Character Analysis: Rebel Without A Cause

In Rebel Without a Cause, the main characters, Jim, Judy, and Plato face the troubles of complicated, dysfunctional family lives and the intense social peers of their mid-1950’s, suburban high school. As they deal with existing social pressures and must cope with their family situations, all three of them have different yet similarly formed actions. According to Harry Kuperstein, the mid-1950’s, when Rebel Without a Cause was released, was the height of the juvenile delinquency era up until that time. As post-war, family, and social issues created a perfect storm of non acceptance for adolescent students, characters like Jim, Judy, and Plato resembled the lives of many teenagers during this time. Ultimately, as these differing yet linked issues

In the first scene as Jim is leaving for school Judy’s friends drive up to her recklessly as she is smoking a cigarette. H.H. Remmers and D.H. Radler demonstrate the commonplace of smoking as they say, “38% of kids could be considered delinquent with 25% high school drinking rate and 38% smoking rate.” Additionally Alice Crow says, “The current rise in antisocial acts and authority-defying attitudes among teenagers in challenging the considered judgement of parents, educators, youth leaders, and government officials, as well as of those teenagers who are or may become victims of peer group delinquent behavior.” As we see the wild driving with many kids in the car the film emphasizes the dangerous “authority-defying” acts of the teenagers. Additionally, group delinquent behavior manifests itself as the kids who have attached themselves to the car serve as a metaphor for teenagers being victims and accomplices of poor

In the film, Buzz challenges Jim to knife fight after Buzz and his friends making chicken noises at him. After Jim wins the fight Buzz asks Jim to do a chickie run suggesting that Jim has never participated in such a dangerous, manly event. Later, as Buzz and Jim are about to start racing we see them both have short conversations with Judy and then rub dirt on their hands. Buzz’s hubris serves as a demonstration of masculinity as he attempts to assert his dominance over Jim by comparing him negatively to himself, shows his ruggedness by rubbing dirt on his hands, and subjugates Judy as he demands dirt and shows little emotion. Mabel Elliott speculates on such behavior as she says, “Kids in gangs and social groups play the “bad boy” so they can earn the “good guy” card among their peers.” Buzz’s name calling and acting out serves as a demonstration of power and leadership as he shows off in order to win the approval of his friends. As Jim, another adolescent male eager to prove his machismo, engages his Buzz’s masculinity competition, we acknowledge the approval-seeking nature of teenager boys during his era. Joseph Resnick explains as he says, “The youth has a deeply felt need for approval. Such a requirement is manifested in his appearance of bravery often to the extent of physical injury, in order to convince the adult or other adolescents of his skill.” Buzz’s death serves as a