Dead Poets Society 죽은시인의 사회

카르페 디엠!
Carpe Diem! 


1859년에 창립된 미국의 명문 웰튼 아카데미의 새학기 개강식.
이 학교 출신인 ‘존 키팅’ 선생(로빈 윌리엄스)은 새 영어 교사로 부임한다.
첫 시간부터 ‘키팅’ 선생은 “카르페 디엠”을 외치며 파격적인 수업방식으로 학생들에게 신선한 충격을 주었다. 고등학교 12학년까지 많은 선생님을 뵈었다. 나의 키팅 선생님은 누구셨을까?

오 캡틴! 마이 캡틴!
O Captain! My Captain!

‘닐’(로버트 숀 레오나드)은 ‘키팅’ 선생을 ‘캡틴’이라 부르며 따르게 되고,
‘죽은 시인의 사회’라는 서클에 대한 이야기를 듣게 된다.
‘닐’과 그의 친구들은 엄격한 학교 규율을 어기고 서클에 참여하면서
‘키팅’ 선생을 통해 ‘참된 인생’이 무엇인지를 조금씩 느끼게 된다.

대학원서를 쓰고 미래를 걱정하는 내가 이영화속 주인공들과 상황이 많이 다르지만 너무도 같음을 느낀다. 동시대가 아니여서 그러나 동배이여서 내나이에 느낄수 있는것일듯하다.

In the autumn of 1959, shy Todd Anderson begins his senior year of high school at Welton Academy, an all-male, elite prep school. He is assigned one of Welton's most promising students, Neil Perry, as his roommate and is quickly accepted by Neil's friends: Knox Overstreet, Richard Cameron, Steven Meeks, Gerard Pitts, and Charlie Dalton.

On the first day of classes, they are surprised by the unorthodox teaching methods of the new English teacher John Keating, a Welton alumnus who encourages his students to "make your lives extraordinary", a sentiment he summarizes with the Latinexpression carpe diem. Subsequent lessons include having them take turns standing on his desk to teach the boys how they must look at life in a different way, telling them to rip out the introduction of their poetry books which explains a mathematical formula used for rating poetry, and inviting them to make up their own style of walking in a courtyard to encourage them to be individuals. His methods attract the attention of strict headmaster Gale Nolan.

Upon learning that Keating was a member of the unsanctioned Dead Poets Society while he was at Welton, Neil restarts the club and he and his friends sneak off campus to a cave where they read poetry and verse, including their own compositions. As the school year progresses, Keating's lessons and their involvement with the club encourage them to live their lives on their own terms. Knox pursues Chris Noel, a girl who is dating a football player from a public school and whose family is friends with his. Neil discovers his love of acting and gets the role as Puck in a local production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, despite the fact that his domineering father wants him in the Ivy League (and ultimately medical school). Keating helps Todd come out of his shell and realize his potential when he takes him through an exercise in self-expression, resulting in his composing a poem spontaneously in front of the class.

However, Charlie takes things too far when he publishes an article in the school newspaper in the club's name demanding that girls be admitted to Welton. Nolan uses corporal punishment to coerce Charlie into revealing who else is in the Dead Poets Society, but he resists. Nolan also speaks with Keating, warning him that he should discourage his students from questioning authority. Keating does admonish the boys (in his manner), warning that one must assess all consequences.

Neil's father discovers Neil's involvement in the play and forces him to quit on the eve of the opening performance. Devastated, Neil goes to Keating, who advises him to stand his ground and prove to his father that his love of acting is something he takes seriously. Neil's father unexpectedly shows up at the performance. He takes Neil home and says he has been withdrawn from Welton, only to be enrolled in a military academy to prepare him for Harvard. Unable to find the courage to stand up to his father and with no help from his mother, a distraught Neil commits suicide.

Nolan investigates Neil's death at the request of the Perry family. Cameron blames Neil's death on Keating to escape punishment for his own participation in the Dead Poets Society, and names the other members. Confronted by Charlie, Cameron urges the rest of them to let Keating take the fall. Charlie punches Cameron and is expelled. Each of the boys is called to Nolan's office to sign a letter attesting to the truth of Cameron's allegations, even though they know they are false. When Todd's turn comes, he is reluctant to sign, but does so after seeing that the others have complied and succumbing to his parents' pressure.

Keating is fired and Nolan takes over teaching the class. Keating interrupts the class to collect personal articles; before he leaves, Todd shouts that all of them were forced to sign the letter that resulted in his dismissal and that Neil's death was not his fault. Todd stands on his desk and salutes Keating with the words "O Captain! My Captain!". Knox, Gerard, Steven, and over half of the class do the same, defying a furious Nolan's orders to sit down. Keating is deeply touched by their gesture. He thanks the boys and departs.

📚 Reference 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Poets_Society

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