MovieChat Forums > Dead Poets Society (1989) Discussion > Neil's mother was a TRAITOR!

Neil's mother was a TRAITOR!

posted 12 years ago by willrogers
29 replies | jump to latest

I was mad as can be at Neil's father for not accepting him for who he was, but I was almost as mad at his mother! She just sat aside and let her husband emotionally torture Neil! To Mrs. Perry: Why the h*** didn't you back your kid up?????????

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 8 years ago

I was mad as can be at Neil's father for not accepting him for who he was, but I was almost as mad at his mother! She just sat aside and let her husband emotionally torture Neil! To Mrs. Perry: Why the h*** didn't you back your kid up?????????

You have to keep in mind the era in which this takes place. Women, whether they liked it or not, often were expected to be subservient.

[–] ncdwbmk6 8 years ago

I don't think it's a generational issue. The relative roles of husband and wife vary from family to family, even today. In this case, the husband made the decisions.

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Fowler's knots? Did you say ... fowler's knots?

[–] MichaelMovieLoft 8 years ago

Neil's mom was your typical 1950's hausfrau. The type that cooks, clean and never complains. Something tells me that Neil's dad ruled the house with an iron fist as well, and the penalties were severe to challenge his authority.

MM

[–] CorgiLobsterDog 8 years ago

I was mad as can be at Neil's father for not accepting him for who he was, but I was almost as mad at his mother! She just sat aside and let her husband emotionally torture Neil! To Mrs. Perry: Why the h*** didn't you back your kid up?????????

It was just very realistic and reality can sting, or 'bites'. It's as simple as that. Fathers (and mothers) can be domestic tyrants. It's all about control. It's about the way they perceive personal success and how things need to be. It's like the Ancient proverb about the reed that doesn't bend will eventually break. Neil's father broke his family by his ultra-strict, unbending ways. Neil's mother was totally under the father's control, also - so, she would have never questioned his rule.

We all wanted Neil to tell his father to F-off! We all wanted the sheepish mother to stand up to him and defend Neil, but alas - it was just impossible. And, the pressures that parents can exude on their children is all too common. And, this aspect of the film is one of the reasons why it was so good.