B.W.J.

Neil, the main character, resembles this. He respects his father; showing honor and kindness as part of his character even as a literature teacher - Mr Keating is introduced. The professor introduces ‘carpe diem’ to Neil and the others, making their minds ouvert. Neil’s all time passion for acting stems up when he realises there’s more to life than living up to your parent’s standards.

However, sadly, many ‘fans’ have taken from this and used Neil’s passion for acting as a metaphor for homosexuality.

This idea stemmed from the introduction of the character, Todd Anderson who is introduced to be a new, shy student who quickly befriends Neil.

Head-canons and fan-fiction exist, but the extreme focus on a platonic friendship (the boys were close because unlike Todd, Neil is popular and outgoing and they share a dorm so it’s only natural they’d be closer) would take away from the true meaning of the book.

To seize the day and remember how poetry guides the human soul.

The people who claim they understand the concept of Dead Poets Society and proceed to take it as a ‘gay’ film, really don’t understand it at all.

It is so much more. This book explores how poetry shapes someone. When Neil discovers the dead poets, he’s in conflict with how poetry can offer freedom despite having none because of his father. His hypes- which were accelerated by the poets - are immediately crushed by his father, which leads to his ending.

The way no one- not his friends, parents or even Mr Keating could imagine Neil doing what he did is a reminder that poetry is personal, and hidden. There’s a hidden message, a hidden meaning, that no one can depict.