Existential Themes in Dead Poets Society

Dead Poets Society is an inspiring movie that won awards and critical acclaim. The performances and themes make it an uplifting movie that is sure to be a classic. It is not just another movie about a teacher who merely inspires his students; it is a film that instills a desire to think outside of the box. Professor John Keating’s attempt to make his students free thinkers who can express their thoughts and desires in order to change the world around them revolves around poetry and the words of late and great thinkers and poets. Dead Poets Society offers recurring themes of existentialism at its core, predominately Individual vs. Herd.

Professor Keating has a strong desire to inspire his students so that they can live a passionate life, unafraid to speak their mind and go for what they want. His teaching methods appear rather unorthodox in Welton and to Headmaster Nolan and Neil’s father in particular. Those who are opposed to Professor Keating’s methods represent the opposite of what existentialism entails, and this is why they do not see Professor Keating’s teachings as acceptable. The opposers also represent the herd in the theme of Individual vs. Herd.

There are many examples of this existentialist theme in Dead Poets Society. Professor Keating’s animated passion for something much bigger than the written word comes through in many of his lines. One, in particular, is the following:

We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!.. of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer: that you are here; that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?

In the above speech, Professor Keating is telling his students to be individuals who thrive on words and love in order to live a full, rich life. Being a sheep in the herd is someone who does not have their own verse in the poetry of life. He is telling his students that passionate contributions are what matter in life, and this cannot be done by sitting back and simply being a bystander.

Another example of the theme of Individual vs. Herd is through Keating’s encouragement to think outside the box, no matter what is being presented, specifically in the line: “When you read, don't just consider what the author thinks, consider what you think.” What Professor Keating is trying to convey to his students is that it is okay to argue something if it is written, because it is not set in stone. Freethinkers question things, even if they are presented in charts and under microscopes. This is the concept that Keating is trying to get his students to understand. He wants his students to look at concepts in a new way that defies the norm.

Professor Keating uses another great one-liner that exemplifies the Individual vs. Herd theme: “Sucking the marrow out of life doesn't mean choking on the bone.” In this quote, he is referring to Henry Thoreau, and he is implying that it is possible that one can live a full life without giving in to the dark side or doing things in a convenient, conventional way.

Keating encourages his students to find their own individuality at that moment, and he does it without delay. He tells them, “Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, ‘Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.’ Don't be resigned to that. Break out! Now is the time!” Keating is enthusiastic in wasting no time at all in encouraging the boys to find their own individualism instead of following the herd. He also references the great philosopher Henry David Thoreau, as he does many times in his lectures.

Keating also attempts to show his students that times may change, but the existentialist view that individuals should not follow the herd lives on in those who did not wait to make things happen in life. Part of this speech includes the following lines:

They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you. Their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable of? Because you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? Carpe…hear it? Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.

After Headmaster Nolan scolds him about his teaching methods, Professor Keating warns his students to be cautious in the midst of seizing the day. Where authority is concerned, he tells them that “There's a time for daring and there's a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for.” He is implying that the herd will stifle one’s individualism if they are careless about their acts and protests.

Professor Keating’s frequent referral to death and his blatant remarks regarding the fact that everyone dies is part of his unorthodox teaching methods that strikes a nerve in those who part of the herd. Above all, Keating is a realist whose intent is not to paint a morbid picture. He simply wants his students to know that they do not have eternity to make a difference and to stand out from the crowd. Simply put, everyone dies. And Keating is not afraid to get his students to realize this before it is too late:

Professor Keating: 'Seize the day. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.' Why does the writer use these lines?

Charlie Dalton: Because he's in a hurry.

Professor Keating: No. Ding! Thank you for playing anyway. Because we are food for worms, lads. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold and die.

The following line also exemplifies Keating’s brutally honest thoughts on living and dying: “Tune in, turn on, and drop dead.” These are true and honest words, spoken like a true existentialist. But for some, they are too honest.

Another example of the theme of Individual vs. Herd is Professor Keating’s view of language, which is considered unorthodox by the school. However, his students embrace this way of thinking:

Professor Keating: Language was developed for one endeavor, and that is? Mr. Anderson? Come on! Are you a man or an amoeba? Mr. Perry?

Neil: To communicate.

Professor Keating: No! To woo women!

This advice proves useful for student Knox, who writes a heartfelt poem in an attempt to woo Chris, the girl he is in love with. His new love for the written word as well as Keating’s uplifting lectures enables him to “Seize the day.” Knox went beyond the ordinary and set himself apart from the herd, so to speak. He did not resort to the conventional methods of winning his dream girl’s heart. Instead, he took a chance, poured out his true emotions, and seized the day.

Keating’s teaching methods are questioned by many, including McAllister, who warns him of disappointing his students:

McAllister: You take a big risk by encouraging them to be artists, John. When they realize they're not Rembrandts, Shakespeares or Mozarts, they'll hate you for it.

Professor Keating: We're not talking artists, George, we're talking freethinkers.

McAllister: Freethinkers at seventeen?

Professor Keating: Funny, I never pegged you as a cynic.

McAllister: Not a cynic, a realist. ‘Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams, and I'll show you a happy man.’

Professor Keating: But only in their dreams can man be truly free. 'Twas always thus, and always thus will be.

McAllister: Tennyson?

Professor Keating: No, Professor Keating.

Interestingly, McAllister sees himself as a realist when he is really part of the herd who opposes encouragement to think outside of the box. Meanwhile, Professor Keating spouts out a poetic and symbolic quote of his own that is a fine example of existentialism in its purest form.

One of the taglines for Dead Poets Society is a good example of existentialism and a desire to live life to its fullest:

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.”

The quote above is from Thoreau, and like the character of Professor Keating, Thoreau had a desire to live life to its fullest regardless of whatever consequences may happen to present themselves. This ties in nicely with the existential themes of Dead Poets Society.

In addition to the theme of Individual vs. Herd, existentialism is present in Dead Poets Society in the theme of Free will vs. Responsibility. There is a fine line between the two, and Knox learns this in a most unfortunate way. He takes it upon himself to audition for the role of Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in spite of his father’s wishes, and his free will gets him taken out of Welton. As a result, he commits suicide. This is unfortunately what occurs when some take their free will a little too far, especially when they are still teenagers living under their parents’ rules.

In Dead Poets Society, Professor Keating not only teaches about poetry by some of the great thinkers of our time, but he also teaches about life. Some can handle it, and others cannot. But it is clear that the ones who embrace it will benefit from this can kind of thinking in the long run. Those who do not will be left in the dust, literally – without leaving a mark or making a difference.

Work Cited

Dead Poets Society. Dir. Peter Weir. Perf. Robin Williams. Touchstone Home Video, 1989. Film.