Dead Poet’s Society
A Character Sketch on Mr. Keating
Written By: Zehra Nasirali
For: Mr. Cameron
Course: ENG-1WN
Date: 1st May, 1997
Score: 80%
Mr. Keating is a character with an
understanding nature and he knows how to make learning fun. He can relate to and befriend anyone. To the students he is humorous and
gregarious. He fits into a younger age
group; the students consider him to be their teacher and friend who gives them
advice and knows what problems they undergo.
They feel free and relaxed in his presence because of his inspiring and
easygoing nature. However, Mr. Nolan
and other the teachers do not support his character and philosophies of
teaching. They think that it is
incorrect for Mr. Keating to allow the students to let their minds wander and
find things out for themselves. They
think that he is a blithering idiot for changing the ways of educating the
students; making them march, playing soccer with them. He obviously appears differently to
everyone.
Mr. Keating thinks he is capable of
solving anyone’s problems. For example,
when he brought Todd out of his shell and let his mouth flow with poetry. He thinks that he follows his heart by being
truthful to his wife about his loved ambition.
He considers himself successful and lucky for passing Welton Academy and
staying alive. Moreover, he always
shows his true colors.
Being himself and not pretending to
be someone else is Mr. Keating’s strongest feature. He always follows his heart and talks the way he feels, acts the
way he would normally act and teaches the way he thinks is right; tearing the
introductory page. He is always
himself.
Apart from his superb personality,
Mr. Keating, however, has a weak point.
He can never station himself on one topic; it would change by the minute. He never followed the book but instead used
it as a reference. He would skip
chapters and teach his students the unimportant lessons; a student directly
stated this to a supply teacher.
Unfortunately, this was his weak point.
The viewer is meant to see the
humble and noble character in which Mr. Keating possesses; what a courageous,
true friend and teacher he is.