Character Analysis Of The Movie 'Rebel Without A Cause'

In the movie Rebel Without a Cause, the characters portray many characteristics of a teenager living in the Atomic Age post World War II as well as modern day society; with little guidance it appears the youth of America feels lost and alone. This movie was released in 1955 and was recorded in California. This was the last film that James Dean ever starred in; which was a devastating blow to such a blossoming young man’s career and superstardom. Life in the 1950’s was a time of prosperity for the United States of America. This was the time of baby boomers, many civil rights movements, the terrifying cold war, as well as a much improved economy due to the outcomes of World War II. An incredible innovation was introduced in 1951, the color television;

(Goldberg, 2004) The 1950’s was a decade of fear, but it was fear that came with hope that peace and prosperity should never be taken from the people again. A shift from families crowding around their radio trying to hear the news, they began sitting down in front of their television watching their favorite shows that only aired once a week on either CBS, ABC, or NBC. Richard Powers said, "There have always been inter-family conflicts between parents and their adolescent children, but this cultural division was larger.” (Powers) he went on to say “A significant proportion of the adult generation disapproved of the values and lifestyle of the teens, and was doing something about it, including setting new rules, restrictions and prohibitions.” (Powers). This quote ties directly into the movie. This decade had many ups and many downs. It launched the

He is a troubled teenager who has just moved towns to Los Angeles with his family. Jim has become the target of many of the bullies in his new town which make his life tougher than it has to be. Jim became close to two people he met at the police station the night he was arrested for being drunk in public. Plato was a boy younger than Jim who wanted nothing more than to have Jim as a friend considering his parents were never around, and Judy who ended up falling in love with Jim and separating herself from the bully group. Jim feels that his father is incapable of upholding and opposing his mother; which we find out for certain in the film when he asks his father, “What do you do when you have to be a man?” He has major issues with his parents, for he feels they are unable to support him as well as be caring of the person he yearns to be. Buzz Gunderson is the leader of the school bullies. He has made it his life’s mission to be a complete nuisance to Jim and instigate a clash no matter the conditions. This clash lead to the climax of the movie; the knife fight and the chickie run. After watching the bullies slash a tire for absolutely no reason, Buzz challenged Jim to a duel with knives in which Jim won, although both parties were walking away with slight injuries. After the embarrassing loss Buzz needed to one up the stakes by provoking a “chickie” run. The “chickie” run was a catastrophe; Buzz got stuck on the door handle