Family relationships can be complex and destructive.

Set in 1959 in Welton academy, Dead Poet’s society was a film that focused on relationships amongst other things. The protagonist of this film, Neil Perry, was a passionate adolescent who loved to act. His passion for acting created more tension between him and his father than already was present.

Neil’s father was a strict, dominant parent who wanted his son to become a successful doctor. He despised any unneeded ‘distractions’ that hindered academic future of his son. One of them was acting. Neil, discovered his love for acting after he performed the play ‘a Midsummer’s Night’s Dream’ as Puck, the main character. He kept the words ‘Carpe Diem’ close to his heart and acting upon this, he decided to discuss matters regarding considering acting as his career. His furious father decided to send him off to a boarding school to study for another few years. This, Neil couldn’t take. He wanted to control his life, make his own decision. So, he did, he controlled his life by committing suicide.  

From the beginning, Neil’s relationship with his father was strictly professional as shown in various occasions in the film where he addressed his father as ‘sir’. Being, a big influence on the happenings of Welton Academy, Mr Perry cared deeply about his reputation along with his son’s. So, letting his son become something like an actor, which in his view was a horrifying career choice, was out of question.

Both, father and son were equally stubborn but Neil was always under his father’s shadow, afraid and submissive. This cold, non-empathetic, unemotional relationship of the two prevented them from ever connecting.

This complex and destructive relationship led to consequences that made Mr. Perry have second thoughts about whether what he has done was right. This tension between them, this wide gaping hole in their relationship between the father and the son, led to penalties that everyone wished didn’t happen. The lack of understanding on his father’s part, the pressure, steered Neil towards his end, the final freedom, the last decision, and the only controlled thing about his life. Suicide.  

Conclusively, words like “honour, discipline, excellence and tradition” wasn’t anything but mockery to Neil Perry as shown in the scene when him, amongst with his friends, mocked the school motto by saying insults like “travesty, excrement, decadence and horror.” His passion, acting, was something he was serious about. This one component was the last straw for Neil. His father’s lack of communication and understanding, this destructive  relationship, with him led to this. Led to this travesty and horror.

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A/N:

Sorry guys! Another assignment! This one is for samegrey! Hope you like it Shen!XD

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