Book Review 3: Dead Poets Society

I’m gonna try to keep this one shorter than my Perks of Being a Wallflower review, which I only realize after I posted it that it was indeed way too long to be one post. Not without difficulty though, this book really got me. I will warn, like I probably should have in my previous posts, that I will likely give some pretty big spoilers. But I have to say, I absolutely loved this book. I have been meaning to read it for a while and I regret that it took me so long. It had me audibly laughing to myself in some scenes, tearing up at others, and at one point I had to stare at the page for a couple minutes before I could continue reading. The ending had me distraught and thinking about it for days after.

This book was short and a relatively simple read, but it is undeniably real and definitely left an impression on me. I’m gonna diverge from my usual ChatGPT summaries for this post. The summary of Dead Poets Society by Robin Williams, straight from the back of the book:

“Todd Anderson and his friends at Welton Academy can hardly believe how different life is since their new English professor, the flamboyant John Keating, has challenged them to “make your lives extraordinary!” Inspired by Keating, the boys resurrect the Dead Poets Society-a secret club where, free from the constraints and expectations of school and parents, they let their passions run wild. As Keating turns the on to the great words of Byron, Shelley, and Keats, they discover not only the beauty of language, but the importance of making each moment count. But the Dead Poets Pledges soon realize that their new-found freedom can have tragic consequences. Can the club and the individuality it inspires survive the pressure from authorities determined to destroy their dreams?”

Like my last two posts, I could probably write for hours on end about this book and everything I loved about it. The overall theme of the book really stuck out, as it depicts very real issues of education systems and authority figures pushing kids too hard and forcing them to strip themselves of their real passions and desires to conform to what authority thinks they should be. But, I am limited, and if I tried to analyze this entire aspect it would be way too long. So, the main aspect that I want to focus on is the friendship between two main characters, Todd Anderson and Neil Perry.

Todd and Neil

The biggest thing about their friendship that resonates with me is how much they understand each other and their struggles, although often unsaid. From the moment they met, it was obvious that Neil was invested in Todd, who was introverted, insecure, and never really had much to say. Their friendship grew and developed throughout the book, but even from the very beginning they had a certain connection that was hard to miss.

One of the first moments that stuck out to me was when the main group of boys were reviving the Dead Poets Society and planning their first meeting. Todd told Neil that he didn’t want to go, and Neil pressed him until he said why. When Todd finally told him it was because he didn’t want to read aloud, which was basically the whole point of Dead Poets Society, Neil still wasn’t having it.

“‘What if you didn’t have to read?’ Neil suggested. ‘What if you just came and listened?'”

“‘That’s not how it works,’ Todd pointed out. ‘If I join, the guys will want me to read.'”

“‘I know, but what if they said you didn’t have to?’

“You mean ask them?’ Todd’s face reddened. ‘Neil, it’s embarrassing.’

“‘No, it’s not,’ Neil said, jumping up from his seat. ‘Just wait here.”

“Neil was off before Todd could stop him.”

Todd ended up going anyway, and none of the other boys really gave him a hard time about not reading because he had Neil’s support.

“Pitts handed the book to Todd while the boys laughed at his joke. Todd froze, holding the book and Neil quickly took it before the others noticed.”

In the beginning of the book, theres an almost silent camaraderie between the two. They both have their own struggles to deal with; Todd’s bad relationship with his family due to not feeling adequate compared to his older brother, and Neil’s tense relationship with his incredibly strict and controlling father. They both see each other having a hard time and provide an unsaid comfort in each other’s presences.

Probably my favorite moment between the two however comes when they are having a conversation in their dorm room about the things that their favorite teacher, Mr. Keating, teaches them and their Dead Poets Society club. Neil is on Todd about how reserved he is and how it seems nothing that Mr. Keating says to them in class means anything to him. Todd tells him to leave it alone, and Neil flat out refuses. He truly cares about Todd, and even if it means being harsh, wants to help him and break him out of his shell.

Their friendship continues to grow throughout the book and they begin to open up to each other about their real desires and troubles. Again, I don’t want to make this very long, but overall they have an incredible brotherly bond by the end of the book. This makes the ending that much more difficult to read, and yes I am going to spoil it. I mentioned before that Neil has a very tense relationship with his father, who treats him more like an employee than a son. He pushes him to be the very best in school, not allowing him to do the things he truly wants to do, which is acting.

Neil signs up for a play of A Midsummer’s Nights Dream, and gets the part of Puck. When his father eventually finds out about it the night before the showing, he demands that he quits. Neil disobeys him and goes anyway, and his father watches the entire play. The whole scene makes you hopeful for a beautiful ending where his father realizes his son’s true passion and all is happy and dandy, but that never happens. His father is furious, and tells him he is no longer going to attend Welton and is going to put his dream of acting behind him. Neil commits suicide that same night.

This was the part of the book that I had to stop and stare at the page before I could keep reading. I want to say it was unexpected, but the build up to the scene really just leaves you dreading what you know is going to happen. When Todd finds out, he is absolutely devastated.

“Todd felt his head spin. ‘Oh, my God! Oh, Neil!’ he wailed as he jumped from his bed and ran down the hall, screaming, to the bathroom. He sat on his knees in the stall and vomited until he thought his guts would come out. His friends waited helplessly outside.”

“Todd came out of the stall, wiping his mouth. Tears streamed down his face. He walked back and forth in the bathroom. ‘Someone has to know it was his father! Neil wouldn’t kill himself! He loved living!’ he cried.

“‘Even if Mr. Perry didn’t shoot him,’ Todd said calmly, ‘he killed him. They have to know that!’ He ran across the room, screaming painfully, ‘Neil! Neil!’ Falling against the wall, he started sobbing again, and the boys left him alone, sitting on the floor, to cry out his grief.”

Even though Todd knew Neil the shortest amount of time compared to the other boys, he was affected the most by his death. The other boys realized this too, giving him space and treating him gently after it happened.

Todd was so affected by what happened that he broke his usual meek and insecure front, going as far as yelling at their principle who tried to put the blame on Mr. Keating for Neil’s death. The entire ending of the book was just overall very heart wrenching to me.

All in all, this book was, as expected, one of my favorites. It’s a must read to me, and I really appreciated the deep bond between Todd and Neil and how they expressed Todd’s grief in the end.