Dead Poets Society: Questions

1.) The most influential leader I've ever had is my mother. She is the strongest most caring person I know. I can trust her with anything and I value her opinion, that's why she has the most influence on me. 

 2.) I think he means that with our professional careers we live to work but poetry is what we do after work and the things we work for. Everyone works to sustain what they love and care about in this world, they work to achieve what we are passionate about. I agree with his statement, poetry is something beautiful and manages to capture all the great things about being a person. 

3.) I agree with him, it is important to consider things from another person's point of view even if it is yours. When I write papers and other things that I know will affect other people, I make sure to consider their point of view so you don't offend them and to make sure you get your point across clearly. 

4.) I hope that in my life I will impact many people on a personal level. That is the impact I want to leave and the verse I would like to contribute. You can leave money or material things but what really matters are the way you leave the people who were apart of your life. 

Dead Poets Society: Questions

1.) I think that Neil would not have committed suicide if Mr. Keating hadn't come into his life. Although, without the influence of Mr. Keating his entire life would have been one not worth living.  He was always troubled it was just the events that happened after he confronted his father that sparked his desire to end his life. If Mr. Keating had never been a teacher there Neil would have never realized his dreams and what he wanted from his life, and he would have never killed himself. 

2.) I believe that the bravest of Mr. Keating's boys was Neil, he took Keatings advice to heart and really tried to implement it in his life by standing up to his father and pursuing his dreams. The coward of Mr. Keating's boys was Richard Cameron. He didn't want to learn what Mr. Keating had to teach him and was always worried about what other people would think of him. 

3.) I think Mr. Keating put the book ther but the only person that would know that is Neil and he would never tell anyone Keating did that. Keating wanted to give him the book to give him a chance to learn more than just his schoolwork and to embrace poetry and the true meaning of carpe diem. Keating didn't care about what other people thought of him, his main goal was to impact his student's lives on a lasting level. 

Dead Poets Society: Themes

I feel like the central theme in Dead Poets Society is what the boys say to themselves through out the movie; carpe diem. Mr. Keating encourages the boys to seize the day and make the most of their lives. It is evident the boys take this to heart because they all find their unique way to apply carpe diem into their own lives. With Neil, he uses carpe diem as a motivator for him to follow his dreams in acting not matter what his father says about it. Charlie seizes the day by being his loud outgoing self and standing up for others and himself. Todd realizes towards the end that he must learn to seize the day and do what makes him truly happy in life. At the end of the movie he puts Mr. Keating's teachings into action when he stands on the desk and salutes Mr. Keating as he leaves Welton Academy. When analyzing the characters and the plot in Dead Poets Society it is evident that carpe diem had an affect not only on all the lives of the students, but on the faculty as well. The idea of seizing the day is a theme relevant throughout the movie and changes all of the characters for different purposes as they all attempt to achieve a sense of carpe diem.

Character Question

1.) I believe that Neil is the most changed through out the film. He was most affected by the teachings of Mr. Keating and tried to implement them the most in his own life through his relationship with his father.
2.) The person who was least affected by the teachings of Mr. Keating was Richard Cameron. He was the one who turned in Mr. Keating for Neil's death and continued throughout the movie to criticize his teachings.
3.) Mr. Keating is an inspiring well rounded character who wants to influence others with good intentions. He is greatly changed by his experience in the film he because as he taught the students, they did him as well.
4.) Neil- Niel is very charismatic and a good leader, he has many passions but has a fear of following his dreams due to his fathers controlling nature. He does and does not overcome his fears. He does as in he confronts his father on his dreams and intentions but doesn't because in the end he takes his own life.
Todd- Todd was very shy and did not like having all the attention on himself. Todd had a fear of disappointing others, he never spoke his opinion or did anything to draw attention to himself because he though that everything he did was wrong. He eventually overcame his fear when he recited poetry with Mr. Keatings help and defended him at the end of the movie by standing on the desk and saluting his teacher.
Knox- Knox was a very determined young man who wouldn't take no for an answer. Knox had a fear of being alone, he wanted this girl and chased after her until she was almost forced to go out with him. He is always following the boys and seeking their approval. He eventually overcomes his fear and learns to be independent.
Charlie (Nwanda)- Charlie is a very outgoing person who doesn't want to be what everyone else wants of him. Charlie's fear is the fear of conformity. He doesn't want to be like everyone else and will do anything to not be. He does and doesn't overcome his fear because he does conform by being a follower of Mr. Keating but refuses to stay quiet like everyone else.

Mona Lisa Smile: Discussion

1.) In the 1950's women were supposed to be homemakers and social butterflies. Women were socially shunned if they attended graduate school or didn't get married. Women could go to college but were encouraged to take special courses that got them ready for home life such as interior decoration and family finance. Back then, women were supposed to cook and clean and take care of children. All while maintaining their outward appearance and social presence. Kathrine Watson thought more of women. In her mind, why couldn't women go to graduate school and pursue a profession? Why couldn't women focus on themselves and not get married? It all seemed unfair and demeaning to in her eyes. Kathrine saw marriage as something to do when you were ready for it, even if that means waiting a long time. She pushed students to further their educations and get jobs in whatever they wanted to do. Kathrine was helping change the way women were viewed by others, and themselves. 

3.) In the movie, Joan wants to become a lawyer and dreams of attending Yale. When she gets the application from Ms. Watson Betty, her best friend, tells her that she shouldn't do it. Betty tells Joan she is getting married and she need not want anything in life after that. She should spend the rest of her time and energy focusing on her husband and building a home. Betty is a product of the society back then, she believes that a woman's soul responsibility is to that of her husband and children. She was groomed since birth by her mother to become a wife, and she cannot bear to see Joan doing the opposite. I would like to believe that if I were Betty I would not have reacted the same. I think I would have told her she could do whatever she wants to and if that is going to Yale then do it. Although, times were different back then so there is no telling what I would have said back then. I think my reaction would have in no way been similar to Betty's