Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala

English Project Semester -1

A movie review:

Contrast and Comparative Analysis of The Mona Lisa’s Smile and The Dead Poet Society

Submitted by - Submitted to -
Divyanshi Srivastava (23269) Dr. Tanya Mander

Vanshika Kamboj (23239)

Asst. Professor of English
1st year
B.A.LLB RGNUL PUNJAB

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 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
This certificate is to declare that this project on “Contrast and Comparative Analysis of The Mona Lisa’s
Smile and The Dead Poet Society” is an original work of Divyanshi Srivastava and Vanshika Kamboj
who are Bonafide students of the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Law, Punjab.

SIGNATURE: Divyanshi Srivastava

Vanshika Kamboj

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our english professors, Ms. Tanya Mander for her
constant support throughout the project and the Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi National University of
Law, Dr Anand Pawar for giving us an opportunity to work on this project and providing us with the
resources for the same. we would also like to thank the library staff and IT department who were
instrumental in the making of this project.

Divyanshi Srivastava
Vanshika Kamboj

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 Index
BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE........................................................................................................ 2
1. Introduction . ................................................................................................................... 5
2. Cultural Context ............................................................................................................... 5
3. Character Dynamics .......................................................................................................... 6
4. Theme – Individuality v. Conformity .................................................................................. 8
5. Gender Dynamics .............................................................................................................10
6. Critical Analysis ...............................................................................................................11
7. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................12

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1. Introduction
"Dead Poets Society" and "Mona Lisa Smile" are remembered as the two cinematic masterpieces that
successfully examine educational frameworks, the functioning of a society, and personal integrity. Released in
1989 and 2003, respectively, these movies offer poignant narratives set in distinct educational settings: the
place-name for "Dead Poets Society" is an all-boys preparatory school in the late 1950s and for "Mona Lisa
Smile," all-women's college in the early 1950s. Both these films unite audiences even if settings change as they
explore eternal aspects of life like conformity, rebellion, and self-realization. The film "Dead Poets Society"
directed by the Peter Weir with Robin Williams as a non-conformist English mentor appreciates the scene a
student defied the ties of custom and tradition to express their wild and free sides.1 Contrarily, "Mona Lisa
Smile" directed by Mike Newell with Julia Roberts the leading role as the revolutionary Katherine Wälston
character, is another powerful, an account of women clashing with a male dominated world and exercising their
autonomy2. The two movies convey a life-changing messages through the make-up of their characters, themes,
and evocative storytelling, which manage to carry the audience beyond the boundaries of which the motion
pictures were created, creating the everlasting influence on the viewers long after the credits have been rolled.

2. Cultural Context

The characters in "Dead Poets Society" and "Mona Lisa Smile" most definitely come from two distinctive
cultural setup, showing the society's values, norms and tensions of their particular era. The John Keating’s tale
however, happens in the later ’50s in a dynamic boys Academy while neither is set in the liberal arts college of
our era. The educational system, gender relations, and societal expectations are the concepts visualized in both
films while also reflected individualism of non-conformity and rebellion. There is an insightful commentary on
the post-war period culture issues, explored through the themes of conformity, identity, and individualism.

The plot of "Dead Poets Society" unfolds at Welton Academy, an elite preparation school for boys in Vermont
in 1959 that belongs to the crème de la crème3. The 1950s in the USA marked the restoration of traditional
norms and conservative attitude, flourishing after the end of WWII and the Red Scare hunt. It was during this
period when the ideology of compliance, social order, and preservation of the traditional structure of the society
was just presented at its highest level. The boys at Welton academy are concealed under iron wrist of highly

1
Ebert, Roger. “Dead Poets Society Movie Review (1989) | Roger Ebert.” Roger Ebert, 9 June 1989,
www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dead-poets-society-1989.

2
Ebert, Roger. “Mona Lisa Smile Movie Review and Film Summary (2003) | Roger Ebert.” Roger Ebert, 19 Dec. 2003,
www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mona-lisa-smile-2003.

