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摘 要

《死亡诗社》是经典剧本之一，其人物形象鲜明，尤其是尼尔的性格形象深入人心。本论文从洛弗伊德的人格理论角度分析尼尔的本我，自我和超我，并由家庭，老师，学校各方面因素阐述造成尼尔性格的具体成因，最后得出尼尔在各种环境因素的影响下，没能协调本我，自我，超我三者，导致其性格的极端发展，最终选择结束自己生命这一悲剧， 并以此来告诉人们培养健康性格的重要性。

关键词：《死亡诗社》；人格理论; 尼尔的死; 悲剧

Contents

1.Introduction…………………………………………………………………..1

2.Literature Review…………………………………………………………….1

3.Analysis of Neil’s Personality………………………………………………..2

3.1 Freud’sTheory of Personality………………………………………………..2

3.2 Id of Neil…………………………………………………………………….3

3.3 Ego of Neil………………………………………………………..………....4 3.4The Superego of Neil………………………………………………………....4

4.The Causes of Neil’s Personality…………………………………………….5

4.1Causes from Family………………………………………………………….6

4.2Causes from Teacher…………………………………………………………6

4.3Causes from School………………………………………………………….7

4.4 Personality Imbalance……………………………………………………….8

5.The Tragedy of Neil’s Personality.…………………………………………9

5.1 The Tragedy of Neil………………………………………………………….9

5.2 The Victim of Neil’s Death………………………………………………….9

5.3 The Worthlessness of Neil’s Death……………………………………10

6.Conclusion…………………………………………………………………...10

Works Cited…………………………………………………………………....11

1. Introduction

The screen play Dead Poets Society also called Salutary Influence of Education is about a boarding high school in American-story of Welton Academy School. The script reflected the fight in the liberal and conservative through the anti traditional teacher-student incident, the students gradually found that self education. It was founded by the famous scenarist Tom Schulman. This play reflects the psychological problems of adolescents.

At present, China’s education mode, education methods, teaching idea,role of teachers and students are experiencing the criticism and reform. Therefore,the little historical screen play also set off a wave of China campus in 21centuries. It is a script which breaks the old frame with anti-traditional, anti-authority and advocating independent thinking.It also helps students to choose the theme of life,then the teachers and students become the background of education reform,it reflects the pursuit of spiritual catharsis.

The writer of the paper analyzes Neil’s personality by Freud’s personality theory, because of strong self consciousness and all kinds of resistance so that Neil cannot realize the superego, and ultimately unable to come out of shadow. The analysis of Neil’s personality and comprehensive discussion of the pursuit of the meaning of life, we know that the importance of positive attitude when facing with dilemma. It is important for us to have a healthy personality.

2. Literature Review

The creation of the children’ role in the play is very successful. But the individuality is treated remarkably. Neil is full of passion and vitality, Demon with ancient ideal, Charlie is reckless, Knox is falling in love with a girl. The role of Keating gave the play a center of gravity and the fulcrum of words. Then different character to this group of young student film added gorgeous. In the play Dead Poets Society, many scholars are itching to understand why Neil chooses end his rest life. Is the high pressure from his father or the school’s inflexible education system makes Neil mad? Regardless of what factor cause the death, in my opinion, the real origin is Neil’s mentality and his attitude of life. He is the main reason, why would I say? If you watch the film you will find that Neil Perry is the most pimp man in his class. He also hesitate to do anything, the only thing he could do is follow his father’s decision. There is one thing that Neil keeping in mind is he can’t betray his father or the school’s doctrine. He must curb his thought even the beloved drama. Each time his father talks to him, he can’t say any words only listen.

Under this dilemma circumstance, Neil’s spirit was hit again and again. Because of his inability to figure out the reality. Due to his limited ability, his mentality becomes grieved. Neil falls into the trap of status which restricts his dream instead of widening his sense of liberty. Finally Neil chooses to end his life in tragedy.

3. Analysis of Neil’s Personality

3.1Freud’s Theory of Personality

Theory of personality is the important system of Freud theory Concept, it consists of Id, ego, superego, it constitute the cornerstone of Freud theory with the unconscious, instinctive, anxiety etc. Although Freud’s psychoanalysis suffer from the controversial, even criticism, since the date of birth but in Freud’s followers efforts, psychoanalytic theory system is continuously being repaired, extend and improve. According to Feud, personality is a whole which includes part of connection and interaction. In the description of his early theory, the structure of our human mental is composed of three parts:Subconscious, former consciousness and consciousness. Subconscious mainly is constrained desire and instinct impulse, but it cannot enter consciousness because of constraining. Consciousness is the psychological content that we perceive and also is the surface that exist in our psychology; former consciousness is situated between subconscious and consciousness, the intensity of constraining intensity is not very high, it’s easy to enter consciousness.

