Due to the fact that post-war efforts brought a large demand for workers, both mother and father held jobs and often led to the unsupervision of teenagers. In the film, the three main characters, all teenagers, are Jim Stark, Judy, and Plato. At the beginning of the film all three are obviously going through tough times due to the fact that they are all taken to the same police station. It is ironic that these three teens, all who are rich, of the desired white race, and part of the suburban life are all in trouble with the law. Normally one would think that teens of this kind of culture would not have any reason or motive to undergo run-ins with the law. Juvenile delinquents during that time were usually seen as poor, uneducated, and homeless. However, this is not the case for Jim, Judy, and Plato.

I personally like the movie and think it to be interesting on how it portrays the teens of the 1950’s in the suburbs. I especially appreciate the irony that is present. I found it ironic that the site of the American Dream, the suburbs, was actually the site of teen angst and broken homes. Also, the fact that although most of the film shows what is dangerous about American society as far as stereotyping and the American Dream is concerned, American society, however, triumphs in the end. Overall I believe Rebel Without a Cause to be an interesting look at the truth behind the curtain, offering its fair dose of reality.

Rebel Without a Cause presents teen anger as legitimate and serious. It shows that although one may have wealth, education, and status, such things do not exempt one from anger, sin, and misfortune. In contrast, conventional entertainment handles adolescence and its emotional turmoil as either a phase that is to be grown out of, or a dysfunction that is to be treated carefully with the help of programs and or counseling. These attitudes are addressed in the film. In the first scene, the cop says to Jim, “You wanna bug us till we have to lock you up!” And later, Judy’s mother exclaims, “It’s just the age when nothing fits.” The film continues, challenging both of these theories. It is obvious that Jim and Judy are not trying to bother their parents, are not just being confrontational, but are reacting naturally to difficult situations. Jim is frustrated with his parents because neither of them seem happy or willing to face their own problems; they are “chicken.” Also, Jim is especially discontent with the fact that his father is not strong nor is he capable of running his own household with authority and posing as a proper role model for his son. Because of this Jim uses his freedoms to in a sense gain some of the attention that his family

Some topics in this essay:
Jim Judy, Rebel Cause, Judy Plato, American Dream, Due American, Dawson School, Judy Jim, II American, Leave Beaver, African- American, american dream, rebel cause, american society, jim judy, judy plato, american dream suburbs, 1950’s suburbs, running own, film scene, definite real, film real, jim judy plato,