Holden's Conformity

The transition from childhood to adulthood can be difficult change in our lives. This theme can be seen throughout Dead Poet’s Society (D.P.S) and The Catcher in the Rye (Catcher). Dead Poets Society is a 1989 film directed by Peter Weir (Weir) and The Catcher in the Rye is a 1951 novel by author Jerome David Salinger (Salinger) who both reflected around the significant concept of change. Using the central idea of change these text can demonstrate the themes using conformity in society, death and characters becoming mentors. Change is a complex transition which can be amplified by using writing and filmic technics which enhances the characters advancement throughout the duration of these texts.
In D.P.S, conformity is one of the film's …show more content…
The novel circulates around a misguided teenager whose life is to escape and rebel against the conformity of society and the choice to mature into the complex world of adulthood. Holden does not agree with the prestige schools system therefore leading to expulsion due to his inadequate behaviour towards his education. Holden said to his teacher Mr. Spencer, how he feels trapped on “the other side” of life, and he constantly attempt to find his place in the world but he believes he doesn’t belong. After being expelled, Holden was worried of his parent’s reaction towards the situation therefore he embarks on a journey in which he discovers the world around him. Throughout Catcher, Holden confronts multiple people who reflect similar values towards conformity which results him to become isolated and flaunts his wealth to impress …show more content…
The reasoning of his death came from him wanting to peruse acting as a career and the approval of his father. This is evident during the second half of his performance Neil was looking straight at his father hoping for approval in a smile or a nod but nothing happened. Neil would try to persuade his father acting would not interfere with his education but this was rejected which resulted his father to in role Neil into Braighton military school. Through this act led Neil to execute the only way of escaping the ideal lifestyle of his fathers; he committed suicide in his father’s study room using father’s pistol. The ‘mise en scene’ begins with sinister music as Neil approaches his window and the camera slowly zooms in on Neil’s face as he puts his wreath on the window sill which was his costume in the play. Throughout this prolong scene the ending was when his father could see smoke coming from behind his desk which reveals Neil hand and the gun. The slow motion effect as the father runs behind the desk and resumes to normal speed when he hold the limp body while crying. By the use of filming technique, it made it clear that Neil was going to kill himself with the use of contrasting light and dark lighting, and silence was