Breakfast Club Essay Example

with some having no desire to interact with others. Among them is Brian Johnson, nicknamed "the brain" or "the nerd", who wishes to be accepted by all. However, Andrew Clark, referred to as "the jock", usually bullies nerds like Brian and risks being rejected by his athlete friends if caught socializing with him. Claire Standish, known as "the princess", belongs to a wealthy social class and typically stays within her clique, except for Andrew since he is a jock who fits her dating preference. John Bender, the troublemaker of the group, enjoys exploiting the weaknesses of all members for his personal amusement. Ironically, his negativity towards the group initially united them and caused them to speak to each other. Additionally, "the basket case" Allison Reynolds is initially indifferent to the group but later observes them from afar as they grow closer.

It appears that she has no social circle of her own and enjoys being self-reliant, but she clearly desires attention which is evidenced by her fabrication of tales to impress or shock the members of the group. There is an evident struggle for dominance between John and Andrew. John endeavors to exert his authority by belittling the other members of the group, while Andrew, being a sportsman, refuses to let anyone best him. Claire, on the other hand, rejects attempts by individuals such as John to manipulate or direct her and instead chooses to neglect him. However, he persists and tries to provoke her by probing into personal matters like her sexual experiences. Brian is willing to follow orders from the group and seeks their acceptance. He often expresses agreement or adds his own comments

but frequently retreats following inappropriate comments by John.

John is the most affectionate of the group, with a nature that welcomes the expression of his emotions. He shares his thoughts freely with the other members without any hesitation. In contrast, Claire and Andrew are less open, as they are not used to being intimate with their group members. They generally prefer going along with the masses. John even teases Andrew for being unable to think independently without any external guidance. Alison is also not very expressive due to past negative experiences stemming from being ignored by her family. Perhaps as a result, she either remains quiet or tends to spin outrageous tales designed to shock others, thereby gaining attention. This approach may backfire, as Alison may end up either ostracized or perceived as a freak. John usually only opens up when he feels like proving that his life is tougher than that of others in the group, sharing instances where his father yells at him and even beats him.

The breakfast club initially struggled with cohesion - the degree to which the group is united and supportive of its members. With the exception of Brian, the members shared no common ground and wanted nothing to do with one another. However, due to detention, they were forced to remain together against their will. The group found cohesion through their unanimous dislike of their common enemy, the principal (Richard Vernon), who frequently belittled and mistreated the students.

The group gradually grew closer and supported each other against their common enemy. For instance, when John needed to retrieve his marijuana from a separate room and Richard almost caught him, John hid

under Claire's skirt. Even though Richard tried to find him, Claire did not betray John's location. When John accidentally hit his head on the desk while escaping, Andrew quickly covered it up by mimicking the sound with his hand. Despite not being fond of John, Andrew did not want to betray a fellow member and leave him vulnerable to Richard's wrath.

At the end, the group exhibited high cohesion and formed close bonds, but it was uncertain if their friendship was genuine. Despite Claire's confession that she would avoid conversing with any group members in the presence of her popular peers to maintain her own social status, she kissed John and gifted him her earring by the movie's conclusion. This could signify their newly formed romantic relationship or serve as a gesture of affection for him, acknowledging that they cannot be seen together due to societal pressures.

Groupthink is a prevalent and easily adopted phenomenon that involves pressuring individuals to conform to group beliefs and values. Claire and Andrew are both prone to this weakness, with Claire being a popular student who exclusively associates with the wealthiest and most popular peers. In order to avoid being ostracized, she adheres to all the popular group's behaviors, clothing, and language.

Andrew's weakness stems from his upbringing and desire to please his father. He was taught to be a winner and follow instructions instead of pursuing his own desires for fear of being rejected and deemed a loser. However, by the end of the movie, he realizes that his life belongs to him and his father's opinions hold little value. Through the film and class material, it became clear that

while groups may differ, each individual shares a common desire to be true to themselves. Despite outward appearances, everyone wants to be accepted for who they are.

After attending class, I gained insight on the complexity of human interaction and communication. It goes beyond initial greetings and personal judgments. Concepts such as group behaviors, messages, perception, and relationships must be considered. This newfound understanding has allowed me to identify both my communication strengths and weaknesses.