John Keating brought with him a flare for the unorthodox, and a passion for the romantics. His teachings brought life to the dull atmosphere that was chokingly balanced in Welton Academy. He is fanatical, impassioned by the thought of the differences within his students and teaches them to live their lives in search of their own personal legends, to seize the day, "carpe diem." With zeal and ardent encouragement, he urges his students to think outside of the box, to look at the world in a different manner, and to lead their feet unto the less traveled path. Throughout his fanatical exploits, the captivated boys learn that Keating was part of the Dead Poets Society, and wholeheartedly decided to reopen the said society and convene in a cave outside of campus and manage their own version of the Dead Poets. However, the story takes a turn for the worse, when one of the members of the society, Charlie Dalton, publishes an article in the school newspaper in the name of the Dead Poets, prompting an investigation by the school administration, It was also at this point, that Neil Perry, discovers his passion for acting, only to be crushed by his unyielding father who saw no future to his son's antics. Trapped between the suffocating hold of his father and his own personal thirst for life, he commits suicide.
Neil's death then set the falling pieces in place, as the Welton administration deposited all the blame for the uproar on the shoulders of John Keating, stating that his teachings caused the students to mildly lose control. Each member of the Dead Poets, were then intimidated to sign a confession which indicated Keating as the mastermind behind the upheaval in the Academy, which led to Neil's act of suicide. Keating is then fired, through his students knew that he was not responsible for anything. The story ends with the Dead Poets last stand of respect for their teacher, by saluting him as 'O Captain, my Captain.
