Film Summary - Dead Poets Society essays

Film Summary - Dead Poets Society essays Sometimes in life people can come along and touch our lives in unexpected ways. This was the case with Mr. Keating and the boys in the movie "Dead Poets Society". He taught the boys so many lessons that they would have never learned from any other teacher. By looking at scenes from the movie, and lines from the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman, we can see just how important the lessons were that Keating was trying to teach the boys. Mr. Keating reminded them to seize each day and cherish them dearly. From the very first day that Mr. Keating had walked into the classroom you could already see that he had an original method of teaching. He came into class whistling, and then proceeded to take the boys outside the classroom to read them a poem, and announced that they can call him 'Captain O' Captain'. His first important lesson was "Carpe Diem", which means seize the day. He also told them to "gather the roses while ye may", because one day you are going to die. He then took them to the showcase to show them pictures of former alumni who were once where they were standing, but they are now dead. He was trying to tell them that everyday opportunities await us and we must decide whether to take a chance, or play it safe. He encouraged them to take risks, for nothing is gained without them. This idea is related with something Ralph Waldo Emerson once said : "It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person 'always do what you are afraid to do'". Another great mind, Whitman, once said in the poem, "Song of Myself", "I celebrate myself, and sing myself." I think what they were all trying to say is that you have to love your self, and live for each and every moment while we still can. Besides "Carpe Diem", Keating also taught the boys to "walk their own way." One of the most important lessons that Keating taught the boys was to be an individual no matter what anyone else tells them. This took place in ...