3
Hinesman, Luca. “‘Dead Poet’s Society’ Review.” The Communicator, chscommunicator.com/87408/a-and-e/2023/10/dead-
poets-society-review.

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disciplinary educational atmosphere that cherishes discipline, obediance and academic success. The family and
culture often contribute, verbally and through non-verbal, to their ideating about the values of tradition and
authority. In this light, the coming of an unconventional English teacher named John Keating who defies the
conformity by influencing his students to think differently, appreciate their creativity, and believe that every day
is worth the taking is the perfect case. Keating's lessons, highlighted by his focus on individuality and freedom
of expression, lean towards the opposite direction of the overall mindset in the society, which celebrates
orthodoxy and subordination. The cultural context of post-century USA, whose essence is rooted in traditional
values, social norms, and the desire to live one's life, offers a valuable background for the examination of
problems as rebellion, originality and individualistic desires in The Dead Poets Society.

Unlike the past, "Mona Lisa Smile" transports its audience to the year 1953 when Wellesley College, a top
women college in Massachusetts, is situated. First decade of the 1950s was a time full of revolutionary cultural
and social transformations happening in the United States of America due to the changing gender roles, a
profound increase in fears of the atomic age (tepidity of the Cold War) and the beginning of the civil rights
movement. Confronted with this reality, Wellesley College is an embodiment of an Entrenched Tradition and
Privilege, where young women are prepared to belong to puppets for lives of conformity and domesticity. The
society ushers in the students with certain expectations, familial ones being the first to arrive. Indeed, they are
followed by the broader culture that constantly underlines the significance of marriage, motherhood, and social
propriety.4 Although Katherine Watson, a pioneering art history professor, embraces change thereby, by
contesting traditional gender roles and expectations of what is appropriate in society, assembles her students to
shake up the status quo in a major way. Katherine's instructions, rather than a utilitarian science, constitute a
thoughtful approach to relationships, self, and ultimately, life contentment, which is contrary to the status quo
of submissiveness and obedience of women. The cultural atmosphere of USA in 1950s, which was experiencing
a struggle between the beliefs of the past and the new inventions, serves as a fitting stage for reflecting on the
themes such as women's powers, uniqueness and the search of genuineness in "Mona Lisa."

Even films such as "Deda Poetsiya" and "Mana Lisu Amzak" take up the cultural environment of the postwar
United States, showing the contradiction between tradition and modernity, outward "roundness" and inner
"squareness", public pressure and private aspirations. Thematically, these films search education, the culture of
patriarchy and social norms, which enable the audience to ponder on whether those themes are universal and if
there is ever a moment of getting oneself back and finding authenticity despite cultural limitations.

3. Character Dynamics

Relationship between characters are the point of creating narratives of these two movies "Dead Poets
Society" and "Mona Lisa Smile," and as a result they include deeper and complex story. In the movies "Dead

4
French, Philip. “Mona Lisa Smile.” The Guardian, 13 Mar. 2004, www.theguardian.com/film/2004/mar/14/philipfrench.

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Poets Society," Peter Weir's directorial genius and "Mona Lisa Smile," Mike Newell's mastery of the craft, the
conversations between characters make it easy for the viewer to make out the motives and struggles of the
characters and how they eventually develop as a result of their experiences.

