- "You just signed your expulsion papers, Nuwanda"
- — Cameron to Charlie
Richard Cameron, mostly known as Cameron was a Dead Poets Society member and a Welton Academy student.
Biography[]
Richard is another student at Welton Academy, and was friends with Neil and the other boys. He was a member of the Welton Society Candidates, debate club, crew team, Service Club, forensics, and Honor Council while at Welton. In contrast to his friends, Richard Cameron was rather unconvinced by Mr. Keating's teachings, and was hesitant to join the group's meetings in the cave. Surprisingly, Cameron was the second member to join the DPS after Charlie.
When Neil Perry died, he, along with Headmaster Gale Nolan and Tom Perry falsely blamed John Keating for Neil's death, Cameron turned in himself and the remaining Dead Poets Society members to save his friends from expulsion, resulting in his exile from the group as well as being punched by Charlie.
Personality[]
Cameron is a morally grey character. Despite his loyalties to the Dead Poets, Cameron is still vehemently afraid of getting in any trouble but decides to follow the rest of the group's actions anyway, often to the annoyed behest of his roommate Charlie Dalton. He is an avid rule-follower who tries to do what he believes is right, at times leading to brown-nosing.
Cameron is very protective of himself and his reputation, as seen when he turns in the rest of the Dead Poets Society to prevent his own and their expulsion because he genuinely cared for his friends. Even after years of being brainwashed by a system that made them believe anything authorities say, Cameron did what he thought he had to do to help out the group and himself, due to him naturally not wanting to get expelled from school, not everyone has the money Charlie had to fall back on and can afford to get expelled from one of the best schools in the United States.
Relationships[]
Charlie Dalton[]
According to the sub-context of Charlie’s line when referring to being Cameron’s roommate was “not his fault”, it seems Charlie does not like Cameron from the start. Charlie and Cameron are complete opposites.
This animosity for Cameron grows in Charlie when he ‘finks’ to Mr. Nolan about the Dead Poets Society and when Cameron blames Mr. Keating for Neil’s suicide. Charlie is more than willing to punch Cameron over this betrayal, implying bad blood. Additionally Richard Cameron is more than willing to inform Mr. Nolan what happened, remarking: "You just signed your expulsion papers, Nuwanda".
Neil Perry[]
Throughout the entirety of Dead Poets Society, Neil Perry seems to be the only character who is even remotely kind to Cameron. Neil can be seen attempting to include Cameron is group activities (much to Charlie's dismay) in the beginning of the film. It is safe to assume that Neil Perry might even be Richard's only actual friend.
Trivia[]
- Richard Cameron is the only member of the Dead Poets Society to not stand during the protest of Mr. Keating’s firing, although many students who were not apart of the Dead Poets Society took part.
- It can be speculated that Cameron is meant to be Charlie’s foil character. While he is an avid rule follower, Charlie is rebellious and is willing to defy authority. This might also be part of the reason why they are roommates, as the headmaster may have wanted Cameron to be a good influence on Charlie.
- He had a choice to make and choose what seemed right to him. He's not bad, he just followed what seemed right to him even if it was a mistake.
- His specialty is boot licking
Quotes[]
“You can’t save Keating, but you can save yourselves!”
"Yeah, Knox, we're from the government, we're here to help."
“Let keating fry!”
"Hey, I heard that you got a new kid. Looks like a stiff! Ha, ha! ... OOOOPPSSS"