Freud once described: “the present ego ideal is the target of self in childhood have enjoy the love of self (self- love).” Thus, the ego ideal is the primary narcissism’s successor, satisfied with his own children inside in it. First, the child itself is ideal.The children’ illusion of omnipotence, in addition that the parents put childhood narcissistic onto the child, so that children form a kind of unreal perfect image, and as a narcissistic object. Then, because of his own self reflection and evaluation of others, especially since than parents’ intervention and role model, the child began to abandon the“ primary narcissism”.(Freud, 1923: 11) For an ideal abandon this can lead to the other as the ideal. Although psychology made some achievements in the positivism path, but the psychology has paid a great price. The scientific spirit advocated rationalism makes the people’s subjectivity, unique and emotion gradually ablation, is bound to make psychology from “subject ”and more and more far. On the other hand, was born in the highly developed era of rationalism of the Freud doctrine, the theory system is also hit the brand style of speculative philosophy.

In Freud’s personality theory, subjective speculation is everywhere. In addition, Freud was influenced by the famous physiologist Bruck, thought that all important psychological activities must have the corresponding physiological basis. Therefore, Freud believed that the personality is similar to the physical energy, a kind of mental energy chemical energy, although not on the measurement and observation, but it also obeys the laws of physics, chemistry.

3.2 Id of Neil

Mr. Keating’s arrival makes he feel relive and open his heart. “This is battle, boys,” he cried. “ War! ” You souls are at a critical juncture. Either you will succumb to the will of academics hoi polloi, and the fruit will die on the vine --or you will triumph as individuals. ((Klein Baum, 2006 :58)

Only in Mr.Keating’s class can Neil and his classmates laugh hilariously. The writer thinks this may be the primary dream for Neil. According to Freud, dreams are “wish to meet” to try to resolve the conflict with subconscious of each part. But in Neil’s opinion, dream is to keep balance between his thought and father’s wish. He wants to get affirmation from his father all the time. He needs supporting. In Karat"s Anthropology, mankind is defined as “the existence of free activities.” (Kant, 2007:141) And this point is shown through the comparison of mankind with other forms of existence. Needless to say the non-biological things and plants, even animals are not truly free, although they can move, have desires, and can respond to stimulation from the outside world. Because this kind of behavior is still unconscious and these animals are completely powerless to the constraints imposed on them by nature. Freedom is one essence of mankind. Different from animals and plants, mankind has consciousness and cognitive ability. Therefore, he can make free choices within a certain range. Kant believes that people always intend to demand the unconditional freedom.They want to have the absolutely independence. (Kant,2007:141). Neil’s sense of drama takes an important role in his spiritual world. It was the independence that makes Neil’s dream become strong so he has freedom or drama on the brain but he must obey his father. Under incompatible atmosphere, Neil’s heart full of depression. Finally he chose another way to realize his dream. Neil pours in a pool of blood he shots himself, it’s a grievous ending. As a student, the student’s development is not a single subject score, the development of education, training successors, in fact is the training and development of all the social individual.

3.3 Ego of Neil

Ego is the variety requirement of id that derived from the divisive of id in actually environment after the individual birth. If ego cannot obtain content in the reality, he must give in to the limit of reality and studies how to obtain the demand in the reality. In writer’s opinion, the main factor of Neil’s death is his personality. Someone who reads Dead Poets Society will find that Neil’s heart is easy to hurt and his face is always with gloomy and unpleasant expression. Neil never disobey his father. Through the different pressure and his father’s stern or the school’s formalist system, the tolerance of Neil’s mind is abate so when he meets unpleasant things,he just sits by himself and never seeks help from his friend, always treats matters with negative attitude. Then his psychology changes radically, Neil appears serious psychological problems.

Neil held the achievement pin in his hand as he spoke “ The bastard! ” he shouted suddenly. jabbing his thumb with the mental point of the pin and drawing blood. Todd winced, but Neil just stared at the blood intently. He pulled the pin out hurled it against the wall.(Kleinbaum, 2006: 28)

Neil’s personality is too exceeding so he jabbing his thumb with the pin cause self-inflicted and stares the wall with stagnant eyes it seems everything is despairing. As we can see Neil’s behavior is to hurt himself, because he can’t start his dream life, he tries to communicate with his father but failed, at this time Neil’s mind is tangled he doesn’t know how to express his mood better and how to communicate with his cold father.At this time,Neil’s heart is ravaged by himself.

