“O Captain, My Captain”— An Ode To John Keating
For Dead Poets Society — one of the most beautiful films ever made, and John Keating — one of the most inspiring characters ever written.
John Keating (Robin Williams) said “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
And my God, have these words struck a chord in people’s hearts.
Dead Poets Society revolves around a spirited professor imparting life lessons to 17 year old students through poetry, and urges you to express with an open heart, live to the fullest and just…be free. A film so far ahead of its time, so relevant to every generation and so utterly beautiful that it makes you come back over and over again just to relive Professor Keating’s passionate teachings. Even today, 31 years later, the film continues to remain an absolute, pure masterpiece untainted by the qualms of the world. The entire film, with its soulful dialogues, is like a compilation of verses harmonising into one long, inspiring poem.