The focus of the characters' relationships in Dead Poets Society revolves around the students with their unique
English teacher Mr. John Keating who unfortunately has already expired. Welton Academy, which amongst all
before Keating's era was characterized by tradition and a certain matter of discipline, the teacher's attitude to
knowledge was rather stagnating, Keating arrives and suddenly sparks the interest among his students.5 His
non-conventional teaching techniques that accentuate the freedom of thinking, poetry, and "carpe diem" (living
in the moment) is something that the boys started reckoning with, and they eventually attempted to challenge
authority in the search for personal fulfillment. It is this group of students, the main characters, Neil Perry, Todd
Anderson, and Knox Overstreet, who represent a close-knit band of friends that have more in common with
each other than their individual differences. They gravitate towards each other because of their common need to
be free, to express themselves, and find their place in the world. Neil experiences Keating's course in a special
way among others. While simultaneously pursing acting against his father's strict expectations, he faces a
dreadful misfortune Interaction between Neil and his dad also shows how Neil fathoms his son as a person. The
thing that connects Neil and his dad together is internal dilemma as how does he live up to his father's wishes
and at the same time satisfy his own desire for freedom. Contrastingly, Todd becomes the story's main character
in his transformation from a sweet, afraid lad to a courageous youth that is like an adult and masters his beliefs.
By mostly spending time with Neil and his increasingly learning to appreciate Keating, he derives
encouragements to grow both inwardly and come to know himself. Ram Keating and his students' interactions
between themselves and each other and the relationships that blossomed between the boys themselves are
another theme that shows how the mentorship, fraternity and the pursuit of truthfulness in the face of societal
constraints is significant.

The main focus in "Mona Lisa Smile" is Katherine Watson, an art history professor, played by Julia Roberts,
and the way she shakes up and connects with her students at Wellesley College. Katherine entering Wellesley
College in the early 1950s goes along with the time of great cultural and social transformations where women
look through the prism of blatant unfairness, start to challenge male-domination, struggle for their freedom,
independence and joy in life.6 Katherine, as a progressive and free-spirited educator, confronted the traditional

5
Buckmaster, Luke. “Dead Poets Society: 30 Years on Robin Williams’ Stirring Call to ‘seize the Day’ Endures.” The
Guardian, 16 July 2019, www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/16/dead-poets-society-30-years-on-robin-williams-stirring-call-
to-seize-the-day-endures.

6
Holden, Stephen. “FILM REVIEW; Creeping 1953 Feminism, Without Quite Dispelling Dreams of Prince Charming.” The
New York Times, 19 Dec. 2003, www.nytimes.com/2003/12/19/movies/film-review-creeping-1953-feminism-without-quite-
dispelling-dreams-prince.html.

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prejudices of the college by working to engender her studentsʼ questioning mind about their futures. On the one
hand, she meets with some opposition from few of her students, specifically Miss Warren, a fan of the status
quo who feels that Katherine's efforts to widen their knowledge base are completely uncalled for and downright
insulting. The more Betty dislikes Katherine, the higher is the semblance of pressure which is placed on all the
young ladies of her age, especially those who decide to break traditions and embrace progress. Nevertheless,
Katherine's inability to be sympathetic to the diverse his backgrounds of his students is not permanent
apprehensions with Joan Brandwyn, Giselle Levy, and Joan's roommate, Connie Baker. For each character the
same storyline develops: she struggles with her dreams, her fears and the socially-accepted behavioural norms
of the real world, as the themes of female empowerment and self-knowledge are explored in the film. Katherine
uses her role as a mentor and friend to encourage those young women in their efforts to fight against oppression
and chase after their aspirations, even when they are faced by seemingly insurmountable challenges. In "Mona
Lisa Smile," a movie that portrays the tide of change, Katherine and her students represent the pivotal roles
education, friendship, and their pursuits of authenticity play, in the context of the changes facing the society.

4. Theme – Individuality v. Conformity

The theme of Individuality versus Conformity in both "Dead Poets Society" and "Mona Lisa Smile" is deeply
inherent and generates some dramatic insights into the real journey of an individual who is on the quest for his
authenticity, while battling around with society’s expectations and their own personal desires.7 Moreover, the
films showcase character that are trying to resolve the paradox of merging into the existing system and making
your special mark. Thus supporting the idea that it is a process of self-discovery and enough courage to stand
out from the crowd. The Individuality versus Conformity theme in "Dead poets society" features prominently as
it is portrayed in the old-fashioned Welton Academy, an sons preparation school, which is governed by rigid
norms. The movie depicts a place in harsh conditions where the rights, authority, and traditional values are the
most important things in people’s lives and are maintained by means of strict observance of formulas and rules.
The boys' chief characters for instance Neil Perry, Todd Anderson and Knox Overstreet were the ones who
initially conformed to the expectations, as they obedience to their families dreams and strive for academia
excellence. Nonetheless, the launch of John, a rebel-oriented English teacher, questions the routines by urging
the lads to release their potential, take chances and strive for their dreams. Keating's lectures, which focus on
his thinking, which entails rebelling, creativity, and the superiority of poetry over erudition, stir the boys to face
authorities and doubt the dictates of society. Neil's deadly trials are an example of the price a person may pay
for not having the courage to be themselves in a society that dictates its rules and punishes those who do not
obey, as Neil ultimately loses who he really is instead of standing up against the demand to fit in and proving

