Assignment #4 Dead Poet's Society

             After the death of Neil, will the parents let their sons do what they want? In the movie, "Dead Poets Society", directed by Peter Weir, Neil is involved with a group of students that are controlled by their parents, and don't have the freedom to do what they want. They struggle with the difficulty of telling their parents what they really feel. In the movie there are three important themes: relationship between parent and child, education, and leadership.

             The parent and child relationships are not very good. The parents control their sons by telling them what to do and by not letting them make their own choices. When Neil told his parents that he wanted to be an actor, his parents were against his decision. Neil also keeps his feelings to himself even if he disagrees with his parents.

              Another theme in this movie is how the boys learn. Their teacher, Mr. Keating, taught the boys how to learn about the outside world in a fun way. The boys started liking school and they enjoyed Mr. Keating's class. In the movie, the boys were interested in writing poetry because they were able to write about subjects that were interesting to them such as girls.

              The other theme in this movie is leadership and how the the group of boys work together. When Neil saw the group called The Dead Poets Society, that Mr. Keating was involve with, Neil started telling others to join the club of poetry and to learn new things about the poetry. Under Neil's leadership, the boys started working together and started learning from each other. When the boys helped Knox to believed himself and give him courage to talk to Chris the girl the he loved in love at first sight. The group of boys started to know each other after the long time and before the death of Neil they been helping him to tell his parents what he really wants.

               This movie tell us to stand up for what's right and stand up for ourselves. Do something that will make your parents proud and tell the what you really feel about the choices that they made. Also to find the things that made you happy and to find who we really are.

     As I shuffled into the classroom, I knew that Mr. Van Camp would never believe me. I looked at my scuffed shoes and mumbled, " My homework is not done, Sir. I do have a good excuse though."

     Mr. Van Camp scowled as he looked up from the papers he was marking. "This is not the first time your homework has not been completed. Perhaps," he suggested, "it's time to speak with your parents."

     "Please, you have no idea what will happen to me if you phone my home," I moaned.
     "Well, let's hear your excuse. It better be good."

      I followed him to his desk as he sat in his chair, and he looked at me, "Well, you see when I got home after school the hospital called." I paused, tears coming out from my eyes and then I continued, "They told me that she won't make it to this weekend," I declared.

      "Who won't make it?"questioned Mr. Van Camp, " is it your mother, your aunt or your sister?" he asked with confusion in his eyes.

      I looked at him and I said, "It is my dog." I paused, and then I explained, "She's very important to me."
      
      "Is that why you didn't do your homework?" Mr. Van Camp questioned, "why is she very important to you?"

     "Because she's my only best friend in the world," I continued, "we go to the beach together, we often travel together, and eat together."

     He stared at me for a long time and asked, "With a dog?" He was amazed that I was eating with the dog at the same table.

     "Yes, because of that I didn't have the time to do my homework," I replied, "I've been visiting her every time the school ends." I said.

     "Where is she right now?" he asked with a concerned look on his face.

     "She's at the hospital," I replied, in a low voice and I continued, "and she saved my life once when a lightning bolt hit the power line and went onto our rooftop and caused a fire." I paused for a minute then continued, "I was in my room that day when it happened and the smoke started to get inside my room and I couldn't see anything." Then as the memories came back I started sobbing and then I continued, " I went unconscious and then I felt someone dragging me from behind and then when I woke up it was my dog. She was beside me waiting for me to get up." Suddenly I started crying. "Thats how my favorite best friend save my life." I sob.

      "I see thats really sad," he said, "I'll give you one more day to do your homework," he replied

      "Thank you so much Mr. Van Camp I really appriciate it."