American Beauty: A Psychological Analysis.
In Sam Mendes 1998 dark film, American Beauty, upon cursory examination the main characters in the film appear only to provide a an example of people whose poor choices and unfortunate fate lead to their ultimate problems and even death. But upon a deeper examination, one is clearly able to perceive the deeper psychological problems that plague the major characters and influence their poor decision-making. The main characters include Lester Burnhan, a father and husban in an obvious mid life crisis, Angela, his daughters sexpot best friend who is a clear case of narcissistic personality disorder, and Colonel Fitts, Lester's next door neighbor and obvious homophobic. .
The main character in the film, Lester Burnham externally appears to have an ideal life. In the beginning of the movie, others perceive him as a happy family man but Lester informs only the viewers of the extent to which his life has become unpleasant, repetitious, and essential unfulfilling. A midlife crisis is described as a "process of intensive transition of the self including the reinterpretation of time perspective, reevaluation of life's values and goals, confrontation with death as a personal event in the future, and planning for the second half of life" (Anderson 1). Throughout the course of the film Lester addresses all of these topics and his actions contribute to the fact that he must be undergoing a common Mid Life crisis, however absurd his actions may seem. One of the most unambiguous signs of a mid life crisis is the confrontation of death as a personal event in the future. Lester shows that he has accepted his death at the beginning of the film when he declares that in less than a year he will be dead. At the time of his death, Lester also faces the topic personally. After Lester is shot, he recalls what events flash through his mind in the few seconds following his death.