American Beauty (1999)

Brief Intro

Welcome to the whimsical yet poignant world of “American Beauty,” a film directed by Sam Mendes that dives deep into the complexities of suburban life. Released in 1999, this movie masterfully blends dark comedy with intense drama, exploring themes of beauty, identity, and the pursuit of happiness. Starring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening, “American Beauty” is a cinematic gem that uses a plethora of literary devices to weave its unforgettable narrative.

Literary Devices Used in American Beauty

Here’s a look at ten literary devices utilized in the film, with specific examples from various scenes:

Symbolism

Movie Scene	Example
The opening shot of Lester Burnham floating underwater in his pool	Symbolizes his entrapment and desire for freedom
The red rose petals associated with Angela	Symbolize desire and unattainable beauty

Irony

Movie Scene	Example
Lester’s narration about his perfect life while showing his mundane reality	Highlights the discrepancy between appearance and reality
Carolyn’s obsession with success while her personal life crumbles	Underlines the ironic failure behind her facade of success

Foreshadowing

Movie Scene	Example
Lester’s opening narration about his imminent death	Sets the tone for the film and hints at the tragic end
Ricky’s fascination with death	Foreshadows the climactic revelation and Lester’s death

Metaphor

Movie Scene	Example
The plastic bag dancing in the wind	Represents the beauty in the mundane and the fragility of life
Lester’s transformation from a ‘dead’ man to a ‘free’ man	Metaphor for rebirth and self-discovery

Juxtaposition

Movie Scene	Example
Happy suburban facade vs. the troubled interior lives of the characters	Highlights the contrast between appearance and reality
Lester’s daydreams about Angela vs. his real-life interactions	Emphasizes his dissatisfaction and longing for something more

Motif

Movie Scene	Example
The recurring image of red roses	Represents beauty, desire, and the superficiality of suburban life
The use of mirrors	Reflects the characters’ self-perception and duality

Hyperbole

Movie Scene	Example
Lester’s dramatic declaration of quitting his job	Highlights his extreme dissatisfaction and desire for change
Carolyn’s obsessive cleaning of her car	Exaggerates her need for control and perfection

Allusion

Movie Scene	Example
Ricky’s reference to Nazi propaganda films	Alludes to themes of control and manipulation
Lester’s mention of the American Dream	Alludes to the pursuit of happiness and its disillusionment

Allegory

Movie Scene	Example
The entire film as a critique of suburban life	Serves as an allegory for the emptiness and superficiality of the American Dream
Lester’s journey	Represents a quest for personal liberation and authenticity

Imagery

Movie Scene	Example
The vibrant red of the rose petals against the monochrome background	Enhances the visual appeal and symbolic meaning
The contrasting lighting in different scenes	Creates mood and emphasizes themes of darkness and light

Character Analysis Through Literary Devices

Character Studies

Lester Burnham

Literary Device	Explanation
Symbolism	Lester’s imprisonment in his life is symbolized through scenes like the underwater shot
Irony	His sarcastic narration juxtaposes his actual miserable existence

Carolyn Burnham

Literary Device	Explanation
Juxtaposition	Carolyn’s exterior success contrasts with her interior chaos
Motif	The recurring cleaning scenes highlight her need for control

Jane Burnham

Literary Device	Explanation
Metaphor	Jane’s transformation mirrors the film’s theme of self-discovery
Imagery	Scenes with Jane and Ricky emphasize youth and vulnerability

Character Dynamics

Lester and Carolyn Burnham

Literary Device	Explanation
Juxtaposition	Their contrasting desires highlight the disintegration of their marriage
Irony	Both seek happiness in ways that lead them further apart

Jane Burnham and Ricky Fitts

Literary Device	Explanation
Foreshadowing	Ricky’s interest in filming dead things foreshadows the climax
Symbolism	Their relationship symbolizes a search for authenticity amidst falsehoods

Lester Burnham and Angela Hayes

Literary Device	Explanation
Hyperbole	Lester’s fantasies about Angela are exaggerated to highlight his midlife crisis
Allusion	Angela represents the unattainable American Dream, tying into broader themes of disillusionment

