#deadpoetssocietyanalysis

[thegreatmelodrama]

A small detail in Dead Poets Society that always stays within my brain is how when Neil goes up to his room, the camera pans to his bed that has his pajamas, a robe, and toiletries have all been laid out for him (presumably by his mom). Neil briefly touches his pajama shirt in a way that has always stuck with me. Because, here, in this moment, Neil is reminded once again that his future has already been laid out for him, that he can’t even choose his own pajamas to wear much less choose what he will do with his life. It’s only further confirmation to him of what he thinks he must do; that the only way to live life on his own terms is by ending it.

Furthermore, this scene contains parallels to that which depicts the night of the first dead poets meeting. In the latter, Neil enters his room to find the Five Centuries of Verse book left by Keating. This is followed by the poets all sneaking out into the night with the same score being used in both this scene and the scene of Neil preparing for his final act. Keating’s book represents freedom and hope and passion, a stark contrast to the pajama laid out for Neil in the later scene. However, one could argue that the crown of thorns, which Neil gravitates to after looking at his folded pajamas, represents a similar, yet different sort of freedom. When Neil places the crown on his head and takes his final bow, he effectively commits himself to the decision to find freedom in the dreams of the eternal sleep that is death.

What appears as a small detail, really holds so much more depth when looked at in a different way.

[damnitneilthenamesnuwanda]

the parallels between his final scene and the first meeting are everything to me

A small detail in Dead Poets Society that always stays within my brain is how when Neil goes up to his room, the camera pans to his bed that has his pajamas, a robe, and toiletries have all been laid out for him (presumably by his mom). Neil briefly touches his pajama shirt in a way that has always stuck with me. Because, here, in this moment, Neil is reminded once again that his future has already been laid out for him, that he can’t even choose his own pajamas to wear much less choose what he will do with his life. It’s only further confirmation to him of what he thinks he must do; that the only way to live life on his own terms is by ending it.

Furthermore, this scene contains parallels to that which depicts the night of the first dead poets meeting. In the latter, Neil enters his room to find the Five Centuries of Verse book left by Keating. This is followed by the poets all sneaking out into the night with the same score being used in both this scene and the scene of Neil preparing for his final act. Keating’s book represents freedom and hope and passion, a stark contrast to the pajama laid out for Neil in the later scene. However, one could argue that the crown of thorns, which Neil gravitates to after looking at his folded pajamas, represents a similar, yet different sort of freedom. When Neil places the crown on his head and takes his final bow, he effectively commits himself to the decision to find freedom in the dreams of the eternal sleep that is death.

What appears as a small detail, really holds so much more depth when looked at in a different way.