Numerous consequences will take place for the characters in the Dead Poet’s Society if they decide to follow non-conformist ideals. Mr. Keating, the teacher, runs his English class in an unconventional, effective way. He is trying to break free from the stagnant methods used at the private school. One day, he takes his class outside for some fresh air and to “prove a point” in a lesson. The boys, of course, love it. The headmaster, Mr. Nolan, does not approve. He approaches Mr. Keating, and tells him to conform to the original teaching methods, thinking he has had a negative effect on the boys. Mr. Keating, trying to defend his style, pronounces “I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.” The stern headmaster responds “At these boys age, not on your life” (Schulman). In other words, if Mr. Keating dares to be non-conformist and teach the boys to do the same, he will get fired. This clearly demonstrates the cost of diversity in “The Dead Poets Society”.
The headmaster calls the whole school into the auditorium to discuss the existence Dead Poets Society. He wants the club to disperse immediately. One of the boys pretends to answer a call, and declares it is God telling the headmaster to accept girls to the school. This boy gets taken into his office, and before receiving a brutal paddling, Mr. Nolan says, “…you think you’re the first person to try to get thrown out of this school, think again. Others have had similar notions and have failed just as surely as you will fail” (Schulman). Surely, by this, he means that any attempt to change school policy will get him kicked out. The price of non-conformism for boys in this very strict institution is expulsion.
No comments:
Post a Comment