In the film Dead Poets Society, the four pillars that the character John Keating emphasizes represent the key values that he wants his students to embrace. These pillars are:
- Transcendence – This pillar encourages students to rise above their limitations and societal expectations, urging them to seek a deeper meaning in their lives and to pursue their passions.
- Honor – Honor emphasizes the importance of integrity and standing by one’s principles. Keating encourages his students to be true to themselves and to act with courage.
- Romance – This pillar embodies the aesthetic and emotional experiences that life has to offer. Keating inspires his students to appreciate beauty and to embrace emotions in their pursuit of art and literature.
- Action – Action emphasizes the necessity of taking steps towards one’s dreams. Keating promotes the idea that words without action are meaningless, motivating his students to act on their beliefs and desires.
These four pillars serve as guiding principles for the students in their growth and rebellion against conformity, highlighting the importance of individualism and the pursuit of personal truth.