“But poetry, romance, love, beauty? These are what we stay alive for!”

Celine
Apr 3, 2020
4 min read

Updated: Dec 5, 2021

--- a book review of „Dead Poets Society” (A novel by Nancy H. Kleinbaum, based on the motion picture written by Tom Schulman) ---

1959, Welton Academy, a private school nestled in the remote hills of Vermont. After summer break, many parents arrive with their sons to begin the new school year with the old ceremony, now for the school’s 100th time. With them also arrive the friends Neil Perry, Charlie Dalton, Knox Overstreet, Richard Cameron, Steven Meeks, Gerard Pitts, and Neil’s newly transferred roommate Todd Anderson. At that very day, the young men have no idea how the new English teacher and former Welton student Mr John Keating will change their lives completely.

Starting with his first period, Keating brings new life into his classroom while teaching his pupils the the true meaning of "carpe diem", using the term "gather ye rosebuds while ye may" by his beloved poet Walt Whitman. Then, in the second period, he does more bookwork. The English textbook introduction, ‘Understanding Poetry’ by Dr. J. Evans Pritchard, PhD., he silently lets being read out aloud by Neil, but shortly after Neil is finished, he exclaims in disgust.

"'AHHHHGGGGG!!' he shouted. 'Refuse! Garbage! Pus! Rip it out of your books. Go on, rip out the entire page! I want this rubbish in the trash where it belongs!'"

Far away from everything the students have known in their school until this year, Mr Keating isn’t doing anything to build them their way in the directions of Mr Future Banker and Mr Future Lawyer. His main goal lies in making them free in their thoughts and open their minds to the great world of language.

“'Have no fear, you will learn what this school wants you to learn in my class; however, if I do my job properly, you will also learn a great deal more. For example, you will learn to savour language and words because no matter what anyone tells you, words and ideas have the power to change the world.'”

With a great understanding of their ‘nimble young minds’, and an extraordinary sense of humour and friendly sarcasm, the gregarious

Mr Keating reveals to his students the wonderful and mind-blowing world of true poetry.

Soon, Neil and his friends discover that, during his time in Welton, Keating was part of a strictly prohibited secret literature organization, called the ‘Dead Poets Society’. Explained in a less complicated way: A group of boys meeting up every now and then in an old cave in the woods, reading out to each other pieces of old, fascinating literature; works of writers and poets such as Shelley, Thoreau, Whitman; or stuff they wrote themselves. Because they desperately ask him to, Keating tells the boys everything they need to know in secret to re-establish the club. But why does the name say Dead Poets Society?

“Neil asked. 'Did you only read dead poets?'

'All poetry was acceptable, Mr Perry. The name simply referred to the fact that, to join the organization, you had to be dead.'

'What?' the boys said in chorus.

'The living were simple pledges. Full membership required a lifetime of apprenticeship. Alas, even I’m still a lowly initiate,' he explained.”

As the story continues, the boys start really living their lives deliberately; they begin meeting up in the old cave, falling in love with literature, making acquaintance with a few women, playing theatre and sucking out the marrow of language as deep as they can. Of course, without the principal and all the other teachers except Keating noticing.

Until a dreadful incident caused by meanly stubborn parents happens and turns everything upside down.

Wow, what an intense book. The ‘Dead Poets Society’ brought in form of novel by the outstandingly talented Nancy H. Kleinbaum is urgently required to be read by those people - of any age - , who long for lifechanging experience written down in ink on paper. Lifechanging in its most literal meaning. Not far from the beginning of the book, Mr John Keating stands up on his desk in class.

“'Why do I stand here?'

'To feel taller?' Charlie suggested.

'I stand on my desk to remind myself that we must constantly force ourselves to look at things differently. The world looks different from up here. If you don’t believe it, stand up here and try it. All of you. Take turns.'”

Mr Keating is probably the best English Lit. teacher you could ever get. (Not meant to offend any other English teachers, you’re great too!) He sees his class as a device to empower his students for a rich life; rich as in intellectual satisfied.

The fascinating pages of this book have an immediate effect on the readers’ minds. It is not possible for someone who’s in the possession of feelings to read it without having to laugh hardly, getting goose bumps all over, falling in love with the characters and words, or – in the end – cry their heart out. I would highly recommend it to anyone, who is up for an emotional and philosophical rollercoaster ride. If you're not that into books, you can (of course!) watch the motion picture "Dead Poets Society", on which the book is based.

(but seriously, when you're not into books, why on earth would you be reading my blog? ;) )