Discussion My thoughts on Dead Poets Society (movie)

[cyclicism]

My friend recently showed me the movie Dead Poets Society. It was a really cute movie, and I definitely recommend others to watch it.
However, I have some thoughts, and I'd be interested to hear others' opinions as well.

!!Major Spoilers for the movie below!!

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This really put into perspective how much I hate suicide via firearm, namely how they facilitate extremely impulsive suicides.

In response to his Neil's father crushing his dreams and uprooting Neil's life, Neil steals his father's gun and shoots himself later that night.
For all we know as the viewer, this was the first time Neil had ever encountered suicidal thoughts. And he just... did it. Yes, the conflict between him and his overbearing father was relevant throughout, but that doesn't necessarily signify a longstanding battle against the urge to kill yourself.

I don't know... it just pissed me off. I wanted to do a more eloquent explanation, but really that's it. It takes Neil less than eight hours to kill himself. There is no time to process, no time to possible explore any alternatives. Hell, nothing was proven to have been set in motion yet, his father only said that he was going to enroll him in military school (which would remove Neil's contact with all of his friends, while simultaneously crushing his acting dreams), but that doesn't mean it 100% was going to happen.

I'm pro-choice all the way, but it has to be a choice - thought out. It takes guts to pull the trigger, yes, but planning a suicide with other methods (SN, hanging) takes a lot of deliberation. Deliberation that allows you to solidify your decision and resolve.

Of course, that doesn't mean I condemn all gun-death suicides- do what you have to do. But again, I firmly believe it should be a true decision.

Sorry just had to word vomit this out here because when watching the movie I felt like I was about to explode. Couldn't exactly voice what my problem was in the moment

 

[Pluto]

 

[rozeske]

I never watched the movie until just recently for the sole reason of it's mention in friends the tv show. Someone on here suggested I watch it and I'm glad I did. I truly enjoyed it!

Spoiler

I think you need to have the sort of similar overbearing type of parents to understand. Living your early life not as a human individual worthy of affection and understanding but just a project that is only strictly herded to a specific destination. All of that coupled with emotional abuse is bound to break the underdeveloped mind of a teenager. Most people say it's an unjustified rushed or silly suicide attempt. The movie's message probably was just that, a kid killing himself for a silly reason because he had access to a gun. The line about the movie in friends was "That thing in the end where the kid kills himself because he can't be in the play?....Kid, wait a year, leave home, do some community theater...". But that's not something a suicidal teenager thinks, especially one that grew up in such a home. I found the movie to be relatable, tbh I watched it with a huge lump in my throat.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I watched it ages ago. I can't honestly remember feeling more than I usually feel with a lot of bad situation motivated suicides. As in- oh shit- they're actually going to do it. So, a nervousness that they don't maim themselves to begin with. I do wonder- maybe things could have improved but then, there's also a part of me that thinks- maybe they're right in their own assessment of their future prospects. They're probably more insightful than me at least.

I do agree that being suicidal as a child or young adult likely points to a difficult home environment. Maybe things would look better if they were able to leave it. I was fortunate in that I was in a financial position where I could at least leave. My inheritance paid for my uni education and the opportunity to leave home.

If someone is already severely struggling that young, if they're parents aren't supportive or- only support their own chosen path for their child- what resources can that young adult use to move away? Can they work? Can they afford the rent somewhere? It's not that simple for everyone. Would being homeless or too poor to afford proper food or heating somewhere make them happier? How many people here are effectively 'trapped' with their parents?

For me- it definitely helped to leave home. But there again, the ideation I first had when I was 10 never fully went away. Now, I'm mid forties and it's been very strong the past few years. So- what have I gained by hanging on really? Simply the knowledge that I haven't upset my loved ones- which is why I have hung on.

However, I do agree with you though. I think suicide should be a well thought out decision. I think a person should at least consider alternatives and know themselves why suicide still seems the prefered option. I suppose I do agree that things are easier to rationalise when we're adults also. Maybe we are more intensely emotionally driven as children. Plus, we simply don't know all the options open to us most likely that young. To an extent, I also think we actually need to try things to know for sure whether we do indeed hate them.

Ultimately though, this could all be regulated if assisted suicide were legalised. There could be waiting periods to ensure a person is certain about their decision. They could be given various offers/ advice about support in life before they choose death.

In a way, it's far more 'dangerous' making the discussion of suicide so difficult. In that, it's sometimes just dismissed entirely or, the other extreme- it's dealt with heavy handedly, treating the person like a criminal with a forced pysche ward stay etc. By forcing it underground, it means some people will act rashly because they don't want to risk going through the above but they can't think beyond their current predicament either. Like being backed into a corner.