Through the discoveries of the characters, American Beauty by Sam Mendes attempts to change the socially ingrained image of beauty. The red rose petal motif is used throughout the film to represent lust, beauty, and sexuality. Her power of seduction is heightened in the joy scene, as Angela creates a vector line towards her crotch with her hands and the zipper of her clothes, while rose petals fly from her chest - depicting her as an object of desire. Angela represents the typical, superficial representation of beauty: "If people I don't even know look at me... that means I really have a chance to become a model", and is wrapped in red rose petals in the Lester's fantasies - further. highlighting his sexuality. Throughout the final sequence, as Lester is led to his imminent demise, the roses reappear, juxtaposing their previous representation of beauty and lust. As Lester looks back on his fondest memories, each character in the final moments before his death is depicted as associated with the color red – representing each of their discoveries regarding beauty. Ricky Fitts discovers the true meaning of beauty in floating plastic, which he describes as "the most beautiful thing I've ever filmed." His and Jane's faces are darkened by darkness, until they realize true beauty, and both characters' faces appear in the light: "Sometimes there is so much beauty in the world. I feel like I can’t take it anymore and my heart is going to collapse.” Angela, after admitting to being a virgin, discovers that pure beauty isn't just on the surface, as Ricky tells her "..you're boring, and you're totally ordinary, and you know it." So, as the characters are introduced to the true meaning of beauty, through their discoveries, their previous beliefs are ultimately challenged and changed. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay “American Beauty” by Sam Mendes represents the false nature of the American dream, through the discoveries made by the characters Lester Burnham and Ricky Fitts. . The inculcation of the typical suburban dream of wealth and status within American Beauty is challenged by Lester's realization of his living nightmare of neglected desires. The simile in the opening scene "I feel like I've been in a coma for forty years and I just woke up" marks the beginning of his discovery, which eventually transforms him into the antithesis of the dream American. As Lester leaves his menial job, the background features geometric patterns and lines, which suggest the order Lester no longer fits into. The banality is further juxtaposed by Brad Dupree's reading of Lester's assessment of Lester's work "My job is basically to mask my contempt for the assholes in charge...", and as the shot moves, the red wall behind Lester contrasts with the blue surrounding the rest. of the room. Lester's wife, Carolyn, represents the obsessive materialism of the American dream, as shown in the dialogue that ensues after Carolyn and Lester kiss in the living room: "This is a $4,000 couch. It's not just a couch", "It's not life, it's just stuff. And it became more important to you than living.” The ideal of maintaining status is accentuated in the Real Estate King philosophy: “To succeed, you must present an image of success at all times”. The American dream traditionally represents a life and a.