Film : Dead Poets Society
Setting in place: Welton College - a boys school
Scene:
At the very beginning of the film, an English teacher , Mr. Keating , starts working in replacement of the previous one. Mr. Keating teaches the students his love for Romanticism and in the first class he explains that they should not follow any leader but their own passions. He strongly suggests to "seize the day" because life is too short and they should enjoy every single thing worth living. Keating encourages the boys to feel free to make up their minds and follow their hearts.
One of his students is Neil, who has a strong passion for acting but has a father who controlls every step he gives in life , even his free time activities and future plans. He totally disagrees with this passion of his son. At some time in the film, Neil has the opportunity to take a part in a play and he chooses to do so, in spite of his father's opinion and even lying to Mr. Keating pretending his father had approved of his decision.
Follow-up questions on the scene:
1) Neil's choice was a human act. He was aware of the consequences his choice might cause and he was conscious of what he was doing. Also, he had de choice to refuse the offer.
2) Neil's decision to act, no matter his father's opinion and even having lied to Mr. Keating ,was not morally good. This lead to his suicide, and Keating is put the blame on for this. Although he had good intentions when choosing to take part in the play the decision was not made under good circumstances for he knew he was not deciding wisely and that he would have to face the consequences, such as his father anger, later on.
3) I belive that on the one hand Neil did not have many options but to be "obedient" or not.
He might have tried to talk to his father from his heart although his father might have not understood him. However, on the other hand, Neil might have felt better opening up completely when having pouring his feelings out.
He could have also rejected the part in the play and do as he wished after he graduated. This, though, might have meant not being with his family, for his father might have asked him to move away from them, or, he might have changed his life and might have had the opportunity to show his dad how happy his life was following his passion for acting.
1 comentario:
Hi once again, Silvia!
Here are some questions I was left mumbling after reading your post...
1. What evidence did you notice that Neil was aware of the intended consequences of his action? Also, apart from awareness and freedom, what other requirements should we consider to determine whether this was a human act or not?
2. When discussing the goodness of Neil's action, you say "This lead to his suicide"...Would you go as far as to say that Neil's suicide was determined by his previous choice to act against his father's will? And what evidence have you observed to back up your statement that "he knew he was not deciding wisely"?
One final thought: fortunately, we usually have many options in life, beyond "being obedient" or going against "eveyone else". You yourself have identified several here, right after saying Neil could only choose between the two mentioned above.
Let's keep thinking together, shall we?
Love,
Gladys
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