7
Comparing Dead Poet Society and Mona Lisa Smile - 893 Words | Cram. www.cram.com/essay/Comparing-Dead-Poet-
Society-And-Mona-Lisa/4FAF442CCD82D04B.

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himself, which leads to an awful end. Just as in the case of Mona Lisa Smile, the theme of Individualism versus
Conformity is addressed in the context of Wellesley College rich with the pertinence to the female education in
the early 1950s and entirely dedicated to the learning of women. This movie represent a society which are tied
by wives and house and maids who can only dream of marriage rather than dreaming of professions. Pushing
against this social background, Katherine Watson, an art history professor, invites her students to challenge
these conventional views and think outside the box regarding the difficulties of being a professional woman in
the scientific community. Still, she runs into trouble getting her social reform ideas through some of the
students, especially Betty Warren who very rigidly holds traditional gender roles, and she is not going to be
persuaded by Katherine to follow her new liberal teachings. Disregardingly of the initial skepticism, Katherine's
guidance changes the minds of those under her care to embrace their differences, to confront the system, and to
strive for realization without the constraints they might encounter along the way. The terminal shot of the movie
which shows that Betty prefers to make a carrier in law despite the society’s norms, represents the supremacy of
uniqueness against the conformity and also the positive impact on development. Even though "Dead Poets
Society" and "Mona Lisa Smile" enfold this topic from a bit different point of view (What educational
institutions, social conditions and periods of time are under consideration) the common aspects and
implications to human nature are present too. Whilst in both films the imperativeness of showing one's
uniqueness, interests, and personal values, even in the moment of society's tendency to let us conform, is clearly
presented. They reveal true strength of mentorship as well as friendship and the process of exploring the own
true self in being able to truly discover and grow as a person. Further, the two movies emphasize the impact of
submission like Neil’s destiny which hurts him to death in "Dead Poets Society" or the crippling restrictions of
their traditional women’s roles as is depicted in "Mona Lisa Smile." Moreover, these two films have the
complex issues of the characters as individuals taking their contexts and how they relate with their cultures.
Through the movie "Dead poets society" we come to understand, how the young boys have to fight with the
stereotypical demands of society, which are reflected in the structure of a traditional private boy's school.
Whereas the movie "Mona Lisa Smile" highlights the stories of women who struggle with conforming to
traditionally-male dominated environment, where they are not as much valued as men. The above dichotomy
and commonalities exists between the films while the overarching story of Humanity vs Conformity and it's
timeless exploration of the human qualities such as the autonomy, self-expression, and pursuit of personal
fulfillment are the major differentiators between the two stories and while the audience across generations
resonate with the films.8

8
“Dead Poets Society Themes | LitCharts.” LitCharts, www.litcharts.com/lit/dead-poets-society/themes.

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5. Gender Dynamics

The gender relations are key components of both "Dead Poets Society" and "Mona Lisa Smile" where they
define the situations of the characters and issues resolved in the films. Although these movies differ in their
settings of the diverse educational institutions—such as Welton Academy Boys School in "Dead Poets Society"
and the upper class Weleslie College for women in "Mona Lisa Smile" the stark differences reflected the
commentary about gender expectations on individuals and the immense struggle to break free from such
socially constructed constraints.

