Unveiling Speech Acts in Dead Poets Society (1989): A Pragmatic Analysis of Educational Discourse in Film
A Pragmatic Analysis of Educational Discourse in Film
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29303/goescienceed.v7i4.3577Keywords:
Speech Acts; Pragmatics; Educational Discourse; Dead Poets Society; Character Education.Abstract
This study investigates the operation and impact of speech acts within the educational discourse of the film Dead Poets Society (1989), focusing on the utterances of the main character, Mr. Keating. Using a descriptive qualitative approach grounded in Speech Act Theory and Cognitive Pragmatics, the research analyzes how poetic, symbolic, and implicit speech acts function to foster character development in students. The sample was selected through purposive sampling from key classroom and outdoor interaction scenes. Findings reveal that Mr. Keating employs poetic speech acts to deconstruct rigid academic dogmas, symbolic speech acts (bound to physical actions) to challenge institutional conformity, and implicit speech acts to prompt cognitive self-reflection and internalize moral reasoning. Rather than relying on authoritarian mandates, his communicative style systematically cultivates critical thinking, autonomy, self-actualization, and self-control among students. The study concludes that layered pragmatic communication in pedagogical settings serves as a powerful vehicle for holistic character education.
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