Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Select_Action_6065 t1_j1vop8c wrote

I think you mean ‘mutually exclusive’. Not inclusive.

But Neil lied to Mr. Ketting about getting his fathers permission. He knew Ketting wouldn’t approve. It’s tragic but Neil is responsible.

76

Mentalposho t1_j1y8rbe wrote

he knew he was lying. It was obvious it was one of the scenes on my 2nd rewatch i noticed for the first time and it was so obvious he knew Neil lied.

5

Select_Action_6065 t1_j1z2gqq wrote

I’m not so sure about that. Ketting went up to them after the play and seemed pretty shock by the dad’s reaction.

Even if he did that is irrelevant to OP’s concern. The fact that Neil felt the need to lie meant that he knew Ketting wouldn’t approve. Neil understood what the limits to Carpe Diem were as Ketting was teaching it.

And if Ketting DID know as you claim what should he do? Call Neil’s Dad? Then the same thing happens to Neil except now he feels betrayed by Ketting.

7

Mentalposho t1_j203lbd wrote

nah I think he knew he was gonna act that way (Ketting on dad's reaction) so that's why he overcompensated and sort of "overreacted" to Neil's performance. Which the Dichotomy and the forged internal conflict could've triggered (no pun intended) Neil's demise. No one is innocent here imo. Honestly. It's not the limits it's more like actually he didn't want to disappoint his second father, Ketting.

If he did know, I think he should've'nt pushed Neil so hard imo towards the path of Carpe Diem but let him find it in his own time.

1

MansaQu OP t1_j1vuzbw wrote

I meant that to Neil, it couldn't be mutually exclusive. I.e., he had to pursue acting and be a good son, otherwise he couldn't live anymore.

It seems to be the consensus of the thread that at the end of the day, it was Neil's responsibility (I'm not sure I fully agree, because he's an impressionable teenager, and his role models will naturally have a massive influence on his beliefs and choices). But either way what do you think we should ultimately take from the film? Is there a moral to the story that upholds the philosophy of Carpe Diem and somehow also explains Neil's death?

−3