3.4 The Superego of Neil

The conflict between Neil and his father has no complicated reach to grieve, this is a simple but actually dull pain. Neil regains and looking for the meaning of life passion, the reorganization of the dead poet society, hiding from parents to participate in his dream of the drama. Between the ideal and reality, Neil has no way to choose. As parents, Neil’s father chooses the best school and draw up a plan for his son, making a great sacrifice but he never takes Neil’s feeling into account so Neil have no chance to dispute for himself, let him become the blockhead before others, lose prestige,he thinks it’s impracticably to participate the performance of drama. This “unorthodox” activity is only temporarily be prompted by a sudden impulse. Visibly, the father’s love and the contribution to his son, but that kind of love is not understood by the son, and become heavy shackles to a child. Everything they do is for their children’ better future.

In reality, parents love their children, but they often arrange everything for child in this spirit and decide child’s life arbitrarily. Generally speaking, when the children are young, they are easy to lack of independence. The legislative activities and resolution are the ability of good and evil, when the children grow up and need to strengthen a certain independent ability. Parents should give children fully correct approach independence and let them take the initiative to accept the education in practice, appropriate time can let them touch the nail. Parents should understand further liberation of children. They should give children opportunity to stand on their position so that they can have the right to speak for them-self. But chronically highhanded policy and the lack of liberation warp Neil’s psychology and disorder of personality.

4.The Causes of Neil’s Personality

As we know, human’s character can’t be built in a day. The formation of personality is a long process. All of us in the world have different temperament and personality; maybe it’s good or bad. The living environment and education we receive is the key to our character. Similarly, the parents’ affection to children is also important. When the time we at school, our teacher’s teaching methods and the friend around us will strength our personal character. But when we are back to home, we maybe treated differently, and the living way all changed. On the contrary, it seems that we are not free under the protection of parents, especially encounter the doctrinaire parents. Under this circumstance, our character is weak. But once someone encourage us to do our self, we may turn nasty like a lion who waked up. That is why Neil goes astray.

4.1 Cause from Family

Neil comes from an ordinary family this will cause inferiority character to a shy boy. So his father wants Neil get the best education and be a doctor or more great job to earn more money ,they constrain their aspiration to Neil but in contrary, this becomes burden and makes Neil depress day by day. However, Neil’s heart has be hidden a heat love of drama and longing for an actor. In the encouragement of the offbeat teacher Keating, Neil starts the ideal first time, he plucked up the courage to show a most proud drama in life. The delighted children aspire that the success performance can give them the freedom of choice, the perfect curtain call, but to Neil’s surprise his parents didn’t give him any chance to fight.Before Parents leaving, Neil muttered, I play well, I am really very good. The snowy night, Neil took the head of flowers ring, kill himself at night. In this time Neil’s psychology is abnormal, he wants to relive himself.

In the screen play, Neil can’t make any decision, just follow his father, as the summer classes, periodical from exit, dropped out from Weldon school to military school, then went to Harvard study medical science etc.. Partaking in drama play only self choice he made. but caused his tragedy.

“ Father, I have one of the main parts ”, Neil explained. The performance is tomorrow night. Father, please…” Mr. Perry’s face was white with rage. He moved toward Neil, pointing his finger. “ I don’t care if the world is coming to an end tomorrow nigh, you are through with that play! IS THAT CLEAR?” stopped, He stayed long and hard at his son. I’ve made great sacrifices to get you here, Neil, You will not let me down.”(Kleinbaum, 2006: 148).

Mr. Perry turned and stalked out. Neil stood still for a long time, then walking to his desk, he started pounding on it, harder and harder until his fists went numb and tears began rolling down his cheeks. Once Neil mentioned drama, his father doesn’t give any chance and disagree with Neil’s dream, his father thinks it just waste time.

4.2 Cause from Teacher

Neil dropped his books on his desk, his face flushed with excitemet.

“ I’ve found it ! ” he cried.

“found what”! Todd asked.

“ What I want to do!right now ”.What is really inside of me.” he handed Todd a piece of paper.

“A midsummer night’s dream,” Todd read“ What is it ”?

