Source: Downloaded from 22 of the Most Powerful Quotes of Our Time
As part of my boys English 30 studies we watched Dead Poets Society and I was reminded of the power of the movie’s message and am also very relieved to know that I had seized the day after I had first watched this move and have been doing so ever since. More importantly I have passed on this belief to my boys.
In 1989 when I first watched Dead Poets Society I was still a single man, had not attended University and didn’t have the slightest inkling of where I would be in 25 years. I did believe this notion of Carpe Diem – Seizing the Day was one of the most important principles I could follow. I also believed Robin William’s character Keating when he stated:
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
Even though the movie is 25 years old and was set in the late 50’s or early 60’s its message is so relevant and needed today. It is also sobering to realize that the pressure to conform, work hard at school and become a doctor, lawyer, engineer or other professional have not changed. Watching this movie could not have come at a better time.
Carpe Diem is wonderful and exciting to see acted on out on the big screen but as we also saw in the movie it can be very difficult to live out. While these real life consequences need not be as drastic as the suicide which we saw in the main character Neil, they can be significant enough to discourage people from seizing the day or second guess all decisions or actions that lean toward this ideal.
I have been concerned that in my desire to raise my boys to seize the day and be passionate about life and to pursue their dreams that I really haven’t really given them this choice. They have grown up this way and really don’t know any other way–have I really given them a choice. I was raised in the same way that most of the characters in the movie were raised and rebelled against societal conformity, conventions and norms but it was my choice.
Perhaps I need not worry. Watching Dead Poets Society reminded me of how pervasive and powerful the notion of conformity is today as it was fifty years ago. All my boys friends are being pressured to work hard at school, go to University and get a good career. This pressure is everywhere around them. They too have the choice to conform and do what society expects. Seizing the day is a very difficult choice and it is one that can only be made by the individual. As much as I would like to believe that I have raised my boys to believe and live this way it is still their choice.
Maybe the best thing a parent can give their children is the choice. Are we giving our children a choice? Are we we listening to them? Will they be able to look back at what was and not ponder what could have been?
