Dead Poets Society Comparison

American Dream Comparison

Living in the 21st century, American’s are given many opportunities that were not easily attainable in past lives. In the 1800’s to the early 1900’s, African American’s were not allowed to think for themselves and achieving the idea of the “American Dream” was out of the question. The American Dream is the set of ideas that every U.S. citizen should have equal rights and opportunities to go after their dreams. The idea is also asked, “How far are you going to go to achieve your dreams?” This paper describes two different story lines where one reaches the idea of the American and one does not.

The Dead Poets Society is a movie that takes place in the 1980’s. It is based on a group of boys that attend an all-boys preparatory school that takes pride in traditions and high standards. Students are held at high pressures to live up to the standards of the school and their parents. The school teaches orthodox ways which values strictly facts and what is written right in front of you. The English teacher Mr. Keating thinks other ways as he teaches his students to open up their minds and see the world from a different

point of view. Throughout the movie, students learn to break out of their shells. Mr. Keating encourages students to pursue their dreams and work for it. Because of their teacher, the idea of the American Dream is coming into reality as students learn to think for themselves as someone is encouraging them which made them enjoy life to its fullest.
In the We Wear the Mask poem, it is based on the times when African American’s were treated as slaves and were property. They were not accepted on who they were as human beings. They were forced to keep their ideas, beliefs and what they want for their life to themselves. If they tried to open their minds, they were shot down in a quick second. Their life was already planned out for them, and they were forced to follow it whether they liked it or not. The poem states, “Why should the world be overwise, in counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while we wear the mask.” (pg. 836) Unlike the movie Dead Poets Society, nobody encouraged them to follow their dreams but instead sit back and what happens, happens.
The American Dream is achieved in the Dead Poets Society by the character named Neil. Neil was forced to attend this school as his “future plans” were to study at Harvard to become a doctor. His father forced him to drop the school paper as an elective because it was going to be too much. While Neil was attending Mr. Keating's English class, he was inspired to audition for a play he found a flyer for. After he tried out, he learned his passion was the theater. He was given the lead role of the play and without telling his father, he forged his signature for approval. Everything broke loose when his father found out. His father demanded he drop out on the eve night of the performance and not perform. Neil goes to Keating, who advises him to stand his ground and prove to his father that his love of acting is something he takes seriously. Against his father’s will, Neil lied to his father and pursued the play. While Neil was performing, he found his father standing in the back but kept on doing what he loved. After the performance, Neil and his father go home together. Neil’s father explains how he is unenrolling him in the school and transferring him to a military school to prepare for Harvard. To protest against his father, Neil goes to his room and opens up his window. He sets his crown from the play in the window to release his spirit into the world to let go and goes to his father’s office. He pulls a gun out of the drawer and commits suicide. It looks like Neil gave up on his dream of acting, but this part of the movie shows the American Dream on how far are you willing to go to stand up for what you truly believe in.
Unlike the Dead Poets Society, in We Wear the Mask the author deals with pain and suffering behind the mask. The poem quotes “We Wear the Mask” multiple times throughout the play to emphasize they hide who they truly are the whole time hiding behind a mask. The mask allows people to not see the face or emotions of the individual. In this specific play, it doesn’t show any sort of rebellion or any signs of aspirations towards obtaining their life goals.
In conclusion, the idea of the American Dream was not attainable to everyone.

The difference between these two stories is the fact one reaches the idea and the other does not. In Dead Poets Society, Neil and the other students were pushed to open their minds and go after their dreams. Neil even went the extent of taking his own life to go against his father to avoid the future being planned out for him. In the poem We Wear the Mask, the author was not encouraged to go out and pursue their dreams. Instead, hide who they truly and do what they’re told. As nowadays America is a lot more accepting of individuals and ideas of others, more people will hopefully go out and do what makes them happy because they have the right to. If they truly believe in something, there should be so second thoughts on standing up for the idea or

dream.