Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

Do you think you come from a dysfunctional family? What would you do if you suffered from a mid life crisis, had a bitchy wife, a daughter who hates you, and were stuck in a dead-end job? Lester Burnham, whether thought selfish or not, turned his life around and as some may think, took the low road. Many argue that family comes first no matter if you’re happy or not. Should parents sacrifice themselves for the sake of their children? In Lester and Carolyn’s case, their number one concerns should have been the little girl they brought into the world. American Beauty is a story about “a typical suburban, American family; or, at least, they desperately want to appear to be,” comments Drake Streetman (Streetman, par. 1). The Burnham’s are a dysfunctional family living in a nice house, in a nice neighborhood, and in a nice suburb. Lester and his wife Carolyn are both middle-aged, out of love, and sexually unfulfilled. Lester is about to lose his job, while Carolyn's l