Lauren Trudeau
Synthesis Essay
May 7, 2018
Block C

 

Dead Poets Society vs “What Have I Lived For”

 

The meaning of life, is a question that has been asked for centuries. Humans of all race, gender, and religion have been attempting to answer it. Many poems and movies answer the question in their own ways, including Dead Poets Society by Peter Weir and “What Have I Lived For” by Bertrand Russell. Dead Poets Society is a 1989 American Drama film, set in 1959 at an all boys boarding school. It tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students through poetry. “What Have I Lived For” is a prologue to “The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell”. The autobiography and prologue were written from 1967-1969. He was awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 1950. In both sources, the author/director address the question: What is the meaning of life. In “What have I lived for”, the author explains how love, pity, and knowledge are the answers to his meaning of life. Whereas, in Dead Poet’s Society, Mr. Keating preaches how seizing the day and not being ordinary will help find the meaning of life. Although both sources have different answers and different ways of finding their answers, they are both still inspiring for younger generations.

 

In the case of “What Have I Lived For”, Bertrand clearly states his personal answers to the question, after reflecting upon his life. His intentions for this epilogue were simply to explain his life’s meaning, instead of trying to push the audience to find their meaning of life. Firstly, he discusses his longing for love. He explains that love brings ecstasy to his life, “ecstasy so great that I would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy” (Russell). He also mentions how love can relieve the feeling of loneliness. Everyone feels loneliness in their life at some point; his cure to this unwanted feeling is to love. Furthermore, he reveals that he found the love of his life, and that the love they share is something “saints and poets have imagined” (Russell). Secondly, he has sought knowledge. He craves to learn new things, although he knows he is intelligent already. However, he acknowledges the fact there will always be more to learn. Showing the reader he is humble and curious. His third and final answer is pity. Love and knowledge would bring him over the moon with happiness, while, pity would bring him back to reality. He explains how “children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a hated burden to their sons, and the whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain” make a mockery of what life should be (Russell). Not only are these people suffering, but he is as well. To conclude this poem he explains how finding his meaning of life, made his life worth living. Even though Bertrand Russell is an old, white male, the answers brought up in this poem can be related to by all generations. Many people would say that love is a part of their meaning of life, including myself. Unlike Dead Poets Society, the author is simply doing a reflection of his life and telling the reader the answer. He is not giving the reader steps or a strategy to find their meaning.

This poem also has more advanced language compared to Dead Poets Society, therefore; it is more difficult to comprehend completely. Russell decided to express his feelings through poetry, which can be less effective than a movie. Listening and watching someone speak their feelings can enhance the meaning of what they are saying. When simply reading what someone has written, it is not coming from the author directly which can result in the reader interpreting the work a different way then intended.

When it comes to Dead Poets Society, Peter Weir’s intentions for this movie were to inspire and motivate the audience to find their meaning of life. One of the main characters, Mr Keating, pushes his students to be original and seize the day. Throughout the movie, he tries to get the boys to think for themselves, without having their parents constantly telling them what they can and cannot do. Neil, one of the students in the movie, pushes himself to be in a play, “For the first time in my whole life, I know what I wanna do! And for the first time, I’m gonna do it! Whether my father wants me to or not! Carpe diem”(Weir), and despite his parents negative response, he decides to continue with it because it is his passion. In the end, Neil commits suicide because of his parents disapproval. His parents were going to take away his meaning of life, therefore, in his mind, he thought: is life worth living if it has no meaning. This movie demonstrates that being forced into a life that someone else wants for you can result in loss of self worth. Another student, Todd, starts out the movie being stuck in the shadow of his older sibling. Feeling as though he cannot speak, Mr. Keating helps him find his voice, “Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because, the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, ‘Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.’ Don’t be resigned to that. Break out!” (Weir). Mr. Keating tries to push Todd out of his comfort zone by helping him speak more. To conclude the movie, Todd sticks up for Mr. Keating in front of the whole class. Standing up for himself or someone else is something Todd would have never done without the help of Mr. Keating. Now that Todd does not feel as trapped in the image of his brother, he may speak for himself and work towards finding his meaning of life. Mr. Keating indirectly mentions that his meaning of life is to teach, however, the movie was intended to push youth to have their own voice. It was not a self reflection, like “What Have I Lived For”. It is also very powerful to have all generations in the film, making it relatable to all.

Although there are many differences between the two sources, they both manage to appeal to younger generations. Dead Poets Society uses younger characters and situations during the film to help the audience connect and understand the underlining meaning. Whereas, “What Have I Lived For” includes answers to the question that fascinate the younger generation, such as love. Both sources also include an inspirational ending. In Dead Poets Society the director concludes the movie with Todd finding his voice while sticking up for his teacher “ [standing on his desk]  Oh captain, my captain” (Weir). As well as in “What Have I Lived For”, the author ends the poem with the phrase “This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly live it again if the chance were offered me”, inspiring the reader to find something that makes their life worth living.

All in all, both Dead Poets Society and “What Have I Lived For” are helpful resources when trying to answer the question: What is the meaning of life. Dead Poets Society shows the audience that seizing the day is the answer, while, “What Have I Lived For” shows the reader three examples of answers to the question. After revising both sources, Dead Poets Society has proven to be the source that better answers the question. It shows that being original and seizing the day will help you find your meaning of life.

Two things I need to improve for grade 12 is to have a better introduction and always answer back to the main question. My introduction lacked background information and a strong thesis. It also didn’t answer the question. My body paragraphs often became too repetitive and didn’t back up any evidence that led to answering the question. There was a lot of blabbering on but not much depth or meaning. I think that some of my points could’ve had potential. I definitely need to work on essay writing.