One of the few genders conveyed in "Dead Poets Society" is men’s paradigms by placing emphasis on the male
role within Welton Academy – an all-male, preparatory school. The movie shows the exceptionally patriarchal
environment. There, gender stereotyping is obviously revealed that implies the traditional masculinity is
worshiped based on authoritative manner and rigorous discipline. The males determine that they should
obediently conform to the narrowing of the usual social standards which often place on academic achievement
and the future success of unusual careers within the school and at home. John Keating, a freer and inclusive
English teacher, comes in and breaks the students’ conventional world's wall by asking them to imbibe
imaginativeness, individuality, and the ability to think beyond the norms. However, though Keating's influence
was clearly dominant, the film mostly concentrated on the experiences of male characters that involve matters
of masculinity, familial norms, and material achievement. Besides them the author explored the characters of
Neil Perry, Todd Anderson, and Knox Overstreet. The plot focuses on Neil's misery and shows the tragic
consequences of men failure to apply to the social norms; in this case, Neil confronts his passion for acting
which always collides with his father's strict projecting into Neil's future life that he must succeed academically
and afterwards find a stable career with clear prospects. The tragedy that she underwent is a pointer which
shows how society foils man’s individuality and self to blossom, especially among young men who are trying
hard to assert their identities amidst institutionalized environment.

While the latter, "Mona Lisa Smile" particularly revolves around the lives of women at Wellesley College in the
1950s, the early period when the conventional gender roles and barriers were as strongly as the picture in the
other movie. The presentation depicts a society in which women are highly valued because of their husband-
preference and home-duties, as compared to their own dreams and desires and thus, are not granted an
opportunity to follow their own ambitions and desires. Put under this background, Katherine Watson, art history
instructor, does not hesitate to treat her students as persons who can overcome the patriarchal power by
challenging the societal norms as well as to forge new career paths for themselves. In 'The White Lotus', among
the females (Betty Warren, Joan Brandwyn, Giselle Levy and Connie Baker), there is a journey of self-
discovery where the women represent individuals with their own desires, fears and aspirations, that are imposed
by the school culture. Betty serves as the symbol of internal dilemma concerning copying conventional
behaviour and the desire for novel ideas to replace the submissive ideologies of female role in the family as
wife and mother. Yet from the beginning to the end of the movie, Betty is changed and no more self-limited.
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She begins to doubt her original opinions and tries hard to realize that she has embarked on the road of her
career path as a lawyer. By means of Kate's leadership and counselling, the female characters in the flick see
that the connection between educating the girls and feminine liberation is emerging and, accordingly, they
become less conforming to the stereotypes and begin to act independently, which is the evidence of the leading
role of education and female friendship in the woman's struggle for equality.

Although "Dead poets society" and "Mona lisa smile" schedule their gender roles tendencies in diverse
educational environments over distinct periods, they overlap in the themes of rebellion, self-discovery, and the
pursuit of authenticity. 9While the movies present the struggles of who go against social conventions of gender
by none the less, creativeness, carriers of knowledge, and interaction between the sexes with a subtle
sophistication. Through the depiction of gender issues dilemmas originated from the society’s constraints, and
thus the role of education in dismantling these biased socio-cultural constraints and empowering the female
Identity, these two movies may take an audience into emotions and reflect on the gender struggle and the power
of education in emerging as the tool for liberation.

6. Critical Analysis

These movies, "Dead Poets Society" and "Mona Lisa Smile", bring to a knowledge a common theme:
education, society, and individualism—but they also are about how one may overcome structured
environments. In Mike Newell's "Mona Lisa Smile," a woman becomes a college professor despite the changes
in the social landscape of the 50s. However, in Peter Weir's "Dead Poets Society," a man becomes an English
teacher at a conservative girl's preparatory schools and they give the students the courage to do what they want
and what they love. The different background, plots variation, however, these two films share thematic elements
and they have many things in common. These movies are trying to show the role of them and influence of
society on education and rigid tradition.

