Theme essay

            In the movie the dead poet’s society Mr. Keating, the new English teacher tries to influence his students to think for themselves and to learn to shape their own life. Mr. Keating goes about this through a variety of ways that are not necessarily accepted by the school’s administration. Keating encourages the students to seize the day and to live for what they believe in. Throughout the movie the boys learn to overcome their biggest fears, some fall in love, and the story ends with an unexpected tragedy.

            Knox Overstreet, though you would never suspect it from the beginning of the movie, is a romantic at heart. Throughout the movie Knox falls in love with a beautiful girl named Chris, after being introduced at a dinner party. Chris attends public school which makes is difficult for him to see her. Knox doesn’t let anything stand in his way of declaring his love for Chris. After barging into her class room and reading a poem to her she eventually agrees to see a play with Knox. Knox eventually learned that if you don’t give up on you dream it will come true.

            People always say that the ones who appear to be the happiest are really falling apart on the inside. Neil Perry was always a good friend, a loving son and an all around caring person. Neil was always under a huge amount of pressure from his father to be a doctor and to live a successful life. Neil discovered his love for acting but was forbidden to do so by his father. After disobeying his father and acting the lead in the play, Neil’s father took him out of school and enrolled him in military school. That night, Perry went into his father’s cabinet and put a bullet into his heart, and killed himself.  This was very unexpected by all, family and friends.  Mr. Perry learned that he controlled Neil too much and didn’t allow him to be happy and live for himself, which lead to his death.

            Todd Anderson was always shy, and had a fear of reading in front of people. Mr. Keating described him as feeling as if he thought everything about him was worthless.  Todd was taught to overcome his fear of reading aloud from Mr. Keating.  Todd lived his whole life afraid to speak up and feared of being judged for who he is.  In the last scene of the movie when Mr. Keating is collecting his personals after being fired because he was accused for being responsible for Neil Perry's death. Todd illustrated the life lesson Mr. Keating taught him by standing on his desk and shouting "oh captain my captain."  Todd did this to show respect for Mr. Keating because Todd knew he was not responsible for the death of Neil. 

           Mr. Keating shows the students in his class to stand up for what they believe in and to live for themselves.  It is shown by example in the paragraphs above.  Knox is a rugged teenage, who shows that inside of his rough exterior, is a romantic, caring person.  Todd Anderson boldly accuses Mr. Perry for the death of Neal, yet he would have been shy and kept his mouth shut without Mr. Keating's contribution.  The last example, has Todd being the most brave student in his class.  This is shown when he is the first to stand up for Mr. Keating.  This summarizes the benefits Mr. Keating had on the class.