Dead Poet's Questions

1. Perhaps Neil wouldn't have been sent over the edge and taken such drastic measures if he hadn't met the inspirational boldness of Mr. Keating, but it's hard to say exactly. I don't think that Mr. Keating's influence directly resulted in Neal's suicide, but was a secondary contributing factor that helped create a major turning point for Neal emotionally and could of very well been 'the straw that broke the camel's back'. He had a strong desire to feel accepted by his overbearing father. I believe he wanted his father to support and encourage his pursuit of fulfilling his true passions. Neil was inevitably left feeling torn between making his father proud and following the path set out for his life or fulfilling his dreams of being an actor and most likely losing his father forever. He felt trapped, with no place to escape. He realized he couldn’t live according to his father’s wishes, and the only way out was to kill himself. He ended up killing himself before his passion killed him first. Just as Knox Overstreet stated, “Carpe Diem, even if it kills me.”. 
2. I believe that Todd was the bravest of all the boys. Todd to overcome because he started out as the most introverted and lack self-confidence. He finds the confidence to join the club and eventually the bravery and boldness to finally pour out a poem he creates out loud. In my opinion Neil was the biggest coward. I believe that Neil took the easy way out simply giving up and taking his own life instead of continuing to stand up to his father. 
3. I think Mr. Keating did put the poetry book in Neil's room. I also think he put it there even though he knew that the administration wouldn't like it. He was trying to teach the boys to think for themselves, and not always do what people tell them to do. I think he knew that Neil was ready to do things for himself, his father just wouldn't let him. I think that is why he gave him the book, even though he knew the administration wouldn't like it.