Dead Poets Society & The People Who Inspire Us

On today’s show I would like to start off a little differently than usual. Typically I give you a synopsis of the film we’re about to dive deep into in kind of a funny, snarky way. I love doing that. But today, I can’t. You see, the film we’re going to take a look at deserves better. Not that humor doesn’t transcend almost anything, but the serious nature and the power of today’s film…Dead Poet’s Society…is just something I’m not quite comfortable with poking a little fun at.

What I would like to take a brief moment to discuss though is why Robin Williams meant so much (not to comedy, not to film or television and not even as the Genie in Aladdin). Williams did something that so few human beings have ever been able to achieve in such a short time on this planet: He truly, deeply and powerfully made us look inside ourselves and learn to heal by laughing so hard that our tears weren’t from sadness. They were from a brief moment in time where all we could think about was how funny life could be. Today, I tip my proverbial hat to the man that made us all laugh so hard that it hurt. Robin Williams took his pain, became vulnerable like other performer, and used it to selflessly entertain everyone of us. Was he the genie? Yes. Was a stand up comic? Yes. Was he John Keating, Adrian Kronauer, Armand Goldman, Mork from Ork, Teddy Roosevelt, Sean Maguire…and Peter Pan? Yes. And so much more.

Today, let’s take a look at one of his most powerful, and earlier serious performances, in the film Dead Poet’s Society. First, let’s go through the five fast facts.

Fast Fact:

And now for five facts about the making of Dead Poet’s Society.

1. Robin Williams Improvised Many of His Lines

While the script was written by Tom Schulman (who won an Oscar for it), Robin Williams brought his signature improvisational genius to many scenes—especially the classroom moments. The scene where Keating impersonates various historical figures during a poetry lesson was largely ad-libbed, showcasing Williams' comedic and dramatic range.

2. The Actors Attended a Real Prep School Boot Camp

To help the young cast bond and authentically portray students at a strict prep school, director Peter Weir enrolled them in a mock boot camp. They lived together and followed a strict schedule before filming began, building genuine camaraderie and tension that translated to their on-screen chemistry.

3. Liam Neeson Was Once Attached to Play John Keating

Before Robin Williams was cast, actor Liam Neeson was initially considered to play the role of John Keating in an earlier version of the film. The project changed hands multiple times, and when Peter Weir came on as director, he pushed for Robin Williams, believing he could bring both humor and gravitas to the part.

4. The Iconic "O Captain! My Captain!" Scene Was Shot in One Take

The emotional climax, where the students stand on their desks to salute Keating, was reportedly shot in a single take. The emotion was so real and raw that Weir decided not to do multiple versions. Many of the tears and reactions you see were genuine and unscripted.

5. The Cave Scenes Were Filmed on a Soundstage, Not in a Real Cave

The romantic idea of the Dead Poets meeting in a shadowy forest cave adds a mythical tone to the film, but in reality, the cave scenes were shot on a soundstage. Lighting and sound challenges made filming in a real cave impractical, so the production team recreated the atmosphere with remarkable detail.The Rare Gift of Inspiration and the Heavy Weight of Expectations: Lessons from Dead Poets Society

Inspirational figures are rare in life. They’re the teachers, mentors, or friends who see the world differently. They challenge us to rise above mediocrity and find our authentic selves. These people come into our lives not to give us all the answers, but to ignite the courage we need to ask the right questions.

I’ve already discussed one teacher who encouraged me in grade 5 to keep writing and hone my craft. But there were others as well. Mr. Mooney, my 9th grade English teacher, was fresh out of college at William & Mary and ended up becoming just like one of us. He didn’t talk down to us. Instead, he met us and related to us right where we were. But that’s just one example and I’m sure all of you listening today have a few of your own. That’s partially what today’s episode is about, so let’s dive in.

The 1989 film Dead Poets Society, directed by Peter Weir and starring the late Robin Williams as the unconventional English teacher John Keating, is a profound exploration of what happens when such a rare person dares to challenge the status quo, a role that was to become one of many where Williams displayed his incredible acting abilities through characters that, at once, felt rebellious and then revealed how they struck a chord with so many of us and challenged us to do the very same.

The film also offers a sobering examination of the power parents wield over their children—and the damage they can inflict when they try to live through them.

At the heart of Dead Poets Society is the character of John Keating, a teacher who becomes a beacon of inspiration for his students at the conservative and tradition-bound Welton Academy. Keating’s encouragement to "make your lives extraordinary" is more than a poetic catchphrase; it's a radical call to self-discovery. For his students—boys who have grown up under the heavy expectations of elite education and rigid family structures—Keating represents a rare opportunity to think for themselves, to find their voices, and to explore their passions.

This mirrors the experience many of us have when we encounter that rare, inspirational figure in our own lives. Whether it's a teacher, coach, mentor, or even a friend, these people often show up when we most need them. They recognize our potential when we may not yet see it in ourselves. They plant seeds of courage and critical thinking, sometimes simply by asking questions that others avoid. Keating does just that—he doesn't dictate what the students should believe; instead, he opens the door for them to explore who they are and what truly matters to them.

