Name: Quennie N.

Quiobe
Title of the Movie: Dead Poet’s Society
Characters: John Keating , Neil Perry , Todd Anderson , Knox Overstreet , Charlie Dalton, Richard Cameron , Steven Meeks , and
Gerard Pitts
Setting: Welton Academy
Summary
Neil, Todd, Knox, Charlie, Richard, Steven and Gerard bonafide students of Welton Academy prep school
were introduced by Headmaster Nolan to extraordinary curriculum wherein they met the dynamic, innovative
new English teacher John Keating who wanted to be called “Oh Captain, My Captain.” Their English class,
through the Dead Poet’s Society introduced them not only to literary appreciation but also literary expression
thus drastic changes took place when the members undergone the journey of awakening and self- discovery
but sad to say such experience was mixed with tragedy when Neil committed suicide and Neil’s parents
feeling innocent asked for investigation of Dead Poet’s Society members. Each member became suddenly
deaf and blind and they became uneducated cowards unable to stand on their feet, fight for their principles
for fear of expulsion offering all liabilities to Mr. Keating, whose purpose is just to make them learn in life but
that learning was doomed when he was fired.
Central Idea
Learning is selfless useful task that enables us to discover the truth about ourselves but became useless when abusing it.
Reaction/Comments
I considered Dead Poet’s Society, a serious, very interesting yet thought provoking educational film focusing
on self discovery and personal change. It took place in a learning institution, the reincarnation of Dead Poet’s Society
whose members succumbed not only to scribbled and deciphered literary genre but to real life events. The members
became aggressive to changes. They failed to analyze that learning didn’t just take place on one click of a finger but it
worked on a slow motion process where one has to take inconsideration not only self- benefit but other people’s self-
esteem.
The people guiding us were still human. They had their limitations too so it isn’t really fair for us to treat them
as shock absorbers of our grudges that came in the form of our failures and immaturities.
The first part of the film was very inspiring since students exhibited positive traits. The mentors were excellent
too for demonstrating their agilities and enthusiasms to inculcate learning. Unfortunately in the later part of the film conflicts
aroused. As for me, I didn’t really know why suddenly the Dead Poet’s Society members became weak on facing the
consequences of their actions. Although they craved much for self- identity this was not enough for them to put the blame
on their mentors or whoever guided them. This is an act of selfishness and hypocrisy.
Director of Film: Peter Weir
Producers: Steven Haft, Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas