The film The Dead Poets Society’s breathtaking visuals and impeccable storytelling have been neatly translated into a heartwarming book by Nancy H. Kleinbaum. This book is one of those rare cases where the book was a movie first. Regardless of the media, The Dead Poets Society never fails to take my breath away.
This little novel is emotional; each page brings a smile or a waterfall of tears (you can decide which is better). It is an inspiring piece of literature about an English teacher who utilizes his classroom as a gateway to passion and creativity. This spreads a beautiful message about the importance of the Humanities.
In our modern (and rather capitalistic) society, the Humanities are often looked down upon. The curtains might be blue just because the author wanted them to be, but literary analysis such as that is, frankly, anti-intellectual. The Humanities foster self-expression and empathy in students and books/movies like The Dead Poets Society give us proof of that.
Though the plot is rather dramatic and unlikely to occur in real life, it shows us that our passions can make or break us.
The Dead Poets Society is about John Keating, an English teacher at a prestigious Ivy-League preparation school for boys, whose students discover a secret club at the school called… you guessed it- The Dead Poets Society! While the ‘poets’ may be dead, they continue to inspire and encourage the students to pursue their dreams. Along with Mr.Keating, who strives to help every boy break out of his shell, it’s a wholesome story that feels like a warm hug.
However, the story takes a tragic turn, leaving the reader speechless. The characters are left to grapple with their grief. Additionally, when Mr. Keating’s position at the school is threatened, it seems that everything is only going to get worse.
The book ends with a powerful tribute to their teacher, Mr. Keating, who transformed their lives. Mr. Keating transformed the young, wandering boys into passionate, proud men. It’s an emotional ending guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes, but I cannot think of a more stunning way to end such a compelling book.
All in all, I can’t say that I regret reading the novel (even though the tears were flowing like a river). I think that the only way to wrap up my Dead Poets Society obsession would be to watch the movie and maybe eat a cake with Keating’s face plastered on top.
