Seize the Day

Wednesday

The central theme of Dead Poets Society is to seize the day. Throughout the film we see that each character struggles with this. They have all been living sheltered and uneventful lives which is why when Mr. Keating introduces a different way of life, the boys are intrigued. For example, Neil Perry was one of the first to jump on the Dead Poets Society group. He organizes it and encourages his friends to join as well. He also takes his life into his own hands by sticking up to his father, who was ultimately trying to plan his life for him. All throughout the movie the boys say Carpe Diem whenever they are taking risks they wouldn't have taken before Mr. Keating. Each boy has their own problems of being insecure, quiet, and or not wanting to stray from the path their families and staff at Welton have set forth. However, this message of seizing the day sticks in their minds and shows the audience how much happier the boys were once they stood up for themselves in various ways.