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Critique of Traditional Education System
One of the main themes of Dead Poets Society is its critique of traditional education system. Through comparing scholasticism represented by the headmaster Nolan of Wilton Preparatory School and Neil’s father with nonconformity represented by Keating and his students, this critique operates on two levels: There is a critique of the prestigious Wilton which is famous for its hidebound style of education. There is a still deeper critique of the rote-learning education system in America based on the use of John Keating as a metaphor for education itself.
The Dead Poets Society directed by Peter Weir won Best Original Screenplay, is set in the period 1950-1990 it was released in 1989 and reflects American education at the aristocratic boarding school in 1959. It is a classic example of conformity versus nonconformity. Its main appeal is in the passionate acting of Robin Williams, who plays John Keating, an inspiring teacher with unusual methods. Inspiring co-star Gale Hansen who plays Charlie, Robert Sean Leonard who plays Neil and Ethan Hawke who plays Todd, students enrolled in the school Keating teaches at. Norman Lloyd plays Mr. Nolan, a rigid headmaster of Wilton.
At most basic level, the Dead Poets Society is a critique of Wilton Preparatory School. The film is set in a very strict all boys school in rural Vermont, New England in the late 1950s that has many rules and guidelines. At the beginning of the film, the school is shown in high angle shots emphasize its power and authority. The dullness in color of the building, the rigid angular shapes of the school’s architecture, sturdy stone structure and high interior walls give audiences a sense of formality and discipline. Then, the camera pans out to show the students of the school dressed in the same, dull, grey-colored school uniform moving around in classrooms, corridors and dormitories that seem claustrophobic. This effect emphasizes how the school restricts the boys in order to keep order and discipline. The use of a close-up shot of the characters’ facial expressions and actions in the architecture with a strong religious flavor enforces to audiences the oppressive atmosphere of the environment. In this shot, the headmaster Mr. Nolan proudly declares that Wilton is the best preparatory school for entering university, while the boys modify the school motto “Tradition, Honor, Discipline and Excellence” to “Imitation, Terror, Decadent and Filth”. It reveals their aversion toward the school and their revolt against the traditional education system. Furthermore, Mr. Nolan stands for Wilton school,
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he is conservative and proud of himself and Wilton. He is furious about Charlie’s essay, and announces in front of the whole school that he would on behalf of Wilton to get rid of the Dead Poet’s Society which is reconstructed by the students and to expel the student who wrote that essay from Wilton. From this scene, Mr. Nolan stands for the limiting models and fixed patterns that human mind depends upon to interpret and organize its education system.
At the highest level of critique in Dead Poets Society, John Keating, the teacher, stands for nonconformity, an epitome to the criticism of the traditional education system in America. The headmaster Mr. Nolan is sullen and rigid, while Keating is full of passion, humorous and creative. They are vividly compared. Keating is a non-conformist teacher who dares to break the traditional manner of teaching. He is a symbol of creative spirit who conceives the essence of life is poems, beauty, romance and love, as he says, “Words and ideas can change the world”. On the first day of class, the students are introduced to their overwhelming and extraordinary curriculum by depressing Mr. Nolan. However, Keating’s first lesson is unorthodox by Wilton standards. He takes the students out of the classroom into a solemn room, and under the sober flags says “seize the day”, which reveals that he dares to challenge the tradition. And in this scene, Keating tells the students that they can call him “the captain”, the “Captain” is a famous poem by Whitman to mourn the 16th President Abraham Lincoln, who led the civil war and destroyed the slavery system. Here, Keating has built a bridge between the students and him, and has established trust with the students. In a later class Keating asks Neil read the introduction to their poetry textbook, he finds such mathematical literary criticism is staid and ridiculous, and encourages the students to rip the introductory essay out of their textbooks. Inspired by Keating, the boys begin to rebel against the structure and authority of the Wilton school, begin to rebel against the traditional education. In a later class, Keating stands on his desk and tells his students should from a new perspective to perceive the world. Inspired by Keating, the boys reawake the meaning of life within. In addition, the climax of “Dead Poets Society” is the suicide of Neil. The suicide of Neil is caused by the pressure from his family. His father wanted him to be something that he didn’t want for himself. However, Neil's father takes no responsibility for Neil’s death and instead holds the belief that it is Keating’s fault, so the
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headmaster Mr. Nolan holds an investigation into the tragedy, where Keating is accused by the insidious school and forced to leave the school, as was hinted by the poem “Captain”. The suicide of Neil, actually, is praise to the person who keeps pursuing freedom, keeps his faith and will never succumb. What’s more, it is a critique of Neil’s father and the school’s virtual imprisonment of its students, and a critique of traditional education system. In the film's dramatic conclusion, the boys return to English class which is now being temporarily taught by Mr. Nolan. When Keating is leaving, Todd stands on his desk and calls out "Captain! My Captain!" as Keating taught him earlier. Enraged, Mr. Nolan warns Todd to be quiet and sit down immediately otherwise he will face expulsion. Yet, all students stand on their desks and chant “Oh my captain, my captain......” Although Keating is leaving, he will remain in the students’ minds and hearts forever. This scene shows the furious Mr. Nolan being defeated, and is a symbol that the traditional education system can be defeated.
To conclude, through the contrast between the rigid headmaster Mr. Nolan who stands for Wilton Preparatory School and Keating who is nonconformist and inspires his students to know the essence of life, and through the students in Wilton rebelling against Mr. Nolan’s stultifying teaching method and rebelling against the school’s rules and disciplines, and also through the suicide of Neil in order to pursue his own dream and freedom, one of the main theme of Dead Poets Society can be put forth--- a critique of traditional education system.
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英语094 5101109080
Dead Poets Society. Available at:
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