Mr. John Keating is an alumnus of Welton Academy. Keating, “[i]n his early thirties, [has] brown hair and brown eyes, [and is] of medium height—an average looking man” (6). He quickly gains the affection and allegiance of his new class of young boys, who begin to find their voice through his unconventional teaching methods. More than anything, he prioritizes the nurturing of young minds and resists the conformity that Welton is known for producing in its students.

Mr. Keating makes school, specifically poetry, exciting for a group of boys who typically feel trapped by their scholarly duties. He asks the class to address him either as Mr. Keating or as “O Captain! My Captain!” (24), as an homage to the Walt Whitman poem written about Abraham Lincoln. He strives to help the boys see the potential for their lives outside of the expectations their parents have set for them. He successfully teaches them about the beauty and importance of words, ideas, and, ultimately, life itself.

The teacher loves each of his students, but he fills an important fatherly role for a few specific students. Mr. Keating is the first person to truly make Todd, who feels overlooked by his parents, feel seen, and as if his words have meaning.