themes

This movie has several important lessons to learn which I think are still relevant today. The motto of the movie is “Carpe diem. Seize the day.” which sums up the movie quite well. Mr. Keating teaches the boys- and us- to think for ourselves, to be our own person, to follow our dreams, to look at life from different perspectives, and to not blindly conform to society, no matter what anyone says. And as if all of that weren't enough, all of these themes are presented through the rich and vivacious world of poetry!

3-    Cinematography and Soundtracks

The visuals of this movie are absolutely beautiful! The lakes, the trees in fall, birds flying away, people playing the bagpipe, snow everywhere… It captures the vintage and dark academia aesthetics so well, perfect for fans of those aesthetics. The soundtracks are also a great addition to the atmosphere. You just want to go to Vermont and attend "Hellton" with our beloved boys!

There is so much that can be said for dead Poets Society, and I myself can surely ramble on for hours about all its beauty. But for now, I will leave you with these three main points. As I near the end of my essay, I’d like to urge everyone one last time to watch this masterpiece, to dive into the enchanting world of poetry, and end my writing with these final words: Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what keep us alive.