In what ways is Dead Poets Society about the conflict between realism and idealism?

Society as we know, has been shaped by numerous conflicts in the past, some between nations, some between races, and some between the interests and issues of certain people. Dead Poets Society in particular, is about the conflict between realism and idealism. For example Welton Academy is a school that is deep-rooted in realism, the teachers are all realists and in turn did not allow the students to think for themselves, but taught them what they thought was necessary. The students, being young, have ideals but were never able to realise them. All it took was Keating with his idealism to show the students to think for themselves. This set off a massive chain reaction. Neil's death in particular was a example of the conflict between realism and idealism. Knox Overstreet's infatuation with Chris was also an example between realism and idealism, but to a lesser extent.

Firstly, Neil's conflict between realism and idealism was between his acting and his fathers interests. In Neil's views, acting was all he wanted to do. He did not want to go to Harvard, become a doctor, or anything his father wants him to do. That was his ideal reality. In his father's view, he only wanted Neil to succeed in school, to go to Harvard, and to become a doctor, so he would not let Neil be distracted from his main becoming a doctor. That was Neil's reality. But even though his ideals were forbidden by his father, he still went after it, against his father's wishes. But when his father found out, and was denied any further chances to act as a result of him transferring to another school, he could not take his current reality. He could not handle his conflict between his reality and his ideals, so he committed suicide.

Knox Overstreet's infatuation with Chris is another example of a conflict between realism and idealism. In that, in his ideals, he is going out with Chris, but in reality, she is already with someone. Therein lies his conflict. Knox tries to make his ideals happen by incessantly courting her by giving her gifts, going to her parties, but his ideals are never realized, because of his conflict between realism and idealism.

Keating's ideals of teaching his students to think for themselves conflict with the interests of the teachers, especially Mr. Nolan. Keating's origins from Welton Academy may have influenced him to be so interested in his student's futures and dreams. So he wants to teach them how to think for themselves, so that they can those dreams and futures happen. But in reality, the headmaster, Mr. Nolan completely disagrees with him. In saying that he is too much of an idealist, and that teaching seventeen year olds to think for themselves is absurd. Keating still went ahead and taught his students what he thought was necessary to think for themselves, even though it was against the wishes of the headmaster. In doing so, he set off a massive chain reaction, which may have lead to the death of Neil, and lead to his sacking. His ideals cost him a student, and his job.

In many ways, Dead Poets Society is about the conflict between realism and idealism. All the characters in Dead Poets Society is based around this; Neil's conflict between his acting and his father destroyed him; Knox's infatuation with Chris can't be realized because she is already with someone and Keating's ambitious quest to teach his students to think for themselves ended in the death of Neil. The human world is based around conflict of numerous sorts, and Dead Poets Society is a shining example of the conflict between realism and idealism.