Symbolism In American Beauty

Happiness is the result of love. Lester pursues his own happiness by paying close attention to what he enjoys, his desires and ignores the alarming voice of his wife who embodies what society dictates is the right way or appropriate way to live life. Lester finds happiness in the things that are considered frowned upon by society like for example, smoking marijuana or pursuing a fifteen year old girl, who to top it off is his daughter’s best friend. He even decides to buy an old, ugly looking car and applies for a job at a fast food restaurant. Carolyn on the other hand does not agree with the rebirth of Lester. At this point it is blatantly clear that Lester and Carolyn’s definition of happiness is completely different. Carolyn’s happiness
is about perception, in other words, what other people on the outside perceive about her marriage and family life. For example, driving a nice car, having a good job, wearing a nice suit and having her white couches clean is what equates to happiness. Thus, Carolyn is not living her life, she is living for others. Many of the issues that the characters have comes from their failure to develop their own identity. Lester was stuck between the horrible things his wife, boss and daughter made him out to be. However, he eventually knew better and realized that he is not worthless and that he can tell himself what to do, when he wants to do it, without other voices telling him he can’t. Angela thinks that her identity is based on her sexuality and what it transmits. She believes that her sexuality is the answer and solution to anything and that with it she can obtain anything she wants, even if that means trying to seduce her best friend’s father to get her point across. Colonel Fitts is another character who struggles majorly with his identity. At first he appears to be a strong, strict, exigent and homophobic person but then things take a sharp turn. He beats his son for thinking that he was having some sort of sexual relationship with Lester, but turns out he liked men himself. The power of identity and uncovering a disguise is so intense towards the end of the film. Colonel Fitts kills Lester because he revealed to Lester that he likes men and that he wanted to be loved by Lester. In “American Beauty” it is evident that some of the characters are going through middle age changes.
Carolyn is going through menopause, she is often irritated, hot flashes and does not realize that her attitude is driving away her husband and ruining her marriage. Lester is in the male climactic stage because as previously stated he reevaluates his life and marriage. In the beginning he had low self-confidence and loss of interest. He feared aging and that is probably why he started dressing more causal and not in a suit, he began to smoke and began to have fantasies with a teenage girl. Lester started hanging out with Ricky who was in high school instead of guys his own age. In fact when he and Carolyn went to the formal party he was not interested in being there, he was bored and didn’t socialize with those people who were his own age. My views on middle adulthood have remained the same, however I have noticed that married couples who love each other even when getting to middle age, have a less likelihood to go through midlife crisis or at least not as much as Lester and Carolyn, rather than couples who fall out of love before getting to middle age. In conclusion, “American Beauty” teaches the audience that it is important to pursue our happiness no matter our age, status, sexual orientation nor societal
norms.