Q: What is the meaning of life?

In the movie Dead Poet’s Society directed by Peter Weir, a new English teacher by the name of Mr. Keating, comes to an all boys boarding school to inspire his students through his teaching of poetry. What is the meaning of life? This is such a powerful question, that could have endless answers to, but in this case the meaning of life is to find your own voice.

Throughout the movie you can see that Mr. Keating is showing the boys to find their own voice and determine their own life, by showing them that there is always a new perspective of the way you look at everything: “I stand upon my desk to remind myself… that we must constantly look at things in a different way” (Weir, Dead Poet’s Society). Keating teaches the students that you must think for yourself and how you can really make an impact on the planet if you do so: “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world” (Weir, Dead Poet’s Society).

What is the meaning of life? Keating teaches us that the meaning of life is to find your own voice and to do so as soon as possible. You must strive to find your own voice; ultimately, the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.

Dead Poets Society. Dir. Peter Weir. By Tom Schulman. Perf. Robin Williams. Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, 1989. DVD.