Individualism and Dead Poets Society

Richard Lemerise
Honors English III
Ms. Bazinet
Dead Poets Society and Walt Whitman

Individualism is a great thing and should be celebrated by all.  Walt Whitman’s masterpiece Leaves of Grass changed the style of American literature.  His world renowned anthology of poems changed the way people think.  Whitman’s values and messages greatly influenced the film Dead Poets Society.  Throughout his life, he produced one major work, Leaves of Grass.  Throughout all of his poems, particularly “Song of Myself”, he honors and celebrates the individual.  In the film Dead Poet Society, Mr. Keating, a new teacher at Welton Academy, brings to the school the messages given by Whitman in Leaves of Grass.
“Song of Myself”, a poem in Leaves of Grass, focuses particularly on the individual.  Through repetition, Whitman portrays many scenes of many different lives.  “The conductor beats time for the band and all the performers follow him, The child is baptized — the convert is making the first professions,” (Whitman)  He says that he represents and writes for each individual.
On the first day at school, Mr. Keating tells his students to be powerful individuals.  Individualism was lacking at Welton Academy.  All students were conformists.  Mr. Nolan did not encourage individualism.  Not even the teachers would defy his authority.  That is why problems come about when Mr. Keating, a non-conformist individual, began to teach and spread his ideas.
Neil Perry, a student at Welton Academy, has a passion for acting.  He is, however, too afraid of going against his father’s wishes.  When aware of his conformist behavior, Mr. Keating tells him to be himself and join the play.  Mr. Keating encourages him to honor himself as an individual.
Mr. Keating also brings to the school the idea of the Dead Poets Society.  The Dead Poets Society is a secret club where poetry is recited by club members.  This club, however, is forbidden at Welton Academy.  The boys decide to act as non-conformists and defy the authority.  They sneak out often to have club meetings.
Walt Whitman’s only work throughout his entire life, Leaves of Grass, revolved around the idea of individualism.  He encouraged people to honor and celebrate each individual.  This idea greatly influenced the film Dead Poets Society.  Mr. Keating brings Whitman’s ideas to Welton Academy’s conformist students.  All in all, Whitman’s ideas played a great role in Dead Poets Society.