What Is Todd's Attitude Towards Children In Dead Poets Society
Students from the disciplinary school, Welton, are held captive in make believe shackles created by their parents. The endless chains of expectations and misguided approaches towards their children result in bruises and scars in the form of suicidal attempts or rebellion towards the culprit. Through Neil and Todd, characters in the film, Dead Poets Society, it is visible that their parents’ expectations, lack of emotion and sentiment towards their children and dominance are derived as problems parental attitudes can create for children. An apparent parental issue presented by Todd are the expectations established by his parents. As Todd’s brother was successful with high achievements, Todd was forced to undergo pressure and face the views that he would not
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be as successful as his brother. Todd is an extremely shy and reserved person whose confidence is shun by the expectations bestowed on him. He is overshadowed and therefore feels that he cannot make any mistakes, causing him to be not to participate in class in fear of risking to answer any question or to state a fact incorrectly. In the scene where the students are presenting their poems, Todd shows poor body language which demonstrates his unwillingness to present his poem. He avoids eye contact, seems very uncomfortable in his position and his shoulders are more tensed. These signs are projected in a close-up shot where the audience is able to pick up his emotions almost immediately. Todd appears to be a victim of an inferiority complex until Mr Keating is able to channel his yawp creating a change of body language where he stands up more confidently with a smile on his face. This is one of the many key scenes that show how expectations can alter children’s mindset, confidence and personality that they bear. Todd whose attention and affection is stolen away from him by his successful brother, is introduced to a weakened relationship between Todd and his parents. A scene that shows that he is a victim of parents who lack the ability to show their sentiment and love is when he is given the same birthday present two years in a row. This shows that Todd’s parents gave no thought in the generically purchased gift. A long shot is used to show Todd sitting on the floor in isolation when looking at his gift to project his emotions where he seems to feel cold and neglected. He appears to be deep in thought and does not speak clearly while talking about his gift to Neil. It is until Neil speaks to him that Todd’s facial expression and body language changes where he stands up and smiles. With no hesitation, Todd is able to throw the desk set onto the ground and the camera angle changes to a low angle shot indirectly showing mild rebellion towards his parents. The absence of emotion towards children can create a sense of abandonment and negligence, causing a weak bond between family members.
It is common for parents to unknowingly live their dreams through their children and dominate their lives.
This is another issue that arises in the film Dead Poets Society where Mr Perry believes he has the right to take dominance over his son and vicariously live through his son’s success. It is evident, at the very start of the film, that Neil does not like his father’s disapproval of his participation in extracurricular activities. Their relationship is not strong because Neil refers to his dad as “sir” and whenever he is called by his father he would change his facial expressions where his smile drops, clenches his jaw and performs his actions rigidly. With an unsteady bond, Neil’s cry for individualism is louder than ever, meaning that he can go to extremities once he loses control. With Mr Keating in the picture, Neil finds an opportunity to enact his carpe diem and joins the play. He defies his father’s words and forges a letter of approval. When talking to Mr Keating about Mr Perry’s consent to the play, Neil fidgets a lot, avoids eye contact and stutters constantly. The supremacy and control over children’s lives can cause drastic measures and therefore is a problem for both children and parents
today.
In Dead Poets Society, Todd and Neil clearly represent the parental attitudes children experience and common effects of these attitudinal problems. Expectations, lack of attention and dominance are complications that many adolescents encounter and can react exceedingly, therefore is an obstacle that parents need to overcome to achieve a sense of settlement.
be as successful as his brother. Todd is an extremely shy and reserved person whose confidence is shun by the expectations bestowed on him. He is overshadowed and therefore feels that he cannot make any mistakes, causing him to be not to participate in class in fear of risking to answer any question or to state a fact incorrectly. In the scene where the students are presenting their poems, Todd shows poor body language which demonstrates his unwillingness to present his poem. He avoids eye contact, seems very uncomfortable in his position and his shoulders are more tensed. These signs are projected in a close-up shot where the audience is able to pick up his emotions almost immediately. Todd appears to be a victim of an inferiority complex until Mr Keating is able to channel his yawp creating a change of body language where he stands up more confidently with a smile on his face. This is one of the many key scenes that show how expectations can alter children’s mindset, confidence and personality that they bear. Todd whose attention and affection is stolen away from him by his successful brother, is introduced to a weakened relationship between Todd and his parents. A scene that shows that he is a victim of parents who lack the ability to show their sentiment and love is when he is given the same birthday present two years in a row. This shows that Todd’s parents gave no thought in the generically purchased gift. A long shot is used to show Todd sitting on the floor in isolation when looking at his gift to project his emotions where he seems to feel cold and neglected. He appears to be deep in thought and does not speak clearly while talking about his gift to Neil. It is until Neil speaks to him that Todd’s facial expression and body language changes where he stands up and smiles. With no hesitation, Todd is able to throw the desk set onto the ground and the camera angle changes to a low angle shot indirectly showing mild rebellion towards his parents. The absence of emotion towards children can create a sense of abandonment and negligence, causing a weak bond between family members.
It is common for parents to unknowingly live their dreams through their children and dominate their lives.
This is another issue that arises in the film Dead Poets Society where Mr Perry believes he has the right to take dominance over his son and vicariously live through his son’s success. It is evident, at the very start of the film, that Neil does not like his father’s disapproval of his participation in extracurricular activities. Their relationship is not strong because Neil refers to his dad as “sir” and whenever he is called by his father he would change his facial expressions where his smile drops, clenches his jaw and performs his actions rigidly. With an unsteady bond, Neil’s cry for individualism is louder than ever, meaning that he can go to extremities once he loses control. With Mr Keating in the picture, Neil finds an opportunity to enact his carpe diem and joins the play. He defies his father’s words and forges a letter of approval. When talking to Mr Keating about Mr Perry’s consent to the play, Neil fidgets a lot, avoids eye contact and stutters constantly. The supremacy and control over children’s lives can cause drastic measures and therefore is a problem for both children and parents
today.
In Dead Poets Society, Todd and Neil clearly represent the parental attitudes children experience and common effects of these attitudinal problems. Expectations, lack of attention and dominance are complications that many adolescents encounter and can react exceedingly, therefore is an obstacle that parents need to overcome to achieve a sense of settlement.