- "Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all."
- — Mr. Keating to his students
John Charles Keating (known by his students as “Captain” or Mr. Keating) was a former student at Welton Academy. He served as Welton Academy's English teacher in 1959.
Mr. Keating is also shown urging his pupils to "seize the day" and saying Carpe Diem. To live their life and making it extraordinary. He inspired the idea of a secret society named "Dead Poets Society" among them.
He is portrayed by the late American actor and comedian, Robin Williams.
Biography[]
Before 1959[]
- Neil Perry: "Captain of the soccer team, editor of the school annual, Cambridge bound, Thigh Man, and member of the Dead Poets Society."
- Richard Cameron: "Man most likely to do anything!"
- Charlie Dalton: "Thigh man? Mr. "K" was a hell raiser"
- — The Dead Poets after Neil finds Keating's yearbook in the library
John Keating was born in 1927. He was a student at Welton Academy from 1941-1944. During this time he became Captain of the Varsity Soccer team, editor of the school annual, and was voted the 'man most likely to do anything'. Along with that he was the Thigh Man and Cambridge Bound. Keating was one of the original founders of the Dead Poets Society, this sparked students to engage in behaviors counter to the expectations of the school and the boys’ parents.
Mr. Keating's yearbook picture
It is implied that the Dead Poets Society soon disbanded after Mr. Keating graduated. Whether or not the disbandment was caused by the Welton administration not agreeing with it is not explicitly said, but because of the four pillars, it is assumed so.
Keating graduated Welton with honors and eventually moved to the UK where he worked at the highly regarded Chester School in London for years. Based on the framed photograph he has in his office of a lady, we can assume he got married in between these years while he was in London.
1959 School Year[]
He joins the Welton faculty for the 1959 school year as a new English Teacher. He previously had worked at Chester school in London. During his time there, he became known by his students for his very unique lecturing style.
Over the course of the film, Mr. Keating attempts to inspire many of the boys to follow their creative dreams. He most notably tries to inspire Neil Perry to follow his passion for theater. Unbeknownst to headmaster Gale Nolan of what was he doing, Mr. Keating intentionally encouraging Neil to defying his father Mr. Perry, and he continues to support Neil in his pursuit.
When Neil later commits suicide, Mr. Keating is blamed by Neil's father Mr. Perry for his presuming involvement in Neil’s acting pursuit. Along with this revelation, and his connection to the Dead Poet’s Society, Mr. Keating is subsequently fired from Welton by the school administration. This is the result of Richard Cameron turning him in and telling Mr. Nolan that Mr. Keating had both inspired them to recreate the Dead Poet’s Society and encouraging Neil to defy his father.
Personality[]
Mr. Keating is portrayed as charismatic and energetic throughout the majority of his lectures. He is a stern believer in the idea of free-thinking, frequently encouraging the students to leave their comfort zones and rebel against the oppression they face.
He is shown to have a sense of humor, but knows there is a time and place for it (exemplified by Mr. Keating disapproving of Charlie’s phone call from God stunt) . He is a good man, and a wonderful teacher.
This is illustrated by the Barbaric Yawp scene, when Mr. Keating forces Todd out of his comfort zone. He pushes Todd to create a poem on the spot, and remarks,“there’s a poet in you after all!” After Todd succeeds. Mr. Keating also encourages Neil to peruse his dream of acting.
Relationships[]
Neil Perry[]
He most notably tries to inspire Neil Perry to follow his passion for theater. Unbeknownst to Mr. Keating, Neil is acting against the specific direction of his father, and he continues to support Neil in his pursuit. However Keating's inspiring Neil Perry to follow his passion for theater came pay the price when Thomas came in retaliation to pick up his son home by force, and later being criticized for encouraging Neil to defying his father. When Neil later commits suicide, Mr. Keating is blamed by Neil's father Mr. Perry for his presumed involvement in Neil’s acting pursuit.
Gale Nolan[]
Headmaster Nolan suspect him behind the revival of the secret Dead Poets Society and encouraging his students to be reckless and violated the school properties such standing on the top of desks, ripping the textbook pages and influencing Neil Perry to defying his parents orders of becoming doctor, Nolan fired him after discovering DPS.
Tom Perry[]
Tom Perry severely disliked Mr. Keating and viewed him as a bad influence. He believed that John had presumably involved in the suicide of his son Neil Perry. After the play, When Mr. Keating was commending Neil on his performance, Mr Perry quickly ended the interaction and told John to stay away from his son and no more of interference and Mr. Perry (alongside Richard Cameron) also believed that Mr. Keating's unorthodox teaching methods was the source of the rebellious behavior of Neil Perry, Todd Anderson and the other boys.
Richard Cameron[]
Cameron had a difficult time with Keatings teaching methods, and seemed to feel more at home with the rigid structure the Welton Academy had to offer. He never fully internalized Keating's point with his teaching to subvert conformity, but (alongside Tom Perry) agreed with Mr. Nolan that Keating's unorthodox methods were dangerous and directly lead to Neil's death. He is the first to give information to Mr. Nolan about what happened, and the Dead Poet's Society 's Activities
Todd Anderson[]
Keating was one of the main forces that helped Todd Anderson break out of his shy kid personality. He seemed to recognize how badly Todd did not want to be called on during class in his third lesson when he asked if he was a "man or an amoeba." From then on he continued to push Todd until the day of their poetry presentations. After admitting to not having written a poem, Keating decides to lure Todd into an improvisational poetry performance to finally get him to shout a barbaric yawp.
Trivia[]
- It is believed John Keating was named after English Romantic poet, John Keats.
- Mr. Keating is married to a woman working in London.
- Mr. Keating graduated with honors from Welton Academy.
- The Welton yearbook photograph of Mr. Keating shown in the film is actually actor Robin Williams' high school yearbook photograph.