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Dead Poet’s Society
Introduction
Dead Poet’s Society is an American drama film directed by Peter Weir which was released in the year 1989 ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"dHLgNfK6","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Weir)","plainCitation":"(Weir)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":434,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"itemData":{"id":434,"type":"motion_picture","title":"Dead Poet's Society","source":"www.imdb.com","abstract":"Directed by Peter Weir. With Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles. English teacher John Keating inspires his students to look at poetry with a different perspective of authentic knowledge and feelings.","URL":"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/","note":"IMDb ID: tt0097165","author":[{"family":"Weir","given":"Peter"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,4]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Weir). The film mainly illustrates the perspective of life, from an English teacher, which serves as a means of inspiration for his students at the prestigious “Welton Academy”. The plot of the film focuses on the journey of English teacher, Mr. Keeting, who has an exceptional fondness for poetry and literature and its influence on the lives of his students ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"A05dVQc6","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Weir)","plainCitation":"(Weir)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":434,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"itemData":{"id":434,"type":"motion_picture","title":"Dead Poet's Society","source":"www.imdb.com","abstract":"Directed by Peter Weir. With Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles. English teacher John Keating inspires his students to look at poetry with a different perspective of authentic knowledge and feelings.","URL":"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/","note":"IMDb ID: tt0097165","author":[{"family":"Weir","given":"Peter"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,4]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Weir). The themes of the film i.e. “Non-Conformity”, “ Rebellion and Passion”, and “Freedom and Success” coincide with the ideas depicted in Salvation by Langston Hudges, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essay of Self Reliance and Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. Now the question is how these three separate readings are related to the ideas represented in the Dead Poet’s Society considering the different genres. This Essay will serve as a means of exploring the connection between the film and these readings.
Discussion
The theme of “non-conformity” best connects to the theme depicted in Salvation by Langston Hudges. In Dead Poet’s Society, the dominance of conformity is quite evident. Students are compelled to perform the usual practices at the academy such as a mandatory visit to the chapel, the same dressing, and recitation of the same “Four pillars’ Anthem ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"jVLMvC7H","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Weir)","plainCitation":"(Weir)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":434,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"itemData":{"id":434,"type":"motion_picture","title":"Dead Poet's Society","source":"www.imdb.com","abstract":"Directed by Peter Weir. With Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles. English teacher John Keating inspires his students to look at poetry with a different perspective of authentic knowledge and feelings.","URL":"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/","note":"IMDb ID: tt0097165","author":[{"family":"Weir","given":"Peter"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,4]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Weir). Another form of conformity comes from a society where most of the students in the Walton Academy are compelled to follow the steps of their parents ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"9SU7UHLm","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Weir)","plainCitation":"(Weir)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":434,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"itemData":{"id":434,"type":"motion_picture","title":"Dead Poet's Society","source":"www.imdb.com","abstract":"Directed by Peter Weir. With Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles. English teacher John Keating inspires his students to look at poetry with a different perspective of authentic knowledge and feelings.","URL":"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/","note":"IMDb ID: tt0097165","author":[{"family":"Weir","given":"Peter"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,4]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Weir). The basic idea of nonconformity is kept alive by the English teacher Mr. Keeting, who advises his students to curve away from the lines of conformity, society has drawn. Through his everyday motivational quotes and unorthodox methods of teaching, Mr. Keeting inspires his students to bend the rules of the society by perusing their dreams which are their identity. The same idea is depicted in Hudges’ Salvation. Let me give you a little idea about the plot of the story. Young Hudges attends an unusual revival ceremony in a church with his aunt where he is supposed to see Jesus in the form of light if he is saved from his sins ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"M4yVTadl","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hudges)","plainCitation":"(Hudges)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":440,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6XMUMBWZ"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6XMUMBWZ"],"itemData":{"id":440,"type":"chapter","title":"Salvation","author":[{"family":"Hudges","given":"Langston"}]}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hudges). Everyone seems to see the light and moves forward except young Langston and another boy named Westley. At the moment, Langston pretends to see the light by moving forward, however, he later questions the beliefs of a society which he thinks is just an illusion. He was told that he would be saved by Jesus but he was not, so he wonders why ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"OnpbYUBZ","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hudges)","plainCitation":"(Hudges)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":440,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6XMUMBWZ"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6XMUMBWZ"],"itemData":{"id":440,"type":"chapter","title":"Salvation","author":[{"family":"Hudges","given":"Langston"}]}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hudges). This depicts the society, blindly following beliefs without any logical reasoning. He was expected to conform to the beliefs of society as everyone prayed and cheered for him to move forward and show that he was saved without realizing the fact that it could turn the other way around.
