MansaQu

MansaQu OP t1_j1vuzbw wrote

Reply to comment by Select_Action_6065 in [Dead Poets Society] Isn't Mr. Keating at least partially responsible for the tragedy, and if yes, does that not undermine the philosophy of the film (Carpe Diem)? by MansaQu

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?

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MansaQu OP t1_j1vnm6b wrote

Reply to comment by billjv in [Dead Poets Society] Isn't Mr. Keating at least partially responsible for the tragedy, and if yes, does that not undermine the philosophy of the film (Carpe Diem)? by MansaQu

Thanks for the input!

If it was Neil and Neil alone who took it too far in the end (is that safe to say?), what are we supposed to make of Carpe Diem? Should we want to live our lives to the fullest no matter the cost?

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MansaQu OP t1_j1vmxug wrote

Reply to comment by MartinScorsese in [Dead Poets Society] Isn't Mr. Keating at least partially responsible for the tragedy, and if yes, does that not undermine the philosophy of the film (Carpe Diem)? by MansaQu

I totally get that Keating was the scapegoat in the film. But I don't think the vast majority of viewers see Keating as a contributing factor to Neil's choice at all. I don't think it's fair to say Neil (and Neil alone) made his choice. He was an impressionable teenager who was greatly influenced by his seniors. That goes for his father just as well as it goes for Mr. Keating. And I think if it weren't for Mr. Keating's insistence on following one's dreams to the fullest, Neil wouldn't have ended it all.

At the end of the day, I'm not entirely focused on who is to blame and exactly how much they contributed to the tragedy. I'm more confused about the message. If we can say that Neil took Carpe Diem too far (in my opinion it was influenced by the dangerous urgency I mentioned earlier), what is the underlying philosophy that the boys thank Mr. Keating for in the end?

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