Soldiers and PoetsEpic tales of childhood friendships, with all the camaraderie, adventure and spirit that define them, would certainly represent a Separate Society for Peace and dead poets. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay. These two works of art share not only the prestigious setting of an all-boys boarding school, but the theme of non-conformity. However, differences exist between the two pieces. A Separate Peace recalls one of the novel's minor themes, relating to the danger of jealousy, while Dead Poets Society is written all over Carpe Diem. Dead Poets Society is a film about conflict and passion. The action takes place at a Vermont school, Welton Academy, and the scenes largely involve the teacher, Professor John Keating, and his students. Robin Williams is well cast as an independent and passionate teacher. His portrayal of Keating is both compelling and moving. Keating is a man who teaches because he loves to teach. He gives much more than just knowledge to his students. He inspires them. He urges them to “seize the opportunity!” ”, to pursue their dreams and believe in themselves. His teaching techniques are unconventional and appeal to the boys' imagination. He gains their respect and becomes their friend and mentor. The novel, A Separate Peace, tells the story of a young man's struggle to achieve and maintain such a separate peace. And although the setting takes place in America in the midst of war, the novel's focus is inward. For most of the plot, the distant war is an illusion for the students in Gene's class, and for the reader, the war becomes the novel's greatest metaphor: a metaphor for the internal conflict of a sixteen-year-old boy. years. Gene's soul becomes a battlefield where jealousy, fear, love and hatred fight for control of his actions. And in the turmoil of adolescence, it is the victory of the dark forces of human nature that makes Gene understand that everyone is alone with his enemy, that the only significant wars are not triggered by external causes, but " by something ignorant in the world.” human heart” (p. 193). Thus, Finny's categorical denial that World War II is an illusion maintains some truth in light of the real war taking place in the story. Nonconformity plays an important role in both of these themes of the story. In A Separate Peace, Gene and Finny are a great example of this theme in action; Gene is naturally a rule-abiding person, and Finny has an absolute disregard for rules. This difference is also reflected in the differences between the summer session and the fall session. Finny himself embodies both, as he is able to fit in quite well at school, while also having his own very eccentric opinions. Finny sees that those who conform to the world will never change, improve, or transform it, so Finny sees no problem in making statements with belt ties, pink shirts, and coming and going to his as you wish. (Ex- Trip to the Beach) In Dead Poets Society, nonconformity takes place in John Keating. Largely driven by a sense of tradition, Welton Academy imposes outdated teaching techniques on both its teachers and students. Students are encouraged to mindlessly absorb facts and regurgitate them on command. Teachers are expected to teach according to a rigid set of rules. Keating believes that education requires the student to think for himself. He must be free to question and learn fromway he learns best. Few schools accept this basic principle and Welton Academy is no exception. This film handles this age-old conflict between traditional constraint and freedom and flexibility very well. Keating rejects tradition and refuses to teach in the old ways. Welton refuses to accept change, so a battle begins. Like Finny, Keating also believes that those who conform to the world will never change, improve, or transform it. There are two very similar characters in this regard. However, nonconformity is where the two plays take different paths in their themes. The Dead Poets Society is primarily based on the theme of Seizing the Day. It is only in their dreams that men are truly free, always has been and always will be, Keating. This quote reaffirms the theme of seizing each day and cherishing it deeply. Every day an opportunity may present itself in life and they must decide whether to take this chance or play it safe. A separate peace is mainly based on guilt, envy and jealousy. The novel's conflict arises from Gene's refusal to recognize his own feelings of jealousy and insecurity as the real enemy. Instead, his fears are projected onto his closest companion, Phineas, whom Gene suspects of possessing his own feelings of envy and self-loathing. With Finny as his enemy, Gene is thrust into a world of competition and hatred, where the only crucial elements to preserve are his own survival and superiority. Ultimately, this act of self-deception leads Gene to malicious thoughts and behaviors, destroying any feelings of affection and friendship he may have had for Finny. Upon realizing his mistake and discovering that Phineas does not share Gene's envy and hatred, Gene's isolation and self-loathing deepens and he intentionally paralyzes the only person who wants to be his friend. As Gene writes, World War II was not the real theater of battle, I was on active duty the whole time at school: I killed my enemy there (page 196). In Dead Poets Society, John Keating is questioned by an older, more experienced man. teacher, whether it is conditions or not, children aged 15 to 17 are really ready to handle Keating's freedom. Damn, I never thought of you as a cynic, Keating said. This is not the case, said the other teacher. I'm realistic. The only forces that oppose Keating's philosophy are the rigid and imposing forces, the principal, Mr. Nolan (Norman Lloyd), and a cruel and stubborn parent, Mr. Perry. Once you finish medical school and are on your own, you can do whatever you want! Mr. Perry lectures his son Neil, one of Keating's most popular students. But in the meantime, do what I tell you! Ultimately though, the film indicates that perhaps the cynical/realistic professor was right after all. Although there is a scene in which Keating attempts to distinguish between unbridled self-expression and self-destructive behavior, the principles behind the reformation of the Dead Poets Society ultimately lead to catastrophe. It becomes clear that at least some of the boys aren't really emotionally equipped to integrate into their own lives the kind of freedom and nonconformity that Keating is trying to impress upon them. The result is tragic. Mr. Perry's son, Neil, feels too much pressure and commits the violent act of suicide. This could easily be compared to Gene's internal emotional conflicts in A Separate Peace. Gene and Finny have the idea of ​​creating a "Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session", a group dedicated to,.