I have seen this movie countless times. I decided to watch it again tonight. The scene with Todd and Neil when Todd gets the desk set for his birthday for the 2nd time always stood out to me as Todd being nothing more than an after thought to his family. Likely in turn making him how he was, being timid and feeling like he was not important and afraid to complete the poetry assignment earlier in the film.
Then there of course is the scene where Neil takes his own life at his father’s desk because his father was just the opposite of Neil’s family. All he did was focus on Neil and what the father believed Neil was to be with out any regard for Neil’s feelings or thoughts.

Never noticed it before but on the desk is a desk set that is eerily similar, if not the same, to the one Todd was given as a gift.

Does the desk set have a significance or am I just over thinking it as that is just something that would have be rather typical gift and standard place on an office desk in the 1950s?

I've seen a few videos over the years which discuss the movie in depth, but never has anyone pointed out any significance to the desk set.

“If I were to ever buy a desk set…twice, I would
probably buy this one. Both times”

typical over thinking

The desk, in the movie, is a symbol of confinement and repression. "Working at a desk" is the safe, expected, respectable way of life. Same with learning at your desk while in school, which is why it's important when Keating takes them away from their desks to learn or... when they ultimately stand on top of their desks.

Nothing to add to the desk set issue, just wanted to say thank you for posting this. I'm going to watch it again tonight as it is one of my all time favorite movies.

While I never cared much for Robin Williams' silly humor, he was a genius in his dramatic roles.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
The desk, in the movie, is a symbol of confinement and repression. "Working at a desk" is the safe, expected, respectable way of life. Same with learning at your desk while in school, which is why it's important when Keating takes them away from their desks to learn or... when they ultimately stand on top of their desks.

Interesting.