Dead Poets Society Essay

Poetry is the language that can compare to many people personalities and qualities. Indeed, the subjects and the themes discussed in poetry can be easily compared to the lives of several characters in the film Dead Poets Society. First, Mr. Keating is one of several characters that can be compared to some lines in the poem O Captain! My Captain! by the poet Walt Whitman in the film. Neil Perry is a second character in which his life strongly relates to Alden Nowlan's poem, Warren Pryor. Third and last, is Charlie Dalton who is one of the characters in the film whose personality can be clearly seen within Angela Shelf Medearis' Poem, Nonconformist. The significance of the essay is that poetry has a way, which not only relate to the lives of characters in a certain film but the lives of most people in general.

Mr. Keating's character is strongly interpreted with the poem O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman. Mr. Keating the students' new English teacher at the beginning appears to be a little eccentric, which surprised some students. However, later in the film Mr. Keating's eccentric methods of teaching inspire the student not only for the love of poetry but the to live life to its fullest. The poets states, "For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-- for you the shores a-crowding; / For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning." (Whitman, "O Captain! My Captain!" 11-12). These lines truly, reflect the students' inspirations by Mr. Keating and the opportunities and enjoyment of his class. Mr. Keating Also suffered the loss of his job as a teacher, his students and he felt responsible for Neil's death. The poet exclaims, "But O heart! heart! heart! / O the bleeding drops of red." (Whitman, "O Captain! My Captain!" 5-6). These lines clearly indicate Mr. Keating's sorrow about losing his job which he was so attached to, as he was to his students. In conclusion, the poem O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman truly portrays all Mr. Keating's personality and feelings.

The poem Warren Pryor by Alden Nowlan can be easily compared to the Neil Perry's traits and qualities in the movie. Neil Perry is a very bright student but with an extremely harsh father that has his future planned out for him to become a doctor. "They blushed with pride when at his graduation, / they watched him picking up the slender scroll." (Nowlan, "Warren Pryor" 5-6) Alden Nowlan exclaims. These two lines in the poem indeed explain how Neil's parents are happy to see him in the best preparatory schools in the country and on his way to becoming a doctor. However, when Neil get introduced to Mr. Keating who tells them about "carpe diem" Neil now wants to pursue acting. Mr. Perry still not accepting his son's dream and planned to send Neil to military school, this is very well seen in the poem Warren Pryor. The poets states, "like a young bear inside