Reaction article on Dead Poets’ Society
A story on the battle of the philosophies of education and the aftermath.

On four pillars was constituted the castle of Welton Academy as Mr. Nolan, the headmaster, ordered and the army of the students recited at the opening ceremony of the school: Tradition, Honor, Discipline and Excellence. The school had already put its sign on many victories, and as Mr. Nolan put it in a conversation, there was therefore no need to change the strategies. A defeat in a battle was almost impossible for a castle as strong as Welton Academy unless a threat -like rebel- inside the castle arise. How could Mr. Nolan know that the new hero, Mr. Keating, would work against the system, which heavily had essentialist roots. There were already the ones who could easily be deceived in the system as we can see in the words of a group mocking with the pillars: Travesty, Horror, Decadence, Excrement.

While some strategies of Mr. Keating can be labeled as progressive, most of them come from existentialist view: The students should find their own way and "must constantly look at things in a different way.". "Just when you think you know something," he tells them a moment later, "you have to look at it in another way." He urges them to think when they read, "not just what the author thinks. Consider what you think" as well. He is also concerned about “danger of conformity”. In order to eliminate this danger he let them march on the school’s ground. It was difficult to maintain ones’ beliefs against opposition from others, however, we should try to be ourselves even in the face of the disapproval of the “herd”. Moreover, there is no time to waste. We don’t -for example- read a poem because it is cute but since “poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."

Was the approach of Mr. Keating successful for these students? In some sense yes, in some sense no. Knox for example was now using the words to “woo” a girl, Chris; Neil was using them for a role in a Shakespeare’s play to enjoy and to become an actor that he desired a lot. However, the students were still under influence of the school’s methods. Mr. Keating was a man of charisma and the students in many cases were imitating him. The students’ -perhaps- the most important self-commitment, reconvention of Dead Poets’ Society, and the reading of first chapter at the opening of the society was indeed no more than an imitation if it is not called romanticism. And indeed, “the reconvention of a society” needs Tradition, Honor, Discipline and Excellence.

Another important figure in this movie was Neil’s father, Mr. Perry. He was too much concerned about his son’s education, even ignoring his son’s and the school’s priorities. He had talked to Mr. Nolan during the semester and he decided that Neil had taken too many extracurricular activities and that he was to drop his assistant editorship of the school annual. It is clear from the beginning, therefore, that Mr. Perry was so adamant about Neil's progress towards a future that only he, Mr. Perry, envisions for him.

In that sense, it seems Mr. Perry is a fundamentalist essentialist/perennialist, that means, it is him who only knows the truth and the best for his child. The individual was to obey to him since by means of only that he could reach to true happiness. The child is too young to know what is important in the life. Since life is demanding, the students are to be pushed. Student interest has almost no value; the projects involved in are time wasting. Though what have been written above may be seem to be brutal, in the end the students will understand how considerate their guider are and will see the results of their implicit sacrifice, enjoying a heaven-like life.

In the middle of the battle can be seen an important figure, Neil, on whom the concentration was given. Though he was not always in agreement with the conservative school, fundamentalist father allied with them, trying to rescue his child who was deceived by the rebellion existentialists. It would be the beginning of a victory for Mr. Keating if he could take this important person to his side. Therefore, surrendered by his feelings, Mr. Keating couldn’t manage a good strategy and take into consideration his enemies’ strengths and observe the red lines which was already violated. The feelings are complicated, not knowing exactly what to do, Neil selected the worst, suicides, his face toward existentialists. This sad death created factions among newborn existentialist. Suicide definitely was not what Mr. Keating meant by the suggestion for the strive to be himself even in the face of the disapproval of the "herd.” However, this was difficult to explain to others. The sad result was also a great opportunity for the school administration which had already been seeking ways to get rid of Mr. Keating.

Defeated but face is up, Mr. Keating enters the class to pack his stuff. There we can see the most impressive scene of the movie: Children, not able to stand up to the school administration, stand upon the desk and greet Mr. Keating which leaves a bitter smile in his face. Mr. Keating leaves the school while his heart full with the ideas of existentialism though his pack is with of the school: Travesty, Horror, Decadence and Excrement.

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Though my reactions were mostly embedded into the summary above, there are some that I would like to add. First of all, it was disturbing for me to see that Mr. Keating was too sure of his methods and philosophy. At nowhere in the movie can we see that he questions himself. It may be wrong to say that he was responsible for Neil’s death; however, he should at least have questioned himself about whether he did something wrong or not. No philosophical approach should prevent someone from thinking or questioning; existing of what is indeed a paradox since by nature philosophy requires thinking.

Second, the movie shows us that if we introduce new ideas to a society, it needs to be done gradually. Sudden introductions and changes may bring discrepancies and clashes among the society. Sensitivities of the society are to be given great care. Responsibility for only himself and unimportance of others’ thought, feelings and rules should only be applied by the individuals who live alone.

It seems to me that there is nothing wrong with the four pillars of the school- Tradition, Honor, Discipline and Excellence-, Mr. Perry’s care about his son’s future and Mr. Keating’s endeavor to produce the students discovers their selves. And a careful unification of them could produce an excellent result. However, as a mistake in the quantity of the ingredients in the preparation of a medicine could cause someone to produce poison, the exaggerations of all parts produced the grief we observed at the end of the movie.