“A play dummy ”(Kleinbaum, 2006 : 90)

Neil’s face flush with excitement, his desire to drama is intensely so much so that whatever he read he can always associate with drama.He is inched to play a drama that belongs to himself. Even he insists that his father will not prevent his partake .He believes nothing is important. Mr. Keating asked the students to tear up the mode of poetry appreciation, nonhuman culture part, tell the students “we read poetry, creating poetry is not because they are fun, but because we are members of the human, and the human race is filled with passion”.

Neil has cheerful character, his enthusiasm for life is ignited because of the teacher’s enthusiasm. He likes to act, will be excited trembling when longing the future of beautiful dream. Expression of the tread forget him in the fight for the dream of to “A Midsummer Night’s dream” role is unforgettable, as if the world is on his control, Nothing is invincible. With a free education dream, Mr. Keating walked into the conservative Wilton preparatory school with a unique wisdom, humor, deep and poetic temperament, will be doomed to have a spring breeze bath. In his first class, he let the students to remember a word: “seize the day” . This, in fact is the central pivot through all his spirit. Meanwhile, he also education the students and addresses him with Whitman verse. “Oh, Captain, my captain.”He said he had also have classes here, I think his passion of youth is also suppressed, only really experienced people who can take life so thorough enlightenment. In other words, he is now living in passion, just this kind of passion, long chastened has become a rare calm, he used this calm vision on Neil. What he needs to is to guide Neil looking youthful meaning captain, to help him walk out of dilemma, help him catch the essence of the life time every day to. It was the Mr. Keating who opens Neil’s heart, Mr. Keating also find the way and hope for Neil. But Mr. Keating also makes Neil wake up and dare to challenge and be out of control.

4.3 Cause from School

Welton Academy School, four pillars of tradition, honor, discipline, excellence as school principals, teacher and parents measure and regulate student by academic performance as a standard. On the first day of school, the headmaster gives new pressure with graduation rate, and parent’s exchange. College hall displays all previous photos of outstanding graduates, so as to stimulate students to work hard. Books and knowledge with the class are patterns, immobilization and purely rational, serious lack of humanistic spirit. Education must reach the heart and link to heart. Educated mind must expose in the noble and beautiful thoughts, let it wash, obedient to pursuit of life eternal true, good, beautiful, owns a life that belongs to our-self and meaningful. And stop thinking about the life skills, stay on the surface, so that the meaning of life tend to nothingness and remote education, arrived in the education of the heart is the real education. The education must reach heart, with the spirit of equality dialogue we are currently calling for teachers respect the personality of students, it is the eternal theme of education. Utilitarian education values lead school to pursue blindly grades; excellence; outstanding.

At the beginning of the play, the speech at the opening ceremony by headmaster clearly sent us an idea: high rate is the reason that Wilton become the best university preparatory school, this is the school’s honor. In modern society, degree, diploma, certificate, scores, schools become students’ struggling target, and to realize that objective must be careless with process. Personal interests and dreams are resisted by high-pressure, cruel reality, parents imposed the ideal on children that will failure to finish, high expectations gives the children too much pressure. Some parents accustomed to take people or friends around to do comparison or example, in this way, to put pressure on the children, in the course of time will let the child unable to withstand, will slowly lose confidence and self.

4.4 Personality Imbalance

Neil’s parents didn’t give him any chance or endorsement, Neil has to let matters drift because there is no need to argue with his father. The only thing to do is to drop his voice and nod head and say“ Yes, sir ”. His father deprives growing space of the child, parents need to fully respect the child’s individuals live and give themselves selection and decision rights and opportunities, full display of self, showing self potential, let the children live freely. This is the cowardly personality of Neil. But the arrival of Mr. Keating bring the hope for his dream, Neil seem to realize the dream of drama. But to our surprise, the high pressure from his father makes Neil breathless, when he stands on the stage with excited moods, he seeing crucial eyesight. In middle part of this film, Neil’s interest in drama is growing, at last even he know would sacrifice for it. That is to say his courage is that no one can surpass but his behavior is too exceeding. Everyone in the world has a dream and the method to realize dream is various.But there is a cardinal condition-we are breathing. As a matter of fact, id, ego, super go should coordinate with each other, if three of them are out of balance, our psychology will be damaged.

In other words, the improvement of individuality and personality health is decided by the concordance with the various parts of the personality relationship, as well as individuals and the coordination that he must live in the reality, that is to say the id, ego and superego must be under the condition of conformity and must be coordinated with the real world. So we must pay more attention to the kid’s formation of personality.

