Dead White Males - David Williamson :: essays research papers

"Carpe Diem" In the film Dead Poets Society there is an environment created that was rigid and strict. At Welton honorary society there were four pillars of ideals that students must attain to and mention. These were excellence, honor, tradition, and discipline. A new teacher was appointed to teach English. John Keating brought with him a style that promoted the individual. This was in direct air to the four pillars of ideals. Mr. Keatings Latin saying of Carpe Diem, which meant seize the day, was something that would cause problems to arise at the academy. A few of his students would deviate from academys path. Knox Overstreet was a early days man who was attending Welton Academy. He had followed all the rules as everyone else and obeyed. However after a few of Mr. Keatings classes he changed his outlook of life. Knox had an affinity towards this girl, Chris Noel, but it was against schoolhouse policy to have women on campus during a semester. With the new saying of Car pe Diem in his mind, Knox ignored the rules and ensued after Chris. In his wooing he attended parties and even met her at her public high school. If the Headmaster found news of this, Knox would have been expelled. Despite all the consequences Know decided to seize the day and forget the whims of society to follow his dreams. Another student of John Keatings was Charles Dalton. He was more laid back than Knox but he still adhered to the academys rules and regulations. Charles was completely taken by the saying, and changed his lifestyle. At the boys illegal Dead Poets Society come acrosss in which they read aloud poetry, he brought tobacco pipes and alcohol as well as girls. As seen by his new name, Nwanda, Charlie broke free of the strict life he had to follow at Welton. He even defied the Headmaster during a meeting by interrupting his speech with a phone call from "God". Although this new behavior ultimately led to his expulsion, the life at Welton was probably not ada pted for an individual like him. Neil Perry was greatly moved by the Latin words, Carpe Diem. His set about set forth such high demands and little choice for Neil. His disciplinarian father mapped out his career and life. Neil always submitted to his father but was always left unhappy and not content with all that his father had planned and all the rules that he had to abide by.