- "Good God, boy, there's a poet in you, after all."
- — Mr. Keating
Todd Anderson is the protagonist of Touchstone Pictures' 1989 film Dead Poets Society. He was born on November 17th, 1942.
Todd is caring and although he is shy, finds a way to stand up for his friend Neil and what he believes in. He is arguably the movie's most dynamic character, appearing first as an extremely shy, quiet, and reserved boy and evolving into an outspoken young man. Todd is the brother of popular Welton alumni and distinguished scholar Jeffrey Anderson, whose shadow Todd finds himself in at the start of his senior year. However, thanks to events that follow, he manages to break out of his shell, becoming his own person.
Todd is played by American actor, writer, and director Ethan Hawke in the film.
Biography[]
Todd Anderson is a transfer student to Welton Academy at the beginning of the fall semester of 1959. He originally went to a school called Balincrest but switched because his brother, Jeffrey, attended Welton. Upon arrival at the school for the first time, he sits with his parents at the opening ceremony, where he is urged by his father to stand with the rest of the boys during the reciting of the four pillars.
Todd Anderson, out of uniform, while unpacking his things in his new room.
After the ceremony, Todd follows his mother and father up to greet Headmaster Gale Nolan, who speaks of Todd having "big shoes to fill", in reference to his older brother.
Once Todd says his goodbyes, he goes to the Honor Room, along with the other juniors to receive his extracurricular activities. When told that he will do soccer, he tries to say that he would prefer rowing but cannot be heard.
He runs in to Neil Perry on the way to his room, who says they're going to be roommates. Neil questions why Todd left his old school, and Todd again mentions that his brother formerly attended Welton. Neil responds with, "Oh, so you're THAT Anderson," suggesting again that Todd's brother was a memorable student during his time at the academy.
Todd continues on to his and Neil's dorm room, where he walks in on Richard Cameron calling him a "stiff". Neil then introduces Todd to fellow Welton Academy students Charlie Dalton, Stephen Meeks, and Knox Overstreet. The three of them comment on Todd's brother, Jeffrey’s, reputation at Welton, noting that he was valedictorian and a National merit scholar. Todd then witnesses the four of them light up a cigarette and mock the school right before Neil's father interrupts and calls Neil outside. As the boys leave Neil and Todd to their unpacking, they invite Todd to join them in their study group, and Todd responds quietly with "thanks".
Todd is present for Mr. Keating's first lesson on Carpe Diem in the hallway, and appears to know answers to several of Keating's questions but fails to say anything. While he speaks little, it appears he enjoyed and was very attentive to the lesson. Later that night, Todd writes the phrase "Seize the day" on a sheet of notebook paper and stares at it for a moment before ripping out the paper and crumpling it up.
Later, after another interesting lesson from Keating, Todd accompanies the boys in finding out what Keating's "Dead Poets Society" was. He appears interested in Keating's love of poetry and amused by his stories. When Neil asks if Todd will join them in reconvening the Dead Poets Society, he is first apprehensive as he doesn’t want to speak in the meetings, but Neil gets the rest of the soon to be Dead Poets to let him join regardless.
Regardless of his anxiety towards public speaking, or disappointing his roommate, Todd attends the first meeting of the Dead Poets Society, where he takes minutes but does not contribute to reading poetry.
Personality[]
Todd is a shy kid. When he first transfers to Welton at the start of his junior year, Todd can barely speak his name, let alone speak in front of groups of people or his class. He shows ample evidence of performance anxiety, something that interests his English teacher Mr. Keating and is a main area of development for the character.
His anxiety may have originated from his family life, where his older brother Jeffery is an extremely smart individual - being valedictorian, national merit scholar, and Welton alumni - Todd had originally gone to Balincrest before getting his grades high enough for Welton standards.
Despite being extremely shy and introverted, Todd shows a great deal of appreciation for his friends, particularly Neil, his roommate and closest friend. Todd joins the Society despite being afraid of speaking in public and joining the boys on their various adventures, and the emotional turmoil he is shown in after the death of Neil. After the climax, when Keating's job security is in danger, Todd stands up for him against Richard Cameron, saying "...you know that, Cameron. [Keating] didn't put us up to anything. Neil loved acting!"
Relationships[]
Neil Perry[]
The boys throwing the "aerodynamic desk set"
Neil Perry is Todd's roommate. He encourages Todd to be open about himself and his passions. He strived to make Todd feel included and this applies to the Dead Poets Society, where Neil found a way to get him to participate even though he didn't want to.
The two became even closer because of the Dead Poets and Todd often helped Neil Perry rehearse his lines for Midsummer Night's Dream by the dock. Neil found Todd writing his poem in his notebook and snatched the book from him, as he was being chased around their room.
Neil was the only one to find out about Todd's birthday - when he learned that the Andersons had gotten him the same gift as the previous year, he cheered him up by creating the world's first "aerodynamic desk set" and helping Todd throw it from the roof.
When Todd found out about Neil’s suicide, he had an extreme reaction. During the snowing night he walked out into the snow, followed by the remaining members of the Dead Poets Society (minus Cameron), he looked upon the snow and muttered “It’s beautiful,” before breaking down crying. The Dead Poets held onto him until he ran away towards the dock screaming the name of his best friend, during a deleted scene it’s shown that the dock was where he and Neil practiced 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' together.
Both Todd and Neil fall victim to the 'hourglass trope' meaning they both involuntarily switch positions in their lives. Todd starts out as a timid young man who is yet to understand his self worth. Throughout the film he is growing into his skin, finding comfort in the Poets and Mr. Keating. After Neil's suicide, Todd finally learns to speak out, as seen in the infamous 'O Captain, My Captain!' scene at the end of the film. At this moment in the film, Todd has learnt to appreciate himself and to stand up for what is true. On the contrary, Neil Perry begins the film an outspoken, positive force in the Poets' lives. He is fully accepting of himself and wears his heart on his sleeve. Neil pushes Todd outside of what he is comfortable with, rejecting the constricting hands of conformity. With the pressures of his father's expectations becoming increasingly more restrictive, Neil shrinks into his own skin, slowly losing his identity. Neil gradually grows more and more closed in as his life is planned out for him. Momentarily before he commits suicide, he attempts to stand up to his father, he is pushed back down again and Neil has become the version of Todd we saw at the beginning of the film, quiet, compliant, and afraid. Ultimately, Neil takes his own life. The film starts with anxious new-kid Todd and outspoken, confident Neil. By the end of the film, their places have swapped entirely.
Trivia[]
- He has an older brother who attended Welton, and who is his parents' favorite child.
- There was a sequel to DPS planned, starring Ethan Hawke as Todd, whose goal was to follow in Mr. Keating's footsteps. It was canceled due to the unavailability of many of the other boys.
- Based on his behavior, Todd may have an undiagnosed anxiety disorder.
- Todd's sexual orientation is never confirmed in the film, though he is frequently compared to Walt Whitman – a very famous queer poet – hinting at Todd's own queer identity.
- It is hinted that he considered Neil Perry as more than a friend after he had the most extreme reaction out of the poets towards Neil's death, despite them having known him much longer. Gale Hansen (actor of Charlie Dalton) supported this in a tweet in 2020.