Dead Poets Society

The Dead Poets Society is a film which can really represent different moral and philosophical issues by following the films moto ‘Carpe Diem’. This is Latin for ‘seize the day’ which is shown through the courage of the students for standing up in favour of something, and doing their own thing. In this case, it’s the ability to become free-thinkers and enjoy poetry in life. The saying ‘carpe diem’ can even be linked back to biblical times, as there were many references in the Bible to living life to the full, and taking opportunities that may come our way. 

This is shown by the unconventional English teacher who challenges his students to question anything they have been taught before, such as standing on their desks and ripping out chapters of their text books. This is easily linked to any key Ancient Athenian key philosophers who have stated their opinion that we must learn to think for ourselves, and become rich within our own knowledge. As Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Therefore, we must broaden our knowledge as much as we can, even if others around us don’t agree this is right. 

This can then easily be linked to an ethical issue that was also raised in the film, which was justice, law and punishment. Even though the film only lightly touches upon this particular ethical topic, it is still apparent throughout the whole film. The students don’t go as far as to break the law, but they are certainly going against the rules of the school, and so is their English teacher, who is pursuing this forward-thinking set of mind. The government and head teacher of the school believe that the students should be taught from the books, and everything has to be examined, to in turn form a conclusion, including poetry. However, their English teacher, Mr Keating, believes that the boys should be thinking for themselves and concentrates on the power of passion that poetry can contain. This leads to the boys creating a secret club that meet in the dead of night within a cave near the campus to discuss poetry. When they are found out, what means of punishment should be used for disobeying the rules of the school? In the film, the cane was used to punish one of the students, but could this ever be justified today? Is it too hard to decide what punishment would be appropriate for this type of rule breaking because there are too many opinions? Mr Keating, a man who obviously had a wide range of knowledge and was professional would have suggested otherwise. 

The main conflict in the whole of the film wasn’t actually between the students and their new-found love for poetry against the school rules, but actually between a student named Neil, who dreamed of becoming an actor, and his father, who commands him to become a doctor. Neil lacked the will to defy his father, and ends up committing suicide. This is yet another ethical topic raised in the film, life after death. Many people, both religious and non-religious, believe in life after death, and that there is Somewhere else to go once our bodies have moved on. However, some absolute Catholics may actually believe that because Neil committed suicide, he took his own life, and tried to play the role of God. Therefore, he will not be able to enter heaven, because we shouldn’t try and play the role of God, as we are only humans, and we cannot do such a thing.

The fact that Neil actually committed suicide also means that it is easy to look at the philosophical topic of conscience. Neil’s father is probably going to evermore wish he could have been more lenient and understanding with his wish to be on stage, as his grief was depicted so clearly. Is it fair that this is going to stay upon his conscience forever, because of the action that his son took? Or is conscience actually just a feeling that we made up in our own minds, and doesn’t really exist?

Overall, the Dead Poets Society was a really good film that touched upon many different ethical and philosophical topics and highlighted them in clever ways. However, I think the main message that was trying to be highlighted above all others was the idea of ‘carpe diem’ and living our lives to the full. The fact that the film ended with Neil committing suicide was a contrast to this message, as he ended his life. This could be because he didn’t feel like his life would be to the full without his love of acting being involved in some way. 

HL