Bender Analysis free essay sample

The character John Bender in the Breakfast Club is one of the five representational teenagers of stereotypical cliques. He is depicted as the criminal, and reveals a past that correlates to that of many who maintain similar lifestyles and recreational choices that Bender exhibits. As displayed by many teenagers, behavioral habits typically correspond with the conditions in which they live. This common assumption is further accredited upon disclosure of Bender’s home life. The parenting style that Bender receives is likely uninvolved, and Bender can be expected to express an insecure attachment towards his parents. This attachment style commonly occurs in those who have parents that they cannot feel safe around. Bender receives much abuse and danger from his father, which can cause a child to fear their parents. This attachment style is very commonly associated with households that contain abuse and neglect of a child. These absurd treatments are confirmed when Bender reenacts a typical day within his home to prove a point to Andrew. Upon Andrew’s skepticism, he reveals his cigar burn from his father, a punishment for a relatively inconsequential mistake. The difficulties he faces during his adolescence can greatly affect his developmental styles, as well as every day actions. Because of the loveless and abusive treatment he receives from his parents and peers, it can be presumed that this is the foundation of many of his attributes. Bender displays rebellion, especially to authoritative figures like his father. He refuses to do what he is told, and proves this repetitively. He closes the door to the library when he was specifically meant to keep it open. He convinces the group to go to his locker, when they’re unaware of what he is even planning to obtain. When locked in the closet by the principal for his previous indiscretions, he climbs through the ceiling panels and back into the library. He also shows many signs of depression, likely originating from his parents’ scorn. He is clearly often upset, which is represented after he yells at Andrew about his father. However, this emotion is commonly masked by offensive humor and anger. He displays strong bouts of hostility, quick to mock people. He teases Clair relentlessly about her name, future weight, lunch, and wealth. He mocks Andrew and Brian for their extracurricular activities, and seems to think that Brian is inferior for having yet to lose his virginity. Bender is very argumentative, enjoying backtalking the vice principal whenever the opportunity presents itself. He also initates many fights with Andrew over topics that he likely cares nothing about. He brings up Andrew’s home life, and his relationship with his parents. After Andrew insults Clair for disliking her situation with her parents, claiming that she simply pities herself, Bender comes to her defense by directing his hostility at Andrew. However, several times later in the movie, he treats Clair much worse, suggesting that her feelings are not as important to him as the opportunity to fight with Andrew was. He mocks him, asking if he gets along with his parents. When Andrew asks him if Bender will call him an idiot of he says that he does, Bender replies, â€Å"I think you’re an idiot anyway, but if you say you get along with your parents, well then, you’re a liar too. † Bender furthers his rebellion with drug use. Drug use is common among teens who feel that such actions will cause any worry or acknowledgement from their parents, but also as a way of escaping reality when it becomes too difficult to bear. Bender is clearly a common drug user, as he kept a stash of marijuana in his locker at school. It is also proven that Bender has low motivation, which is represented by his lack of effort put forth in school, hinted at when the vice principal told him that he was destined to go nowhere with his life. Bender represents partial development in most areas. In terms of intellectual development, the irrational behavior exhibited at times to authority figures represent an incomplete growth. When in an argument with the vice-principal, simply to aggravate the man, he continuously talks back to him, earning himself continuous detentions, disregarding the man’s anger and inconveniencing himself simply to rebel. His social standing in the school, along with the hostility toward those around him, show that his social skills are incomplete. Rather than trying to appeal to those around him, or even simply evade negative opinions, he purposely offends them. According to Kohlberg’s stages of moral development, Bender represents the second stage. He threatens to kill Andrew when they get in a fight, showing that he does not view human life as important as most do. He says that he refrains to kill him, however, as it would inconvenience him. This represents him weighing the costs and benefits, but harbors no desire to â€Å"be a good kid†. Bender suffers through many traumatic emotional and physical events in what should be the safety of his own home; however, most of his bad habits can be traced back to the conditions of his home life. Receiving abuse and neglect can affect children in severe ways. They commonly display signs of depression or suicide, and treat many imperative things as if they hold no significance, because they believe themselves to be as worthless as they perceive themselves the eyes of their caretakers. Such opinions are represented in what is viewed as the stereotypical teenage criminal, John Bender.