The other piece of literature that I am going to analyze, while connecting it to the themes of Dead poet’s Society, is Ralf Waldo Emerson’s Essay of Self Reliance. Although, It is quite evident from the name that it is related to non-conformity, but Emerson also takes help for the concept of "Passion and Rebellion" derived from Dead Poet’s Society. Through his Self-Reliance essay, Emerson encourages his audience to realize that they are unique and have their own separate identities, regardless of society’s demeaning portrayal of beliefs ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"hYbkanl8","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Emerson)","plainCitation":"(Emerson)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":436,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/GGNFKRVD"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/GGNFKRVD"],"itemData":{"id":436,"type":"book","title":"The Essay on Self-Reliance","publisher":"FRANKLIN CLASSICS TRADE Press","number-of-pages":"62","source":"Google Books","abstract":"This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.","ISBN":"978-0-343-63256-4","note":"Google-Books-ID: hE1yvgEACAAJ","language":"en","author":[{"family":"Emerson","given":"Ralph Waldo"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018",10,17]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Emerson). He emphasizes on the concept of individualism, according to which every person must act according to beliefs of thought, experiences, Passion, and dreams ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"hhJCwpJf","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Emerson)","plainCitation":"(Emerson)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":436,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/GGNFKRVD"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/GGNFKRVD"],"itemData":{"id":436,"type":"book","title":"The Essay on Self-Reliance","publisher":"FRANKLIN CLASSICS TRADE Press","number-of-pages":"62","source":"Google Books","abstract":"This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.","ISBN":"978-0-343-63256-4","note":"Google-Books-ID: hE1yvgEACAAJ","language":"en","author":[{"family":"Emerson","given":"Ralph Waldo"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018",10,17]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Emerson). They must drop the act of preaching of a society to be deemed acceptable and start focusing on dreams and passions that are desirable to one's self. In the film Dead poet's society, students are encouraged to follow their dreams and passion even if they have to break the rules formulated by society. However, one of the students of Welton Academy Neil Perry becomes a victim of this rebellion ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"VNWyqcyG","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Weir)","plainCitation":"(Weir)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":434,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"itemData":{"id":434,"type":"motion_picture","title":"Dead Poet's Society","source":"www.imdb.com","abstract":"Directed by Peter Weir. With Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles. 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The piece Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. is connected to the Dead poet’s society in various ways. King wrote this letter to address the complaints of fellow clergymen, published in a newspaper that he stumbled upon in jail. The concepts of nonconformity, rebellion, passion, freedom, and success are the main agendas of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"ktMcTnoT","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(King (Jr.))","plainCitation":"(King (Jr.))","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":438,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/8TBR6I5T"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/8TBR6I5T"],"itemData":{"id":438,"type":"book","title":"Letter from Birmingham Jail","publisher":"Providence Forum","number-of-pages":"44","source":"Google Books","note":"Google-Books-ID: GrkuvwEACAAJ","language":"en","author":[{"family":"King (Jr.)","given":"Martin Luther"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2003"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (King (Jr.)). Martin states that the laws formulated by the state can be Just and Unjust. Later, he gave many examples to prove his point. He emphasizes that some laws, that are not justified, are the laws that are against the will of God ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"mRoelvCy","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(King (Jr.))","plainCitation":"(King (Jr.))","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":438,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/8TBR6I5T"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/8TBR6I5T"],"itemData":{"id":438,"type":"book","title":"Letter from Birmingham Jail","publisher":"Providence Forum","number-of-pages":"44","source":"Google