However, the film is not just about the light of inspiration—it’s equally a meditation on the shadows cast by authoritarian parenting and societal expectations. The tragedy of Neil Perry, one of Keating’s brightest and most passionate students, underscores the peril of parents who project their dreams onto their children. Neil’s father is determined for him to become a doctor, ignoring Neil’s desire to pursue acting. The pressure to conform, to meet his father's definition of success, ultimately becomes unbearable for Neil.

This narrative is heartbreakingly familiar. Many parents, often with good intentions, try to shape their children’s futures according to their own unfulfilled ambitions. They may believe they’re offering guidance, but in truth, they can be robbing their children of autonomy and joy. Living vicariously through one’s children can create emotional imprisonment, where the child is no longer pursuing a life of their own but rather a script handed down to them.

The influence parents have on their children is immense—far greater than most realize. While support, love, and guidance are critical components of parenting, control and pressure can backfire disastrously. When children feel that their worth is tied to meeting expectations that are not their own, they may experience anxiety, depression, or, in the most tragic cases, lose all hope. Dead Poets Society serves as a powerful warning of this danger.

Some may say that the father figure isn’t real…or, at least nowadays, doesn’t matter. After all, so many people never even knew their fathers or had fathers that either left and abandoned them or were less than ideal in their treatment of them. But let me posit an idea for just a moment, so bear with me. What if the term “father figure” didn’t have to be your biological father? What if, like my father in law, it was a grandfather? What if a boy had someone else to look to for the understanding of what it means to be a man? A real man. A man that loves his wife, his family and would sacrifice anything to keep them safe, fed and, maybe in the darkest of times, help them learn to laugh through the adversities.

Father figures are real, and the idea—even if it has faded some from the public perception—it is still very much alive. What father’s, potential fathers, expecting father’s should all know is that the young man that looks up to you (whether he’s related to you by blood, adopted or just a young man in need of some guidance and direction) is a responsibility unlike any other. It’s a privilege, and one that should not be taken on lightly. You hold a part of their future in your hands. You can either work with them to understand them and encourage them or you close your fists and crush something within that may never be whole again. Fatherhood and father figure’s are sorely undervalued nowadays. There are reasons why, but that’s not what we’re here for today.

Williams’ character of John Keating challenges not only his students but also the broader societal and familial structures that dictate who they should be. He asks them to think independently, to live deliberately, and to pursue lives of purpose—not simply achievement. In doing so, he disrupts the carefully curated world their parents and school have built for them. The pushback against Keating, culminating in his dismissal, is a testament to how threatening true inspiration can be to systems that rely on control and conformity.

Yet even in his forced departure, Keating’s impact lingers. The final scene—where students stand on their desks in silent tribute—shows that once a mind has been awakened, it can’t easily be silenced. The seeds of inspiration, though invisible, are powerful and long-lasting. But more than that, when the students collectively decide to to take a stand, no matter the cost, for what they believe in and choose to honor, only then do they realize the power that they’ve had all along. While there will always be consequences to our actions, sometimes fair and sometimes unfair, knowing what you believe in and who you are is the true power that makes change happen. Not just in your life or future, but in this world.

In conclusion, Dead Poets Society powerfully illustrates the dual forces that shape young lives: the rare and transformative influence of inspirational mentors, and the potentially destructive power of parental control. It reminds us of the sacred responsibility adults have in guiding the next generation—not by imposing dreams upon them, but by helping them discover their own. We all need a Mr. Keating in our lives, someone who dares us to see the world differently. But we must also learn not to become a Mr. Perry, whose need to control ultimately extinguishes the very light he wished to see shine.

In my life, as I have said several times on this podcast, I moved quite a bit…especially in my younger years. Through that, I experienced many teachers and elders who not only encouraged me and inspired me but prayed over me too. It’s a testament that the old adage that it “takes a village” is still as true today as it once was. It’s not just Mom and Dad that help guide us on our journey in this world. It’s those we surround our selves with too. But not just that. Apart from our faith and our belief that there is something greater than us watching over us…it’s also those that enter our lives and, sometimes leave them…never to be a part of our journey again. These “seasons” as they are sometimes referred to are vital to how we are shaped and molded as individuals. Seasons come and go but those that make a positive impact on us within those seasons stay with us for a lifetime.

This week, as school is starting to wrap up for the Summer and school buildings begin to empty for the semester…break out some sharpened pencils with fresh erasers, squeak your sneakers on a polished parquet floor and sit at your one piece desk and chair. Take in the sights, sounds and smells of the classroom when no one else is there and remember the feeling you once had when you didn’t quite know what would come after school…and maybe, at the time, you weren’t yet worried about it.

Experience Dead Poet’s Society. Share it with your teens and talk about it after. You might be surprised what you both learn along the way. After all, great movies have a funny way of shaping us too.

Thank you for listening today. As always, watch films deeper, listen closer and search for a deeper meaning than what’s on the surface. I’ll see you next time.