Richard Cameron Character Analysis in Dead Poets Society

Richard Cameron (who just goes by “Cameron”) is a stiff, overly obedient student at Welton, and one of the novel’s most overtly villainous characters. Unlike his classmates, Cameron is skeptical of John Keating from the very beginning, and he echoes Headmaster Nolan’s criticisms of Keating. While Cameron attends meetings of the Dead Poets Society, he does so very reluctantly, since he’s terrified of being caught and expelled from Welton. After Neil Perry’s suicide, Cameron distances himself from the Dead Poets and informs on his classmates, ensuring that Keating is fired.

Richard Cameron Character Timeline in Dead Poets Society

The timeline below shows where the character Richard Cameron appears in Dead Poets Society. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...some of Welton’s students to define the four pillars of success. He calls on Richard Cameron, the student carrying the “tradition” banner, to define tradition, and Cameron immediately shouts out, “the... (full context)

The boys enter their dormitory. Cameron tells Neil that Neil’s roommate is a “stiff,” without seeing that Todd Anderson is standing... (full context)

Life, Death, and “Carpe Diem” Theme Icon

...school. They agree that they’ll be in the same study group that year, reluctantly including Cameron, who’s a “brown-noser.” Meeks and Knox introduce themselves to Todd, and immediately begin talking about... (full context)

...“Carpe Diem.” Abruptly, the bell rings. After class, Neil observes that the lesson was “different.” Cameron worries that Mr. Keating is going to test them on what he talked about, but... (full context)

...mentions that he’s having dinner with the Danburrys, a family his father knows well—and, as Cameron informs the rest, major Welton alumni donors. Neil sees Todd lost in thought, and invites... (full context)

...evening, Neil suggests that everyone sneak out to the old cave—a traditional Welton meeting place. Cameron is reluctant to join, but eventually he, along with Pitts, Knox, Meeks, Charlie, agree to... (full context)

At the Dead Poets Society meeting that afternoon, Charlie, Knox, Meeks, Cameron, Todd, and Pitts go to the cave and read from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. Knox... (full context)

Back in the cave, Neil, Cameron, and Charlie are outside, gathering logs for a fire. Charlie / Nuwunda explains that he’s... (full context)

...Welton, the Dead Poets, Virginia, and Chris go to the cave, though they notice that Cameron has left at some point. As they sit down, Mr. Keating appears. The boys ask... (full context)

Later that day, back in their dormitory, Meeks tells the Dead Poets that Cameron is talking to Headmaster Nolan right now—explaining everything about the Dead Poets Society. Charlie nods,... (full context)

Suddenly, Cameron enters the dorm. Charlie accuses Cameron of “finking,” but Cameron denies it—he claims he just... (full context)

Charlie runs at Cameron and punches him in the face. Cameron staggers back, but begins to laugh—“You just signed... (full context)

...nods curtly to Keating, then asks his students what authors they’ve been studying all year. Cameron eagerly reports that they’ve done the Romantics—but not, Nolan points out, the realists. Nolan instructs... (full context)

Keating packs up his things, listening to Cameron read the essay. Suddenly, Todd jumps up and says, “They made everybody sign it!” As... (full context)