Dead Poets Society and Macbeth

The central message of Dead Poets’ Society can be summed up in Mr. Keating’s words “To really live you have to suck the marrow out of life, but be careful not to choke on the bones.” It is a story that reminds us to live the life we want to live; to be our own persons and not conform; to see the beauty in life. We should fall in love with our lives. But, it also reminds us not to “choke on the bones” or to be wise with our decisions when living life outside of others ideas.

The poem “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow” said by Macbeth before his death has a different perspective on life. This idea of life is completely different from what Mr. Keating tries to bring to the boys. Macbeth is sharing the idea that life, no matter what you become or what you have, is never going to help you live peacefully. This why he lets death in. Macbeth realizes that even as a king, even when he finally has accomplished what he wants, he will never be truly peaceful. Therefore, all he has done in life has been meaningless since life has passed him by and he will die without being truly content.

When Macbeth recites this poem, he is giving off the theme that he has given up on life. This is all similar to Neil’s idea of life before he kills himself. Just like Macbeth, he realizes that all he has done, all he aspired to become, would never be able to fully be accomplished. He thinks that life is pointless if what he has become never can remain, just like Macbeth realizes that even as a king he cannot avoid death and continue living his life as a king peacefully.

I love this movie. This movie is what has inspired me to be happy in life and follow my dreams. It helps me see different perspectives on life and become more empathetic towards those who can be seen struggling in life and with their dreams. It helped me finally resolve the question “what’s the point of everything I am doing in life?” This is because Mr. Keating shared the idea that no matter what you do in this short life, be happy in it.

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