Romanticism and Realism
The boys in Keating's class are open to new things. They are impressionable teenagers who are ready to take on anything new that is thrown their way. The conservative fifties seem to be coming to an end, and the rebellious generation is getting closer. This is already shown in Charlie and is shown more and more as you start to see the radical teaching methods.
Keating just seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. By inspiring the boys to "seize the day" and letting them dedicate themselves to airy and romantic notions of their own self realisation, he is really doing them wrong, but he doesn't see it.
Keating is shocked to hear about Charlie getting paddled for his prank in the assembly. It was almost as if he had no idea how much he had influenced the boys. Then when Neil kills himself he breaks down over his old poetry book. It seemed as though he was grieving for Neil, but also for his own lost youth at the same time. Although at no point is there any acceptance of responsibility or a realisation that he misjudged the situation or teaching the boys of self realisation. The trouble starts, and Keating stands down, unprepared to stand up for himself at all.
Conformity
On a personal level, the theme of conformity is mainly focused at the realtionship between Neil and his father. They couldn't be more different. All Neil wants to do is become an actor - to live out his dreams. He is intimidated by his strict and up-right father - a man who has stayed pulled together his whole life and has made sacrifices so that Neil could have the advantages he never had. He takes no nonsence, no disobedience and certaily has a negative opinion on Mr Keating and "this acting business". He will not ever give Neil the chance to express his own feelings about his own future. He may have struggled to get Neil to this expensive school so he wants to see value for his money. This is all he seems to see. He can't see Neils pain and anger and ends up pushing him too far with a tragic consequence.
Afterwards the school closes ranks in a consolidated show of conformity, showing that those who fail to take on the "four pillars" at Welton stand no chance against it.
Welton is a traditional school for the elite. It is there to turn fine young boys into businessmen, doctors and other members of the established professions - not actors, poets or 'creative' people who lack materialistic ambitions. This makes it hard to believe that a teacher like John Keating is appointed there, and how he gets away with his teaching methods, especially in 1959.
The four pillars of Welton Academy (Tradition, Excellence, Honour, Discipline) show the boys exactly what is expected of them. Tradition. At Welton that means traditional teaching methods and teachers and a very traditional curriculum. Keating challenges this tradition. He challenges it by encouraging the boys to think and act for themselves, to be there own person and not conform if it is not what they want to do. He gives off the impression that taking risks and breaking the rules in the pursuit for ones pleaseure is ok to do.
