While there were many factors, which led to Neil's death Keating played a major role. He was Neil's inspiration and role model. It was predominantly Keating's actions that led to Neil's death. Keating held very Romantic ideals which clashed with the schools teachings and set the Dead Poet society members against the school and authority figures like Neil's father.
Keating led Neil to believe he could have the support of his parents and an acting career. Throughout the movie Keating encourages the boys to 'seize the day', and 'suck the marrow out of life. He endorses Neil's desire to act, despite the fact that it was completely against Neil's fathers' rules and the schools objectives, which, as a former student and teacher he must have known. …