I understand where you are coming from with this interpretation. I won't even say it is incorrect. But ultimately what happened with Neil is a tragic issue of mental illness at a young age.
Even in the film Neil never says he plans to not become a doctor. He promises his dad he can do both and by all accounts it seems he is successful.
It was his dad making the choice for him that he could not have these things that drove him to do what he did. Of course he could have just waited another year and would be a legal adult at that point, able to make his own decisions.
I took Neil's decision as more of a commentary on how powerless some children feel underneath their parents and how instead of seeing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel they feel they will always live under their parents shadow.
Stunsthename t1_j1vmpz1 wrote
Reply to [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 understand where you are coming from with this interpretation. I won't even say it is incorrect. But ultimately what happened with Neil is a tragic issue of mental illness at a young age.
Even in the film Neil never says he plans to not become a doctor. He promises his dad he can do both and by all accounts it seems he is successful.
It was his dad making the choice for him that he could not have these things that drove him to do what he did. Of course he could have just waited another year and would be a legal adult at that point, able to make his own decisions.
I took Neil's decision as more of a commentary on how powerless some children feel underneath their parents and how instead of seeing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel they feel they will always live under their parents shadow.
Great discussion!