Comments on: Neil Perry

By: ratgirl

ratgirl — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:30:55 +0000

I agree that this is essentially Todd’s film, as he is the only dynamic character.

I cannot, however, agree that Neil’s father was thinking of Neil’s well-being in any way at all. He never says so– mostly he says he’s sacrificing and it all means so much to Neil’s mother (which seems a blatant lie). He saw his son as a means of fulfilling his OWN desires.

Neil, though, seemed unwilling to go out on his OWN once he graduated high school. His father could not have forced him to go to med school, or even college. But to pursue acting, Neil would have had to have been paying his own bills, etc. So I have to agree that Neil was a coward, who could not face a self-reliant life!

And it is NOT the case that Neil should have gone to college (with his father paying the bills, selecting all his classes, etc.– another 4 years of hell) before he went into acting. Age matters a LOT in the theatre. You can go to college at any point in your life.

By: John

John — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:42:53 +0000

In regard to Neil’s suicide I am reminded of another great romantic, Tom Sawyer, who took such pleasure in Aunt Polly’s conversation in which she regrets not having treated Tom better when she mistakenly thinks he has died. Given Neil’s age and his penchant for drama, I don’t think it’s too much of stretch to say that Neil’s final role was that of the martyr. I can remember the desire to hurt myself in order to punish my parents. As a high school English teacher (and former adolescent) I can attest to the impulsivity and lack of restraint that characterize the adolescent mind. It may be the romantic in me but I tend to point the finger of blame in Mr. Perry’s direction if for no other reason than that he should have been more aware of and sensitive to his son’s inner life. But that may be asking too much of a realist…

By: DanT

DanT — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 03:34:57 +0000

I admire your look inside the character of Neil. You see a lot more insecurities in his character than I ever believed he had. Thank you for that.
I also don’t think he was the main character, Dead Poets Society wasn’t really about one person or character, it was more about each person discovering and exploring themselves.
Neil’s relationship with his father was not a good one and communication was the main reason. Neil simply couldn’t stand up to his father. Furthermore, his father gave him no opportunity to stand up for himself; he only ever saw his own future for Neil, he never even wondered what Neil might want. We know Neil’s family isn’t exactly rich, and so there is a lot of pressure on him. Still, Mr. Perry was suffocating his son, and crushing every dream the boy ever had. He never even considered allowing Neil to make some of his own choices, there was never any “maybe we’ll see”, there was only his way, and Neil was expected to obey him, unquestionably.
We see Neil always trying to be at the center of things, most likely as an attempt at freedom from the “real world” and his father. And when he finds his passion in the world of acting, it seems as though Neil wants this more than anything, it makes him truly happy. His father simply does not care. His father is so completely dismissive in his rejection of Neil’s own thoughts or wishes, it’s as if he doesn’t even hear him.
For Neil, to have the thing which means most to him be taken away and so brutally trampled, it’s just too much for him. I would never encourage or support suicide, but I can understand why Neil feels he has no other choice. It’s quite simply because he has no choice in the matter, or any matter. His father doesn’t treat him like a son, he treats him like a means to an end. Neil’s only path is the one chosen for him, and he is expected to go along with it without any regards to his own desires or passions. Neil’s final decision is to make one defiant move against his father’s own set-in-stone version of Neil’s life.
Personally, I think the scene of Neil’s death is among the most haunting I’ve ever seen in a film, and a truly great performance. But to call it Keating’s fault it wrong. “Suicide”, with “sui” meaning “self” and “cide” meaning “kill”, put them together, and it means “to kill oneself”. If it was Keating’s fault, that would have been “murder”. Neil chose a romantic death over a life of suffocating conformity, Keating did not tell him that death is better than being unhappy, he only tried to open him up to the world his father closed to him. Above all Keating wanted Neil to live, to the fullest extent he could.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:47:04 +0000

In regard’s to Neil’s suicide:
If you watch each scene where death is mentioned, Neil’s face has a peculiar look on it and may be an indication that it has crossed his mind before he actually does commit suicide.
However, I do agree with ‘zapped’ with how it usually does come to friends and family as a surprise probably because most people act in order to not be suspected for suicidal thoughts, just as Neil did.

By: WG

WG — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 05:47:34 +0000

Neil didn’t want to live a life of quiet desperation.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 22:17:42 +0000

I watched this movie last night and I agree with some of the points but disagree on others. I feel that Neil starting DPS and making crazy decisions was him starting to be himself and finding joy in life. WHen he went back to his father, it felt like an all time low because he had come down from such a high. He is my favorite character in any book OR movie.

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:51:58 +0000

thanks for writing my english paper for me

By: Zapped

Zapped — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:00:23 +0000

In response to Chris’ quiry about suicidal ideation, it can be true that people who contemplate suicide do not do so until that final instant. Much of the time, people who do commit suicide will only reach out to others moments or minutes before they actually strike that last and final blow, ending their life. If at all. Hence, the response many individuals have when they learn that a person’s death is the result of a suicidal act “They never seemed the type”, “It can’t be true. They would never do such a thing”.

For those individuals who do not understand, please allow me to explain, as I myself had contemplated ending my life, and have on at least two occassions nearly done so. Thankfully for me however, friends came to the aid and lifted me from the darkness of this world. Yet, that does not explain much. So, the darkness and worthless feelings pent up deep inside a person’s psyche develops them and slowly twists them into believing all is hopeless. That no matter what they do, they can never satisfy anything or fill their role in life. As Keating puts it, “That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse… What will your verse be?” For those in a similar situation, the darkness drowns your verse, snuffs your candle and limits your ability to see what is there even in front of your eyes.

I believe that all things throughout “THE DEAD POETS’ SOCIETY” is a symbol of both the great and bad points of life. Yes, the end of the movie is depressing in that a character is dead by their own hands, a person is blamed who should not be blamed, but if this were true reality, then all should have been blamed. Neil’s friends and fellow Dead Poet members knew the preasures faced by Neil and did nothing to aid him in seeing the joys had to offer, Mr. Perry for failing to honestly see beyond the mask Neil showed the entire world, Mr. Nolan for believing in an out dated form of education even if it were 1960′s or 70′s, or earlier, Mr. Keating for pushing a philosophy that is good and true, but without much explanation on how to comprehend the meaning
of Carpe diam (Seize the Day).

Although, Mr. Keating does attempt to do so when addressing Charlie after the stunt he pulled after posting the letter to the editor from the Dead Poets. He completely undoes it, by giving a sarcastic remark: “A call from God… Now, if it had been collect, that would have been dearing”.

I guess in the end, Mr. Keating is that teacher who has to be a student’s friend, their pal, more than their advisor. However, had each person stepped forward and taken responsibility for their part in Neil taking his life, then and only then could the story have truly closed on an honest note of exploration in teen suicide and suicide in general.

Suicide is not always an honest answer, but it is an answer many individuals consider. It is up to the friends, family, and others to help a person suffering from such an act of depression to see that the person gets help and is well.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:01:50 +0000

Although I believe Todd is the character who had the most dramatic change from the shy, scared and anti-social boy to a man that could stand up for himself self and think for himself I believe Neil’s character had the same dramatic changes. At the beginning of the story Neil had an argument with his father about focusing on his future as a doctor. After learning it’s okay to think for your self and that life is about love and passion he chose to follow his passion and leave the rules behind him. His suicide was a strong message that truly showed the audience he had changed and he would never go back to who he was before.

By: Kally

Kally — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:34:48 +0000

Thank you for writing this. I’ve been able to see some very different views on Neil, and this has helped find me arguments, and evidence for my analytical essay.