Thematic Analysis

Beauty vs. Ugliness

Literary Device	Explanation
Symbolism	The red roses symbolize superficial beauty contrasted with inner ugliness
Imagery	The contrasting visuals of suburban perfection vs. personal imperfection

Freedom vs. Confinement

Literary Device	Explanation
Metaphor	Lester’s ‘awakening’ represents his struggle for freedom
Juxtaposition	The confining suburban life vs. moments of liberating self-discovery

Identity and Transformation

Literary Device	Explanation
Motif	Mirrors are used to reflect the characters’ changing identities
Allegory	Lester’s journey symbolizes the quest for true identity and self-fulfillment

The American Dream

Literary Device	Explanation
Allusion	References to the American Dream critique its hollow pursuit
Irony	The characters’ pursuit of the dream leads to their downfall

Cinematic Techniques That Enhance Literary Devices

Visual and Sound Techniques

Literary Device	Technique	Explanation
Symbolism	Color Palette	Use of vibrant reds to symbolize beauty and desire
Irony	Camera Angles	Contrasting close-ups and wide shots to emphasize disparity between perception and reality
Metaphor	Lighting	Use of light and shadow to represent Lester’s journey from darkness to enlightenment
Juxtaposition	Editing	Rapid cuts between contrasting scenes to highlight differences in character experiences
Motif	Set Design	Recurrent imagery like mirrors and roses to reinforce themes
Hyperbole	Music	Exaggerated musical cues to emphasize dramatic moments
Allusion	Dialogue Delivery	References delivered with a specific tone to evoke broader cultural or historical meanings
Allegory	Cinematography	Visual storytelling techniques to create deeper symbolic meanings
Imagery	Visual Effects	Use of striking visuals to enhance thematic expression
Foreshadowing	Sound Design	Subtle sound cues that hint at future events

Key Scene Analysis

Scene Selection

1. Opening Scene: Lester’s Narration and Suburban Overview
   • Link to scene
   • Breakdown: This scene sets the tone of the film, introducing Lester’s dissatisfaction and foreshadowing his fate. The use of irony and symbolism is prominent as his narration contrasts with the visuals of suburban monotony.
2. Plastic Bag Scene
   • Link to scene
   • Breakdown: Ricky shows Jane a video of a plastic bag dancing in the wind. This scene uses metaphor and imagery to express the beauty in the mundane and the transient nature of life.
3. Lester’s Confrontation with Carolyn
   • Link to scene
   • Breakdown: The tension between Lester and Carolyn reaches its peak. Juxtaposition and irony highlight their conflicting desires and the breakdown of their relationship.
4. Lester’s Fantasy Sequences
   • Link to scene
   • Breakdown: Lester’s daydreams about Angela are rich with hyperbole and symbolism, reflecting his midlife crisis and unfulfilled desires.

Conclusion

Let’s wrap up with a fun interactive quiz to test your understanding of the literary devices in “American Beauty.” Ready? Let’s go! 🎉

Multiple Choice Quiz

1. What does the red rose symbolize in “American Beauty”?
   • a) Love
   • b) Superficial beauty
   • c) Anger
   • d) Wealth
2. Which literary device is used when Lester narrates about his perfect life while showing his mundane reality?
   • a) Metaphor
   • b) Irony
   • c) Hyperbole
   • d) Allegory
3. The plastic bag dancing in the wind is an example of which literary device?
   • a) Symbolism
   • b) Foreshadowing
   • c) Metaphor
   • d) Allusion
4. The recurring use of mirrors in the film is a:
   • a) Metaphor
   • b) Motif
   • c) Symbol
   • d) Hyperbole
5. Lester’s transformation from a ‘dead’ man to a ‘free’ man represents:
   • a) Foreshadowing
   • b) Juxtaposition
   • c) Metaphor
   • d) Allegory

Answers:

1. b
2. b
3. c
4. b
5. c