Psychological Themes in "Dead Poets Society"

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In the movie Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams's character as Mr. Keating the English teacher is a hero. "Carpe Diem, lads! Seize the day! Make your lives drastically. Keating's viewpoints and thoughts on life stayed the same throughout the movie no matter what conflict was occurring. The students that Keating taught were the ones who

changed. They became more independent in their thinking and discovered what they wanted out of life. The change in these students is what caused the main conflict of the movie.

The conflict arose in Dead Poets Society as Keating's philosophies about life were challenged. Keating's fellow teachers at the conservative Welton Academy did not agree with his non-conformist method of teaching. Keating's peers believed that the students were not emotionally equipped to incorporate into their own lives the kind of freedom and nonconformism that Keating was selling. These teachers do not want the students to be free thinkers, only stuffed with facts and forced ideas to become doctors and lawyers.

The conflict deepens as Keating's students beg...

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