Comparing Self Discovery in American Beauty and Hermann Hesse's Demian

Self image is crucial for an individual’s sense of well being. It can also be a source for their identity and dreams for the future. As well, others’ impressions of the individual considerably affects their view of themselves. This interaction can either build their self esteem or tear it down. In his short story, “The Glass Roses”, Alden Nowlan explores the idea that when an individual is coming of age and is struggling to determine their identity, how others’ perceive them - specifically father figures - deeply influences how they perceive themselves. Stephen, the protagonist, is a fifteen year old boy on the cusp of adulthood working in his father’s woodcutting company. As he finds fascination in beauty and feels enslaved by the work, he fails to gain his father’s approval and falls to depression. Fortunately, he forms a friendship with the Polack, who provides a kinder definition of being a man as well as a hope for the future.

When I was told to choose a movie to perform a psychoanalysis on a character. I did not know what movie to choose. After watching the two hour long film on the multiple characters that seemed to be struggling to find their inner happiness: American Beauty. I knew that I should not look any further. One character that especially stood out was, Lester Burnham. A forty-two year old father with a mid-life crisis. In the film, American Beauty Lester Burnham is portrayed as an ordinary man, with a perfect life, but of course that is far from the truth. From the outside, Lester seems to have a perfect salary, and a perfect family who lives in a perfect neighborhood. In reality, things are not

In life, people are not always who they appear to be. Today, a lot of people act like someone their not, to be “cool” or perfect. We see this demonstrated in both “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara and “Tied to Zelda” by David Rice. In “Raymond’s Run,” the fictional character Squeaky sees a common problem. All the girls never really smile. They’re too busy being someone their not. In “Tied to Zelda,” Alfonso does not like to be around Zelda because of her “rough and tough” self. In the end, he sees the truth about Zelda’s personality and becomes her friend. These stories are very different, however, if you look closely you will see a common theme. The author teaches us that one can be someone on the outside, but a whole nother person

Ricky displays determination as he does not attempt to receive help from the child service. The climax of the film is when Ricky and Hec crashed their truck, causing authorities to surround them because of Ricky and Hec’s encounter with the three hunters. Ricky gave the characteristics of a molester to describe Hector. The three hunters had a stronger impression of Hector being an molester. Hec was ready to be imprisoned, while Ricky did not want to give up. Ricky’s use of gestures, allows him to display determination to not give up without trying.

Writing short stories is common for most writers but the writer must give a powerful message in as few pages as they can. While comparing and contrasting short stories “Harrison Bergeron” written by Kurt Vonnegut, and “A Saucer of Loneliness” written by Theodore Sturgeon, I found that both stories were science fiction and they both offer scenarios to fascinating what if situations. In this case, both stories answer what if questions to situations where the government controls, but they also relay hidden personal meaning.

What insights into the American Dream are offered through the novella Of Mice and Men and the film American Beauty? In your essay you must consider the influences of context and the importance of techniques in shaping meaning.

Compare and contrast the ways in which the American Dream is presented through Walter Younger in Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘ A Raisin in the Sun’ and Willy Lehman in Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of the Salesman’

A long time ago the difference between perception and reality was defined as the act of understanding in contrast to the act of being real. Reality could be tricky; most of us including myself depending on scenarios of our lives tend to give in to ideas which are not applicable to reality as a whole. The best example of this is written in the short story “All Over” by Guy de Maupassant. In which his main character Lormerin is very self conscious and narcissistic also Lise de Vance, a former old love plays a big role in hurting Lormerin ego and opening his eyes by showing him, his real self. Many would say that when reality knocks it could be harsh and confusing. In the next couple of

The American Dream, a concept of which every American is granted equal opportunity allowing the highest aspirations to be achieved and every person to live a better, richer and fuller life. Throughout films “The Great Gatsby” and “The Truman Show” directors Baz Luhrman and Peter Weir both depict a message to society presenting the unfulfilling reality of this pursuit. Both directors present this idea through the use of stylistic features, film techniques and conventions including setting, costuming, characterisation, structure, style, camera angles, sound and lighting.

American Beauty is a movie that sets in suburban America. The story is about Lester, whom is a middle-aged writer working in a magazine company. He was having a midlife crisis where he felt lonely and numbed by continuous unchanging routine of his everyday life. In the movie, his wife portrayed as a successful real estate agent, but she was also going through her own midlife crisis in both her career and personal life. Lester’s daughter, Jane Bumham had alienated her parents and was going through puberty. They have a new neighbor who is a U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Frank Fitts, and he has a son, Ricky Fitts, who is a drug dealer. Lester was going to get fired from his company that he had worked for fourteen

“American Beauty”, the 1999 film, is a motion picture that more or less shows a different side of the average suburban family. Although all of the characters have significant issues, I have chosen to take a closer look at Lester Burnham. Lester Burnham is a 42-year-old businessman who is married to the career-obsessed Carolyn and they have one daughter, a teenager named Jane. One of the first scenes of the movie explains how the family works: Carolyn is driving, just like she “drives” the family, Jane is sitting right next to her in the front seat, and Lester is slouched in the backseat, visually becoming more miserable by the second.

Each character in the novel has their own interpretation of the ‘American Dream – the pursuit of happiness’ as they all lack happiness due to the

   Happiness is defined as enjoying, showing, or characterized by pleasure; joyous; contented. Based on this definition we all search for happiness our entire lives. Two very different stories address this idea of the quest for happiness. M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang is the story of a man named Gallimard who is longing for his love "Butterfly" to return to him. John Deeney describes it as him, clinging to his idea of a "Perfect Woman" to the end by costuming himself into the victimized Butterfly though his final suicide. Although Gallimard’s infatuation with Song sometimes makes him cut a rather ridiculous figure, his dead seriousness at the end evokes a certain amount of pathos and

Blaze Dunn is perfect. His charisma charms all of those around him. His extensive knowledge on any conceivable subject impresses even the most highly esteemed thinker. He exudes poise, well-kempt and elegant from head to toe. The most impressive quality about his perfection, however, is the organicity of it. Or so it seems. To the naked eye, Blaze was born with the world wrapped around his finger. But to someone with inside information, it becomes abundantly clear that Blaze’s “perfection” is an optical illusion. Blaze lets his compulsive need to appear flawless to those around him overpower his conscience, as he will achieve so-called perfection by any means necessary.. When Alan adopts all of Blaze’s qualities, admirable and otherwise, the

    In Arthur Miller’s Death of A Salesman and Edward Albee’s The American Dream, Willy Lowman and Mommy possess the trait of superficiality. Their priorities are to look good and be liked, and this contributes to their misguided paths to reach success. This attribute is one of many societal criticisms pointed out by both authors. Arthur Miller criticizes society for perceiving success as being liked and having good looks. He illustrates society’s perception through Willy, who thinks the keys to success are being popular and attractive. Willy transmits this philosophy to his sons by ignoring their education and personal growth and setting an example that popularity is most