Peter Weir’s film ‘Dead Poets Society’ Essay

One of the major typographys/ideas explored in the Dead Poets Society is that of granting immunity versus conformity.The theme of conformity is introduced in the very spring scenes of the film. Close-ups of the boys chanting in unison, all identically clad in their starched uniforms at a ceremony at Welton Academy, we see that they atomic number 18 conforming to the authority of the school.It is the new instructor Mr Keating who, through his unorthodox methods, encourages the boys to challenge this authority, and take apart free from the traditional, conservative counsels of thought process that have been drilled into them at Welton Academy. He wants them to understand that there is to a greater extent to symboliseion than obeying the orders of others, and in this way the film deals with Weirs common theme also explored in Witness and Gallipoli the quest for personal freedom, and the oppressing effects of societys institutions. He inspires them to hold thoughts and beli efs in the face of conformity. Keating wants them to become free- regarders, moreover he is in a way contradicting himself as he forces his own beliefs and doctrine onto the impressionable students rather than letting them think for themselves.This theme of conformity is paralleled on a personal level in Neils relationship with his get. Mr. Perry wants the best possible future(a) for his son, and therefore has almost impossible expectations of him. Neil, on the other hand, while always pliant to his fathers wishes, wants to know more about himself. Acting was something that Neil discovered he was not only good at and enjoyed, but was also in a sense an escape from his present existence as it allowed him to pretend to be psyche else for a while.Mr Keatings carpe diem (seize the twenty-four hours) attitude inspired Neil to disobey his fathers wishes by secretly feature in the school play. Neils contest of his fathers authority had ruin consequences, as after a curiously veh ement confrontation with him, finally Neil came to cerebrate that the only way to obtain freedom was to take his own life. This final act of non-conformity was not something Mr. Keating would have advocated, but was Neils ultimate and desperate defiance towards his father, and a tragic expression of his independence.