Steel Magnolias Character Analysis

The movie I chose is Steel Magnolias; the character is Shelby. The movie begins on Shelby’s wedding day to Jackson Latcherie. Shelby is the only daughter of M’Lynn and Drum Eatenton; and has two younger brothers, Tommy and Jonathan. M’Lynn is very protective of Shelby because she is a diabetic and has had fragile health since childhood. Shelby appears in the movie in early adulthood; the movie does not address Shelby’s progression from stages one thru five. She is introduced to the viewers in Erikson’s sixth stage of psycho-social development, Intimacy vs. Isolation. This stage of development focuses on forming intimate loving relationships leading to long- term commitment with someone other than a family member (McLeod, 2008). Shelby’s primary concern, after marriage, is starting a family of her own; this progresses Shelby to Erikson’s seventh stage, Generativity vs.
In the seventh stage, we establish our careers, settle down within a relationship, begin our own families and develop a sense of being a part of a bigger picture (McLeod, 2008). Shelby had an established nursing career and desired starting her own family. Because of health related concerns associated with diabetes and the strain on her body from child birth, Shelby had been advised against conceiving children. Although Shelby was aware of the risks of conceiving children, she was determined to start her own family. Shelby conceived and gave birth to a son, Jackson Jr. She showed positive signs of resolution of stage six and progression thru stage seven of development as evidenced by her happy marriage, the birth of her son and her established nursing career. However, Shelby was unable to resolve stage seven and progress to stage eight, Integrity vs. Despair, due to her untimely death in young