Breaking Stereotypical Norms;The Breakfast Club

“You see us as you want to see us—in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions.”
This line from “The Breakfast club” brings out the essence of the whole story; where the teacher asked five students in detention, to write an essay on their perspective of themselves. Directed by John Huges, this movie is completely relevant with today’s society. Set in a background of a Saturday detention in a school, five students of different taste; a popular girl (Claire), an athletic (Andrew), a criminal (Bender), a geek (Brain) and an outcast (Allison) are brought together to serve a single purpose.

They have nothing in common expect a single designation, they all are students. Just like other 80s movie, this one teaches us multiple lessons in the most relatable ways.

Being unaware of other’s social condition we tend to judge others by their outer look. And they are no exceptions. The popular look down upon the geek and the criminal despise the popular for being privileged. Same goes with Allison, she has never been welcomed due to her appearance; Whereas as the story continues she is an interesting and beautiful girl.

The tension between Andrew and Bender is significantly high from the very beginning. Both think themselves to be the tough guy. In one scene Bender makes fun of him to which Andrew replies with confidence that his comment hardly matters and if he disappears tomorrow nothing will change. Bender attacks back with a witty remark which significantly suggests that his self esteem is not at all high every time. Moreover each character shows how society has forced them to maintain their assigned roles and how it has hindered their individual growth.

“You ought to spend a little more time trying to make something of yourself and a little less time trying to impress people.”

But as the time passes in an enclosed library they breakdown their wall and reach out for one another. Details used by the director to show the difference between each character are significant and with passing time these will blur. At the end, they indeed write an essay mentioning everyone, and how little significance the question has.

However to themselves they will be known as ‘The Breakfast Club’.

Overall ‘The Breakfast Club’ is an iconic movie, showing us how the each stereotype breaks their own shell and accept each other whole heartedly. But the question is will they continue to behave like this or it is just for a single Saturday.