5. The Tragedy of Neil’s Personality

Neil is dead, but his soul and spirit will exist forever. In other word, his dream will come true in the heaven. Neil free himself and his agony may come to an end. But in some respects, Neil is selfish because he only thinks of himself, he just knows that he never want to live in such a cruel society and wish to end this life as soon as possible. So he doesn’t consider the result of his death.

5.1 The Tragedy of Neil

In the past five years the number of the college student’s suicides is growing annually. In 2002 the number was 27, this data is up to 68 in 2004:in the main land of China, 2005, it is reported that 116 college students commit suicide in 2006 the number rises to 130(“The depth of dissection of college students Dutch act phenomenon”. The CCTV BBS 24M arch2007) This phenomenon has become a serious social problem which has raised fresh concerns about the young peoples poor life awareness. In view of this phenomenon it is a top priority to add life education into the school. In the process, education plays a vital role in helping students in many aspects such as dealing with cherishing lift respecting life and having hope towards life” Sucking the marrow out of life doesn’t mean choking on the bone”. But Neil’s id, ego and superego can’t adjust with each other, if three of them are out of balance, his psychology is damaged thoroughly.

5.2 The Victim of Neil’s Death

“ What does that mean? ” Charlie asked.“ What are they after? ”

“ Why, Mr.keating, of course. The‘Captain’ himself.

“ You didn’t really think he could avoid responsibility, didn’t you?”

“ Mr.keating? Responsible for Neil? Is that what they’re saying ? ”

Charlie pulled himself free of Meek of and Knox.

“ Who else do you think,dumbo? ” Cameron said

“ The administration? Mr.Perry? Keating put us up to all this, didn’t he?

If it wasn’t for him, Neil would be cozied up in his room right now,

studying his chemistry and dreaming of acting.” (Kleinbaum, 2006: 206)

It seems that everyone insists that Mr. Keating instill improper ideal into Neil and cause him go astray. But have anyone think if without Mr. Keating, they can establish Dead Poets Society? If without Mr. Keating haw can they fight with traditional system? At last, the students are called the office and their parents are waiting for them. They must sign their name in paper and admit it was Keating that cause Neil death then dismiss Mr. Keating. Almost all the students sign their name they can’s overcome the authority. Mr. Keating will not teach anymore. He left the school under gaze of student only left a lonely back. Mr. Keating open students mind with poetry, music and sports, profound knowledge and use enthusiastic mind to infect every student. Gradually, he students heart changed a lot, they Keating seems to become a murderer it’s unfair. In contrary, he is a victim. The departure of Mr. Keating is also a tragedy. “Oh, Captain, my captain” is the final vocative of Mr. Keating.

5.3 The Worthlessness of Neil’s Death

Actually, his friend and Mr. Keating gives Neil so much help but he doesn’t know how to exploit it and only stay in the circumstance that he was so sad, agony. And his death brings bad effect to many people including the departure of Mr. Keating. All roads lead to Rome, we can think about the death carefully, if Neil calms down and thinks carefully, the tragedy will not occur. Every human life is limited and short. It seems that his death changed nothing and School’s doctrine doesn’t make any change since the tragedy, the kids attend class as usual. Especially the parents, they force child to sign their name on a confession which acknowledge Mr. Keating is the killer and all student did this. Even his father still can’t awakening, Neil should expand personality’s sense of id power by establishing the coordination of intrinsic mind and reduce exceeding obedience and strengthens the self-strength that achieves the balance of id, ego, superego.

6. Conclusion

As we know, Mr. Perry often makes Neil feel hopeless and hurts with some critical words. But his father completely unaware he just know that Neil must follow the school’s doctrine and finishes study do what he want. If anything can not fit his requirement that will be any consultant, although hard to bring us great, but do not have the right to choose for their children life. His death is realization of freedom. In other word, he finishes superego. But, is his death bring any improvement? No, Neil’s choice is extreme. He has dream of drama,he should have many way to aspire it. Neil can’t keep a rational mind, if he calm down and think over, he will get a better way in his life rather than death. Every one in the world should have something he wants to complete. During this period, we must handle them with a positive attitude and improve the ambient. Neil’s death causes the departure of Mr. Keating. But the traditional education is still continued. Neil has passed away, but the writer wants to convey the importance of nurturing healthy personality.

Works Cited

[1]Serge, Lecours.“ Analyzing Forms of Superego Functioning as Mentalizations”

The International Journal of Psychoanalysis:2008 (4):879-96.

[2] Sigmund,Freud The Ego and the Id ,Internationaler Psycho- analytischer Verlag (Vienna),W. W. Norton amp; Company,1923.

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