The movie "Mona Lisa Smile" is a discussion on how far woman employment and societal presuppositions
have gone in the 1950s, especially in academic life. In the film, Katherine Watson, played by Julia Roberts,
becomes the focus, who tries to plow her students away from the usual viewpoints on the feminine image and to
pull them towards the goal of academic achievement. The burning of their school desks symbolizes this revolt
as well as the extent to which Watson has aroused rebelliousness among students, a phenomenon linking them
to that which society labels as uncouth. Butlyanki film questions teaching traditions and social patterns of
people, pointing up the problem of patriarchy being deeplyrooted in society and the pressing need of changing
approaches to students and colleagues.

9
“Mona Lisa Smile, Dead Poets Society, and the Subtle Sexism of How We View Movies.” Crooked Marquee, 3 Mar. 2024,
crookedmarquee.com/mona-lisa-smile-dead-poets-society-and-the-subtle-sexism-of-how-we-view-movies.

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The feature of the both expressions is the friction of development and tradition which presents the choice
between personal targets and social duties. "Mona Lisa Smile" shows that Katherine Watson's effort to
emancipate her students faces obstacles from the conservative, hitherto unchangeable views held by people in
the romanticized era of chivalry. However, "Dead Poets Society" also makes the point that John Keating's
endeavors to make students fall in love with literature and personalities are confronted by the school's rules of
strict observance to tradition and similarity. Nevertheless, both movies, in the end, are testimonies to the true
capacity of education to fight against the norms of the society and develop ourselves.10

In addition, both films are on the vastness of mentorship and how the instructors have a long-term impact on the
lives of their students. In "Mona Lisa Smile," Katherine Watson is a sort of role model who inspires her
students to develop their own opinions and follow their interests instead of pursuing something “acceptable”
under societal pressure. Similarly, in "Dead Poets Society," John Keating incites his students to pursue poetry
and to sieze the day, which are an inspiration and left up to him till they have not left the walls of the school.
Having recognized the students' individuality, thus, they always act as mentors, guiding them to precisely
understand the surrounding world system and create their own paths in life.

In conclusion, "Mona Lisa Smile" and "Dead Poets Society" are both deep-thinking movies which raise pointed
questions about difficulties of the life of coming of age and perferctive role of learning. From the look at topics
such as conc grininess, revolution as well as the role of mentorship, both films strike the audience causing every
spectator to think over the necessity of conformity to themselves even during difficult times. Even though they
deal with different environment and storyline, both the movies manifest the blessings of individualism and the
chase of happiness for the sake of self-realization and historical truth.

7. Conclusion

"Dead Poets Society" and "Mona Lisa Smile" capture the act of standing up against social dictates that
imprison one's mind and turning the course of life. Through tailor made teaching methods, the undertaking of
characters like John Keating and Katherine Watson drapes the minds of the students to think freely and avoid
bowing to conformity in the conservative environment of academia. Mentorship has been the defining factor
that has directed and cultivated to character’s growth which is prominent in their search for self acceptance
and the much needed strength to break the mould that has been created by the society. In "Mona Lisa Smile,"
females are depicted as trying to break the chain of male domination, while in "Dead Poets Society," the boys
appear to be rebellious and driven to change the system. Both movies function as powerful messages to us that
the kind of life we dream of and our conviction to fight against social norms for ourselves should always

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Sequence Analysis of Dead Poets Society and Mona Lisa... | 123 Help Me. www.123helpme.com/essay/Sequence-Analysis-
Of-Dead-Poets-Society-And-730552#google_vignette.

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prevail over our abilities. The realities of learning, the norms of society, and the process of growth are
captured extremely well by these movies. Unlike other films, the issues that are depicted in these films are
enduring and ever relevant. This is why they are always timeless because they give inspirational values in the
pursuit of personal identity and the state of affairs or life. The movies "Dead Poets Society" and "The Mona
Lisa Smile" feature the plots with dense character dialogue and expressive recreation of situations, leaving
audience members with the lingering impression that sticks with long after the final credits roll. They
represent strong symbols of the courage that the spirit of man possesses to defy difficulties and realizes how it
is through their liberty to be who they are and despite all odds, that they originate.

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