Book Review: Dead Poets Society

A Novel by N. H. Kleinbaum

Mr. Keating: “medicine, law, banking–these are necessary to sustain life. But poetry, romance, love, beauty? These are what we stay alive for!”

Summary

The story takes place in an all-boys prep school located in Vermont in the late 1950s. The novel begins with talks by Headmaster Nolan welcoming students and parents to Welton Academy at the commencement of the new academic year. With its four pillars: tradition, honor, discipline, and excellence, the academy aims to produce the best quality of students who’d later go to Ivy League schools in the US. Simultaneously, the headmaster introduced the new English teacher, John Keating who replaces the retired Mr. Portius. Told in third-person omniscient narration, the story revolves around seven of Welton’s boys: Todd, Neil, Knox, Charlie, Cameron, Meeks, Pitts, and the inevitable Mr. Keating.

Deviating from the conventional Welton standard, Mr. Keating introduced a new eccentric way of teaching. On the first day of class, he literally asks students to collectively rip the preface of Dr. J. Evan Pritchard’s book, Understanding the Poetry, which he calls garbage. His students call him “O Captain! My Captain! as he prefers. Through his lessons, those seven young men are introduced to the world of poetry. One of the boys, Neil finds out in Mr. Keating's senior annual that during his time in Welton, he was engaged in a club called Dead Poets Society. It turns out that the club was for those who wanted to ‘suck the marrow out of life,’ a phrase introduced by Thoreau Walden that points out the importance of living life to the fullest. As a tradition, the club meets in a cave and takes turns reading poetry from Thoreau, Whitman, or their own verse. 

It is through meetings with Mr. Keating and the secret society that the boys, for the first time in their life are able to see and think for themselves, something unheard of in the academy. Neil figures out that he wants to pursue acting in life. While timid and reserved Todd slowly unfetters himself from his shyness. A visioner Knox dreams of having girls admitted to the institution. 

The story unfolds when Neil’s parents catch him involved in a play, something that his parents totally opposed. In great despair, Neil chooses to end his life rather than have his dreams ruled by his parents. In the wake of Neil’s suicide, what happens to the fate of the boys and the secret club? And most importantly what is the fate of Mr. Keating?

My thoughts 

For such a short book, Dead Poets Society truly leaves a big impression on me. I remember watching the movie sometime during my college days. I think it was recommended by one of my lecturers but it was not mandatory. I was surprised by how well the movie adaptation was because while reading the book, I could still vividly picture how the movie was rolling despite it being years since I last watched it. I think the moral of the movie as Mr. Keating said in his first lesson, is “Carpe Diem” a phrase in Latin that means seize the day. I like how fitting that is to children at prep school whose all lives are dictated by both their parents and teachers. Kids their age do not think for themselves and only do what adults and society deem important for their future. Mr. Keating’s presence is an epiphany to the boys. Rather than have to conform to what society tells you to do, just live your life on your own terms!