American Beauty: A Psychological Analysis
Critic Gary Hentzi (2000) suggested that the film, American Beauty, encompasses an explication of the emotional sleepwalking that passes for life in the typical middle-class and upper-middle class American suburb. In the film, the Burnham family û Lester, wife Carolyn, and daughter Jane û experience a series of crises that eventually ensure that their family will be destroyed. In this brief report, three psychological concepts (depression, passive-aggressive personality disorder, and sexual dysfunctions affected the male) will be identified and then considered in light of the film and some of its central characters.
The first psychological concept is depression, which has been characterized by Sharp and Lipsky (2002) as the second most common chronic disorder seen by primary care physicians. Depression occurs in children, adults, adolescents and the elderly, manifesting as a combination of feelings of sadness, loneliness, irritability, worthlessness, hopelessness, agitation, and guilt. It can be accompanied by somatic symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, pain, loss of interest in sexual activity, or multiple, persistent, vague symptoms (Sharp & Lipsky, 2002).
The concept of depression can be applied to the character of Lester Burnham in the film. Burnham has arrived at a critical point in his life as the film begins. His job, as a writer for a media magazine, is no longer fulfilling. When Lester learns that he is about to be fired, he blackmails his boss and acquires a year's severance pay. As West (1999) commented, Lester's new idea of freedom and new way of coping with unemployment and a failing marriage is to revert to his youth, begin to use marijuana, listen to rock music, and rebuild his body.
He is depressed by his inability to make any meaningful connection with either his wife or his daughter, frequently irritable, sad, lonely, and at times quite agit...