Family Values

A detailed Summary of 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 facade of what a "normal family" should be.

In the second family, Frank (the father), is a Colonel in the Marine Corps and is a

Ricky is a troubled teenager because he is abused both mentally and physically by his

rates, single-parent households, remarriage, domestic violence and stresses of urban life

Approximate Word count = 1060
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Movies

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