Tools of Characterization

Characterization in Dead Poets Society

Family Life

All the boys of Welton seem to be facing a lot of family pressure. How much pressure? Think of the worst family Thanksgiving you've ever had—weird uncles, bossy aunts, angry grandmas and bratty cousins—and work your way up from there.

In fact, the first chunk of the film establishes this family focus above all else. Let's break it down.

In the first five minutes we are presented with the following:

• A mother fixing the tie of a young student.
• Two brothers, both in Welton blazers, smiling for a picture.
• Parents dropping their students off, some of whom are crying (the kids, not the parents).
• Todd and his parents greeting Headmaster Nolan, who emphasizes the legacy Todd's older brother left behind.
• Neil's father assuring Headmaster Nolan that Neil will not disappoint him this year.

Phew.

It's safe to say that the film is super concerned with how parent/child dynamics factor into each character's life.

They all deal with these pressures differently, though. Todd deals with the pressure by shrinking until he is nearly invisible…at least until the DPS and Mr. Keating bring him out of his shell. Neil, too, balks initially, and only stands up to the pressure when he finds something he truly loves.

Still, in the end, it's only Todd who has successfully stood up for himself. Neil's familial pressures prove too much for him to bear, and he never fully finds his voice.

Actions

It's cliché but true: actions speak louder than words. Even when poetry is involved.

The first meeting of the DPS involves some heavy subterfuge. The DPS members have to sneak out of their dorms at night and flee to the woods to find their cave. This is a big, big Welton no-no.

They all know, as Welton students deeply familiar with the Welton code of conduct, that getting caught would mean trouble. (With a capital T. That rhymes with D, that stands for Dead.) Or, in the very least, "Detention."

But they do it anyway. This is the first big step in marking themselves as members of the DPS. It required a risky action, and they have taken that step.

And why wouldn't they? Their trusty mentor emphasizes again and again that actions are important. He has them stand on desks, freeing their minds from humdrum normality, so that they can learn to see things in a new way. He makes them (literally) march to the beat of their own drummer to teach them the values of nonconformity.

Actions have value, y'all.

It's no surprise, then, that even many of the boys who signed the statement against Mr. Keating stand to salute him in the end. Though they might have betrayed him in words, their actions speak even louder: he's their dang captain.

Props

Candles, flags, blazers, books, desk sets, and radios. These are all pretty ordinary items, especially for a boarding school. And it's easy to find any of them in practically any scene.

But look closer. Each of these props is doing some heavy characterization work.

For instance, the opening scene has a new student being buttoned and tied into his new uniform. The blazer of Welton, a symbol of conformity and tradition, sits firmly on his shoulders while his mother fixes his tie. These boys are part of an elite tradition, which includes anyone wearing the blazer.

Later, we see the students passing candles between each other. They are willingly part of the passing of knowledge.

But not all props work to unite the characters. Meeks and Pitts build a secret radio, which isn't allowed at Welton. This prop signifies their willingness to defy authority.

And that's not the only thing that signifies defiance. Todd receives a desk set from his parents, and Neil throws it over the bridge. Their growing desire to defy parental expectations—and familial baggage—is one way in which they're soul-twins.

Books, too, indicate where a character stands. When Neil finds Five Centuries of Verse, he takes it and makes it his own, using it to found the DPS. He's the founder, and the one who takes the initial steps to start the secret society.

Later, after Neil's death, Mr. Keating sees his chemistry book on top of Five Centuries of Verse. Neil's attempt to balance his parents' expectations (that he take chemistry and become a doctor) with his newfound inspirations (poetry and theater) couldn't be more visible.