Books","note":"Google-Books-ID: GrkuvwEACAAJ","language":"en","author":[{"family":"King (Jr.)","given":"Martin Luther"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2003"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (King (Jr.)). That is why people are allowed to disobey them. He further adds that these rules are forced on the minorities, regardless of their culture, religion or beliefs ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"aKF0X6Lr","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(King (Jr.))","plainCitation":"(King (Jr.))","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":438,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/8TBR6I5T"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/8TBR6I5T"],"itemData":{"id":438,"type":"book","title":"Letter from Birmingham Jail","publisher":"Providence Forum","number-of-pages":"44","source":"Google Books","note":"Google-Books-ID: GrkuvwEACAAJ","language":"en","author":[{"family":"King (Jr.)","given":"Martin Luther"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2003"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (King (Jr.)). This shows inequality and discrimination, that is why he must fight for his people and himself by breaking those laws that are not in the Black Community’s best interest. This also tells us that conformity is not solely promoted by culture and society but that it also comes from the State and most importantly the World. The way certain individuals are discriminated against over each other based on their caste, religion, and language, proves the fact that the world is running on the principle of conformity. However, people like Martin Luther King are the ones who are willing to break these rules for their people. In Dead Poet’s Society, it is depicted that conformity makes a person a slave and freedom is achieved when the person breaks himself from the chains of society’s continuous torments inflicted, according to their desires ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"Kcuxanpp","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Weir)","plainCitation":"(Weir)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":434,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/4P4N52QL"],"itemData":{"id":434,"type":"motion_picture","title":"Dead Poet's Society","source":"www.imdb.com","abstract":"Directed by Peter Weir. With Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles. English teacher John Keating inspires his students to look at poetry with a different perspective of authentic knowledge and feelings.","URL":"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/","note":"IMDb ID: tt0097165","author":[{"family":"Weir","given":"Peter"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,4]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Weir). In his letter, Martin Luther King states the same philosophy, that freedom and success will only be achieved if we act ourselves, by breaking the laws that are not in our best interests ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"WnLBxjvh","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(King (Jr.))","plainCitation":"(King (Jr.))","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":438,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/8TBR6I5T"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/8TBR6I5T"],"itemData":{"id":438,"type":"book","title":"Letter from Birmingham Jail","publisher":"Providence Forum","number-of-pages":"44","source":"Google Books","note":"Google-Books-ID: GrkuvwEACAAJ","language":"en","author":[{"family":"King (Jr.)","given":"Martin Luther"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2003"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (King (Jr.)).
Conclusion
The major themes depicted in the Dead Poet’s Society “Non-Conformity”, “Rebellion and Passion”, and “Freedom and Success” coincides with the ideas depicted in three readings I selected, such as, Salvation by Langston Hudges, Essay of Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. In Salvation, Young Langston becomes the victim of society’s envisioned beliefs and is left wondering why the culture and society work this way. In the Essay of Reflection, the author emphasizes that an individual should maintain his separate identity, while pursuing his dreams regardless of what society thinks. Martin Luther King in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, addresses various aspects related to society’s conformation of laws and beliefs, which are not in their best interest. He states that freedom and success will only come to us if we struggle for it regardless of laws formulated by society.
Works Cited
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Emerson, Ralph Waldo. The Essay on Self-Reliance. FRANKLIN CLASSICS TRADE Press, 2018.
Hudges, Langston. Salvation.
King (Jr.), Martin Luther. Letter from Birmingham Jail. Providence Forum, 2003.
Weir, Peter. Dead Poet’s Society. www.imdb.com, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2019.
