The American dream is something that has been desired since the creation of the united states with immigrants coming from all over for a fresh start and an opportunity for great success and financial freedom. The definition of the American dream can mean different things to people but to some people the American dream usually means having the freedom to own your own property, living a dignified life, and financial success. The movie “American Beauty” shows what can happen when one achieves the American dream and it is not what many would expect.
Lester Burnham is a twisted, restless, and bored middle aged man, who is married to the other main character Carolyn Burnham. Together they have a typical teenage daughter Jane Burnham, who hates everything about her father. Every day in Lester’s life is the same and when his boss finds Lester of no importance, he wants him to quit his job. After talking to the next-door neighbor’s son Ricky Fitts, Lester starts thinking “When a person has got nothing to lose, one might as well risk everything?” He quit his job and to keep his spirits high, he decides to make a few changes in his life and he starts being happier the freer he gets. Ricky and Lester become good friends, partly because Ricky smokes a lot of pot and afterward he starts selling it to Lester. It got him to start thinking back to how happy he was when he was eighteen, working in a burger stand, going out with a lot of girls, and generally having no responsibility. Lester falls for Jane’s best friend Angela, who is the same age as her. Meanwhile, Jane gets embarrassed over her father which develops to more hate against him. At the same time, Lester is sexually frustrated but tries to be peaceful and accepts everything his wife tells him, but when things finally start to seem out of control he becomes uncontrollable. One night he smashes his plate on the wall and he even tells his wife that she doesn’t get to tell him what to do ever again. This is the time in the film where he gets out of the passive mode and speaks against his dominant and selfish wife.
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