Thursday, January 19, 2012

Dead Poets Society Response


In the opening scene from Peter Weir’s Dead Poets Society, the ordinary bleakness of the ceremony and the foreboding unease of the children underscores a pessimistic sorrow that the preparatory school is resuming. The majestic formality and army-like discipline of the entrance is at first celebratory exuberance, but as the process wears on, the children express an anxious and unsettling mood. The mural that is seen first in the movie proves the pessimism of the children by showing the same disheartened attitudes of students before. The playful sound of bagpipes and an organ as well as the overall success of the prep school suggest the kids should be ecstatic to go to return back to the school; however, the black clothing of the teachers and students and the flustered look of the children argues that the students are dreading the return to the institute. On the other hand, the new, young teacher proposes a small positive light in a seemingly dark tunnel.

1 comment:

  1. Some nice description here: "majestic formality" and "foreboding unease" describe both an observation and an inference very well. So is the phrase "celebratory exuberance," but most writers would use a verb other than "is" before it. Dig into that list of strong verbs and your arguments instantly become more authoritative.

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