Family Values
In viewing American Beauty, I feel the film confirms that family values do not resemble the “traditional family” of yesterday. Firstly, in the film, we can see that each of the families involved are dysfunctional. Lester, (the father) is obviously suffering from a mid-life crisis and sees that his marriage is failing. He tries to communicate with his daughter (Jane), who has already made her decision that her family is in jeopardy. Jane is probably the only person in her family that is considered “ordinary”. Jane’s mother (Caroline) is also “suffering” in the sense that she too, is miserable in the marriage. But, she would rather keeps things quiet for the sake of the family. She keeps herself occupied by gardening and working outside of the house. In other words, Caroline is in denial that her family is collapsing. Both women in the family do not respect Lester, because he does not show authority and affection, nor does he give any contribution in the day to day events; as if he never exists. Lester’s family is a façade of what a “normal family” should be. In the second family, Frank (the father), is a Colonel in the Marine Corps and is a
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Some common words found in the essay are:
American Beauty, Marine Corps, Jim Jim, american beauty, , doesnt exist, family values, jim jim,
Approximate Word count = 1060
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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