Dead Poets as Tragic Drama The character Neil in Dead Poets Society is a good example of a tragic hero. He is a character that is controlled by his passionate nature and by an insatiable desire to act in the theatre, against the wishes of his authoritative father. Neil is portrayed as a person of high stature and the events involving him in particular invoke pathos in the viewers. Feelings of pity and compassion towards …showed first 75 words of 740 total…

…showed last 75 words of 740 total…held at the school and leads to the dismissal of John Keating. For the argument of an accident of fate, John Keating is not, however large his influence may be, responsible for the actions of Neil, Neil's father, or the other boys of the Dead Poet's Society. Decisions made were decisions made alone by the person deciding. John Keating's downfall is a combination of both internal and external factors, some within his control, some not.