“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
— Dead Poets Society
I initially watched Dead Poets Society because Ethan Hawke was in it. I was a fangirl of his and was thrilled to see what new role he would have in the film. Good thing he was part of the cast, for Dead Poets Society touched me deeper than any other film did in my teen years. The lines Carpe Diem and Oh Captain my Captain! became more than just concepts to me. I began to understand how they were meant to be brought to life. At the end of the film, I wanted to stand on the coffee table along with the school boys.
The film is about a group of high school boys who begin to understand life’s essence with the encouragement of their English teacher, John Keating. Keating’s style of teaching was considered unorthodox by the school administration, but it was this style that triggered the students to look at their lives from a new perspective. It was also Keating who introduced them to the Dead Poets Society. The Society was more than a group that got together to read poetry, it was a reminder for each member “to live deep and suck the marrow out of life…” (Thoreau). The film followed how this passion to “seize the day” was awakened differently in each of the key characters. It essentially is a film on self-discovery.
Take for example Todd Anderson’s impromptu poetry during Keating’s class. He began to mumble on how truth is “like a blanket that always leaves your feet cold.” Despite his classmates’ mocking, he carried on with encouragement from Keating.
“Y-You push it, stretch it, it’ll never be enough. You kick at it, beat it, it will never cover any of us. From the moment we enter crying to the moment we leave dying, it will cover just your head as you wail and cry and scream!”
— Dead Poets Society, IMDB.com
Who would have thought such insight could have come from bumbling Todd Anderson? With guidance that was right for him, i.e. a little more aggressive than usual, he was able to let go of his inhibitions and deliver a poem that stemmed from his own fears. Perhaps a truth he did not want to face was suddenly revealed and maybe, even in the littlest way, helped relieve him.
While I do not agree with how some of the boys brought to life the line “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” the film did show us a spectrum of Carpe Diem — Liberation that started with a poem. Pursuing a certain romance. Marching (literally) to the beat of your own drummer. Challenging educational standards. Pursuing a dream that goes against expectations. This was more the exception than the rule though, as the film also showed how conformity could be a benefit. It’s all about perspective, really, and balance.
Sucking all the marrow out of life doesn’t mean choking on the bone.
— John Keating
It is then up to the viewer to decide whether they could stand on top of their desk and see the world from another angle. It is up to them whether they could pursue a life of poetry, to pursue a life beyond the necessary.
I was an impressionable teenager when I saw the film. Dead Poets Society gave me a much-needed jolt and the courage to discover myself more. To seize the day after all, I needed a firm grasp of self so as not to lose myself in the colorful but dizzying opportunities that could come my way.
The little Ethan Hawke fangirl in me faded away slowly, but Dead Poets Society remains to be my favorite film to this day. Carpe Diem is still a lesson I continue to learn and understand. I don’t think you ever stop learning it. I don’t think you should ever stop living it.
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
Cookie
November 13, 2007 at 6:22 pm (16 years ago)That is also one of my all time favorite movies…yes, carpe diem was the battle cry of the youth during that time.
Ruy
November 13, 2007 at 8:00 pm (16 years ago)“Balance”- A very important point that you’ve just pointed out to me.
It’s usually the first thing lost when we get passionate, indulge and get drunk trying to bask in the magnificence of life. Rather than unleashing ourselves with wanton unrestraint, most of the time we only need to be moderately unstoppered to let life’s beauty gracefully spring forth from within us.
spanx
November 13, 2007 at 8:20 pm (16 years ago)beautiful cinematography too;
i can still picture that scene where one of the students
bikes through the meadows.
suitable for framing!!!
spanx
November 13, 2007 at 8:22 pm (16 years ago)John Keating: Why do we need language?
Neil: To communicate…
John Keating: Nooo! To woo women!
MISMO!!!
bh
November 13, 2007 at 8:37 pm (16 years ago)I haven’t seen Dead Poets Society but I saw “A Love Song for Bobby Long” and “Leolo”. Good poems and equally good prose.
Em Dy
November 13, 2007 at 9:46 pm (16 years ago)I remember it being one of my favorites in those days. Robin Williams was brilliant. I’m eager to watch it again now that you blogged about it.
I just remembered I have a copy of the book. (I used to collect TV-Movie tie-ins). Found it. Yehey!
gay
November 14, 2007 at 8:57 am (16 years ago)This is also one of my all-time favorite movies way back in high school. We were in literature class and could relate to the discussions in the movie.
Seize the day!
jey
November 14, 2007 at 9:34 am (16 years ago)it’s one of my favorite films, and i’ve watched it for the nth time. and everytime, it still makes me cry.
Junnie
November 14, 2007 at 4:43 pm (16 years ago)i made a big loud YALP! upon reading this….definitely among my Top 10…
just a sidenote: DPS was offered to us to premiere when we were in University, but the whole Executive Board of the organization thumbed it down after watching a free preview. They thought it wasnt commercially viable. Had I been in the preview, I’d railroad their votes. We might not have made money (they chose Lethal Weapon 2 – and we made thousands) but we’d have inspired a few…I’d always go for the latter.
Rach (Heart of Rachel)
November 14, 2007 at 10:08 pm (16 years ago)It’s a great movie which I never get tired of watching.
Meeya
November 17, 2007 at 4:24 am (16 years ago)one of my all-time fave movies, too. its been too long, i should see it again.
also, nakakatuwa to see (from the comments above) how much the movie affected a lot of people. dapat lahat ng movies ganyan sana. 