Dead Poets Society, WIP.

Year after year, the same face formed. The tight lips, the furrowed brow. From the minute their born, the transformation began for all of those poor students. A school producing clones, to become doctors, to become lawyers.  Welton Academy, the main setting of Dead Poets Society is a manufacturer of neatly combed men meant for the world. Peter Weir directs this highly acclaimed film, bursting with hidden truths. A quick run through would show the obvious, “go against the grain.” To not become the person people want you to be, or have planned for you. A second example would be to follow your heart. A clichéd phrase, but pertaining to the movie a meaningful one all the same. The third, and perhaps most powerful message outlined in this essay would be the one of stepping out. Going where you’re afraid to be.

The whole movie is followed with the outstanding idea that you should “remind [yourself] that [you] must constantly look at things in a different way.”  In one scene Mr. Keating, the one leading the class along the path of self awareness, makes them stand upon their desks so they can understand the many ways to see the world. In another he brings them outside, using an exercise demonstrating how easy it is to be sucked into conformity, and how you must "think outside the box."

 Following this essential theme, is the idea to be who you were meant to be. That doing what you love is more rewarding than doing what pays more. In the scene when Mr. Keating and Neil Perry talk about the latter's love for acting and his fathers suppression of it, Mr. Keating tries to inspire him to speak with his father and make him understand. Unfortunately, Neil doesn't see that as even plausible, and looses his life over the matter. That final act impacts his friends more than would be expected.
The last and perhaps most valuable theme delivered in Dead Poets Society is where Todd Anderson breaks the class free. He proves that even though these boys had been breed a certain way, there's always a glimmer of resilient originality. He does when he stood upon his desk and shouted "Oh Captain! My Captain" even at risk of expulsion. That act of individualism allowed Todd to break free of his self made catacomb of insecurity's. When multiple other students in the class followed suit, and allowed Mr. Keating to understand how well he had broken through was the perfect end to the movie.
Throughout the movie, several smaller and contrarily prominent points were made, but these ones resonate stronger than any of the others.