What is so important to you that you would have a desire to share it with the world? Robin Williams plays Mr. Keating in the movie Dead Poets Society. Mr. Keating’s desire was to share his love of poetry with his students. He taught them about individuality and the act of not conforming to what is going on around them. There are many symbols throughout the movie. Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Symbolism is found in Dead Poets Society in both the reciting of poetry and the action of standing on the desk. The use of symbolism in the reciting of poetry is shown on the first day of class with Mr. Keating and throughout the movie. Poetry symbolizes self-expression (through thoughts and feelings of the author), it symbolizes beauty, it creates passion in the lives of others, it is an escape from reality or life, and it opens up one’s imagination to endless possibilities. Mr. Keating quotes, “ Ideas and words can change the world.” No …show more content…
This is evident when Mr. Keating stands on his desk at the beginning of class to demonstrate a lesson. The meaning of this action is to look at things in another way. Do not consider what others think, but also consider what you as a person thinks. He allows the students to stand on his desk one by one and to see what it is like. The students feel superior and then feel as if no one, not even the school administration can touch them. As the students do this, Mr. Keating says, “Now, when you read, don’t just consider what the author thinks, consider what you think. Strive to find your own voice, the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.” Mr. Keating teaches them about individuality. They must not conform to what is happening around them. The school is all about tradition and anything outside of that is not allowed. The boys are being taught by Mr. Keating to think for themselves and making their own