Neil Perry: The Powerful Character In Dead Poet Society

Neil Perry was an incredible and very interesting character in Dead Poet Society. He seems to be the most transcendental character in the movie besides their teacher, John Keating (Quoting Henry David Thoreau) “I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all of the marrow of life” (Leonard). He shows how much he cares about others feelings and how being creative/doing what you love is more important than being in school to be the same person that everyone else is trying to be. Many of the kids don’t want to be a normal average person but they are forced to by their family. Neil was one of those kids, his mother seemed to be somewhat on his side but never said anything to defend him, his father was very controlling and demanding that Neil has no fun and just focuses on school. His father, Mr. Perry’s reasoning would be better understood if Neil was failing classes along with acting but he was not, he was just trying to be himself. His father’s selfish and nonunderstanding mindset destroyed Neil’s entire

He had it all figured out but was stopped right in his tracks during the happiest part of his life. He loved poetry. He loved acting. He helped others and would always think freely. These are the great traits that would lead anyone to believe that he was a transcendentalist. This may be a movie but this terrible thing has probably happened before to a different innocent kid in a different place or time period. Everyone should be allowed to chase their dreams and do what makes them happy. “I just talked to my father. He’s making me quit the play at Henley Hall. Acting’s everything to me. I-but he doesn’t know! He-I can see the point; we are not a rich family, like Charlie’s. We-But he’s planning the rest of my life for me, and I-He’s never asked me what I want”