Dead Poets Society Belonging
“Relationships are essential in shaping our identity”
Relationships are essential in shaping our character as influences from both parties challenge and change our ways of thinking, and subsequently affect our behaviour. Key relationships explored in Peter Weir’s film Dead Poets Society, Josh Schwartz’s The Ties that Bind from the television series, The O.C and Tim Winton’s short story Commission reveal how different types of influences can shape an individual. Relationships between Todd and Neil and Seth and Ryan examine how beneficial influences play a role in shaping our identity, enabling one to establish a sense of belonging. Negative influences in a relationship shape our thinking in a way that often hinders our development as a character, …show more content…
In the film Dead Poets Society, this is displayed effectively in the teacher-student relationship, through which Mr Keating encourages his students to break out of the conformed nature of the school and develop their own individual way of thinking. Keating teaches his students the phrase “Carpe Diem,” meaning “seize the day,” urging them use every opportunity that life presents to them. Its repetition throughout the film highlights its significance in influencing the viewpoints and actions of the students. He constantly stresses to them to formulate an individual view on their learning and the world, for example, when he states “The world looks different from up here… Come see for yourself! ...you have to look at it in another way.” He expresses this idea through the symbolism of standing on a desk to see the classroom from a different perspective. Another key idea in his teachings is revealed through the quote, “Swim against the stream,” underlining the concept of breaking out of conformity. This idea is clearly revealed through the scene in which he asks the students to rip out the introduction of a textbook which teaches them how to read poetry, a direct representation of liberation from the school’s traditionalism. Keating’s influence proved to have challenged the student’s way of thinking, however, results in both positive and negative consequences. Todd ultimately finds his own voice in the final scene when he stands on his desk to support Mr Keating, whereas Charlie finds himself expelled due to his impulsive, rash actions. Thus a relationship in which one is influenced by a challenge of the conventional definitely gives rise to a new sense of
Relationships are essential in shaping our character as influences from both parties challenge and change our ways of thinking, and subsequently affect our behaviour. Key relationships explored in Peter Weir’s film Dead Poets Society, Josh Schwartz’s The Ties that Bind from the television series, The O.C and Tim Winton’s short story Commission reveal how different types of influences can shape an individual. Relationships between Todd and Neil and Seth and Ryan examine how beneficial influences play a role in shaping our identity, enabling one to establish a sense of belonging. Negative influences in a relationship shape our thinking in a way that often hinders our development as a character, …show more content…
In the film Dead Poets Society, this is displayed effectively in the teacher-student relationship, through which Mr Keating encourages his students to break out of the conformed nature of the school and develop their own individual way of thinking. Keating teaches his students the phrase “Carpe Diem,” meaning “seize the day,” urging them use every opportunity that life presents to them. Its repetition throughout the film highlights its significance in influencing the viewpoints and actions of the students. He constantly stresses to them to formulate an individual view on their learning and the world, for example, when he states “The world looks different from up here… Come see for yourself! ...you have to look at it in another way.” He expresses this idea through the symbolism of standing on a desk to see the classroom from a different perspective. Another key idea in his teachings is revealed through the quote, “Swim against the stream,” underlining the concept of breaking out of conformity. This idea is clearly revealed through the scene in which he asks the students to rip out the introduction of a textbook which teaches them how to read poetry, a direct representation of liberation from the school’s traditionalism. Keating’s influence proved to have challenged the student’s way of thinking, however, results in both positive and negative consequences. Todd ultimately finds his own voice in the final scene when he stands on his desk to support Mr Keating, whereas Charlie finds himself expelled due to his impulsive, rash actions. Thus a relationship in which one is influenced by a challenge of the conventional definitely gives rise to a new sense of