Depictions of Literature in Modern Cinema
For those unfamiliar with the film, Dead Poets Society explores the influence of a remarkable teacher’s love of poetry, on a group of high school students. The film grapples with the notion of coming of age with an elegant poignancy, deriving from its use of specificity. Dead Poets Society centers on the varying experiences of its characters in relation to literature as a representation of love, life, and passion.
In one of the most notable moments in the film, English teacher Mr. Keating references the poem, ‘O Me! O Life’ by Walt Whitman; “That you are here - that life exists and identity, that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?” These words subliminally encapsulate one of the central motifs of the film; the idea of who, or what, we choose to live our lives for.
Throughout subsequent scenes, we watch as Mr. Keating’s teaching leads the boys to change the way they live; Knox boldly pursues an unattainable love interest, Neil challenges his father’s expectations, and Todd slowly opens himself up to the world. It is through their reckoning with different perspectives, in particular those derived from the various writers they are exposed to, that these characters are able to understand the beauty of wonder.
In the television show Looking for Alaska, Miles Halter searches for a “great perhaps” - a testament to the last words of French writer Francois Rabelais. The protagonist’s journey begins at Culver Creek, where he bonds with classmates Alaska, Chip, and Takumi. The relationships and experiences Miles encounters there, invite him for his first taste of the complexity of humanity.
In their first interaction, Alaska describes ‘The General and His Labyrinth’ to Miles, and recites Simon Bolivar’s fictionalized last words; “How will I ever get out of this labyrinth!” This leads to a discussion between the two characters, whereby Alaska argues that the labyrinth is a metaphor for the suffering which comes with life, and poses a question that lingers throughout the course of the show: “How will we escape this labyrinth of suffering?”
As Looking for Alaska unfolds, we see the emergence of a pattern in which central characters Miles and Alaska turn to the words of others, as a means to escape the grimness and the mediocrity of their everyday lives. Following Alaska’s sudden death, Miles turns to her words in order to find a semblance of understanding. It is through that act that Miles eventually comes to the realization that the only way to “escape the labyrinth”, is to forgive.
In ways akin to our real-life experiences, these two films depict individuals turning to literature to grapple with the weight of themselves and the world around them. As the old saying goes; “art mimics life”. I find so much beauty in how the universality of human experience is portrayed in these cinematic masterpieces.
We are each working to figure out what our verses will be. We are all searching for our way out of the labyrinth of suffering. In our own ways, we are each facing the brutality of the unknown.
There is a sense of hope to be found in our ability to establish connections between our seemingly disparate conditions and experiences. In our society, I believe that much of the hatred and hurt that exists, comes from our inability to see ourselves as anything more than a summarization - we are each trapped in a compilation of rigid and narrow categories. But, when we are able to see ourselves in someone so different, we expand our perceptions of our own characters.
When looking at Neil, Knox, Todd, Miles, and Alaska, in spite of how similar or different they are to us, we can find a part of ourselves in them; a part which transcends the superficial measures we ascribe to human identity. In Neil, Knox, and Todd, we see the courage it takes each of us to be who we are. In Miles and Alaska, we see the ambitions and tragedies which inspire the courses of our lives.
Dead Poets Society and Looking for Alaska each explore the power of words in a unique yet timeless way. They serve as a testament to the potential of intimate explorations of humanity. Through our understanding of these films, we can deepen our understanding of ourselves, and that is truly what defines any great work of art.