Dead Poets Society: The Powerful Thought of Individuality Ashwin Naresh 11th Grade

There is a balance to ideals in individuality and truth, both at positive and negative extremes. The movie Dead Poets Society by Peter Weir captures the incredible role romanticism and embracement of truth on an individual's life, separating the ability to enjoy life from the mechanical ability to live. Through the development of Neil Perry and Todd Anderson the importance of individualism and romanticism is explored. Once fully embraced, passion and personal need can open life to epic change. The transition from being obedient students lacking individuality, to boys who take risks for what they want in life is shown alongside the growth of daring and passionate personalities. The importance of truth to an individual is to embrace one's passion as it relates to the romanticized, free from cynicism. Obtaining and keeping genuine truth to oneself is imperative to living a fulfilling life as suggested in this text.

The movie explores the need for truth within an individual to live a free life, while not conforming to a larger group's expectation and standards. Truth in the Dead Poet’s Society is not a matter of what the environment surrounding an individual expects, but rather holding to the values and ideals of the individual....