“Carpe Diem” A Robin William’s Compilation (from Dead Poets Society)

Monologue Name: Carpe Diem
Writer: Ken Thompson, compiled a few speaking parts from Dead Poets Society
Character Name: John Keating, Teacher.
Adult Gender Neutral

Robin (John Keating) inspires his students to live lives true to themselves.

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“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, carpe diem…Seize the day…

Words and ideas…No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world…

Now I would like you to step forward…Over here, and peruse some of these faces from the past…

They’re not that different from you, are they?…They believe they’re destined for great things, just like many of you. Their eyes are full of hope, just like you…

Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable?… Because, you see class, these guys are now fertilizing daffodils…

You must strive to find your own voice! Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all…Thoreau said, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Don’t be resigned to that. Break out!

Just when you think you know something, you have to look at it in another way. Even though it may seem silly or wrong, you must try! When you read, don’t just consider what the author thinks. Consider what you think!…

Now we all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular, even though the herd may go (imitating a goat) “that’s baaaaad”…Robert Frost said, “Two roads diverged in the wood and I, I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.”

…There’s a time for daring and there’s a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for…

The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse…The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse…What will your verse be?”