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Rebel Without A Cause

Rebel Without A Cause, released in 1955, was a first in its portrayal of three troubled adolescents struggling with the chaos, identity crisis, and inability to relate to their parents typical of adolescent development. If we look at each teenager and their family “unit”, we can understand the crises they experienced more fully.

The opening of the film shows Jim Stark, a drunken teen, lying on a street with his toy monkey. The monkey is a symbol that Jim is still immature and innocent on some level. He is picked up by the authorities and taken to the police station’s juvenile division. Jim’s family unit consists of a weak, ineffectual father who cow-tows to his domineering wife who is concerned only with social aspirations and acceptance. They live in a well-to-do middle-class suburb of Los Angeles. They arrive at the station embarrassed and upset they had to leave their fancy country club dinner. Jim is alienated and confused and he blames his parents constant arguments for the situation. He perceives his father as a “chicken” for taking his mother’s abuse, something he refuses to be among his peers. Jim admits they move often because they think it will resolve his habitual behavior of “messing up.” The only really responsible adult portrayed in this film which glamorizes teenage angst is Ray, a caring juvenile-offender officer. Jim explains the situation to Ray:

Jim: They think they can protect me by moving around all the time.

Ray: You had a good start in the wrong direction back there. Why’d you do it?

Ray: And your folks didn’t understand?

Jim: They never do. They think that I can make friends if we move. Just move—everything will be roses and sunshine.

Jim’s parents are presented as indifferent conformists, and we see what Jim means because hi

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Rebel Without A Cause. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 20:00, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1686210.html