Dead Poets Society: Conformity and The End of Individualism

The truth about conformity lies in the fact that it is the sole foundation on which society, as a whole, derives its power. If we talk about this power through a psychological lense, we can assume that the idea of belonging to a certain group, of being able to ‘fit into’ this powerful group, is what the world considers a good life. This is why government jobs are often considered to be superior to jobs at private/unique/small businesses.

The rules have been set. In this way, even though we have upgraded our political system to a democracy, in emotional terms, it still remains a dictatorship; the whole of society acting as a dictator. Although these rules are not set in stone and can be chosen to be rebelled by people, those who actually end up pursuing their unique individual potentials instead of conforming to ‘supposed higher power’ positions are often looked down upon. Of course, these individuals are happy and hence, do not give the judgement any thought. But what of those who are burdened into the fates crafted for them?

An example of this moral burden exists in the movie, “Dead Poets Society” directed by Peter Weir: the pressure inflicted on students by their parents and teachers to achieve nobler professions, such as engineering, the sciences, medicine, law etc., is a real demonstration of the concept of society’s influence and power in making people decide their futures.

As a form of survival, this concept of ‘society’ has constituted a firm belief in the minds of people that a good life consists of: a suitable paying job (the term suitable defined by their own particularly desired amount of pay that is considered good enough), a well paired marriage, a specific number of children, retirement at the right age and finally, a death that will be glorified by a respectful funeral. Personally, I admit the last part is amiable for the heart but this life and the maddening expectations set up for it are draining for the mind and they completely degrade the one deepest requirement of humankind; the morally pleasing aspect, the fulfilment of the soul.

As requoted in the movie, the words by Henry David Thoreau explain it well. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.”

Further, the words exquisitely phrased by Mr. Keating touch on the very theme of going into the depth of our souls and embracing our unique and individual potentials instead of conforming and adapting to society’s dictatorship: “medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?"

Answer: That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.

What will your verse be?”

The death of Neil at the end of the movie only elevates our fear of the true height of hopelessness to which our loss of individuality can lead us, and if that does not convince people to live their life with great passion and deep understanding of the moral satisfactions of their souls, humanity, then, has already gone astray.