Malcolm In The Middle Class Analysis

They’re All Looking Down On Us; Malcolm in the Middle Frames Class

Imagine a beautiful suburban street, manicured emerald green lawns expand in both directions, separated only by the occasional well-kept hedge and patch of concrete upon which is parked a mid-sized luxury sedan. This picturesque scene is a dream for many middle class families, a dream that would be shattered by a home with dead grass, browning shrubs and rusting minivan, not to mention a horde of rowdy boys screaming and creating havoc all hours of the day and night. The television series, Malcolm in the Middle centers on such a home and dwelling within a modern working class family, the Wilkerson’s. Parents Lois and Hal struggle to scrape by emotionally and financially while

In one episode Malcolm gets a job babysitting for a rich family, He is amazed at the amenities their wealth has provided them. Meanwhile his family’s house is fumigated and they are forced to live in a borrowed trailer on their front lawn. Malcolm spends this duration of time enjoying the luxurious aspects of his employer’s house while his family effectively becomes ‘Trailer Trash’ and a spectacle for their disgruntled neighbors. In an exchange between Hal and Malcolm the opinion viewers; should arrive at is clear, “Look at that sky, Malcolm. Just think, somewhere out there, all those stars and planets, there might be at this very moment a space dad who just got kicked out of his space trailer, who’s looking down on us. Or would it be up at us? Or maybe sideways.” Malcolm replies, “Trust me, dad, they’re all looking down on us.” In another example, Malcolm perceives his family as a group apes while they screech at their neighbors. By depicting the family as less than human further separation is created, they continue to violate social norms and are ostracized from their community. The family’s complete disregard for the social norms of their community creates immense prejudicial attitudes from their neighbors

For example, masculinity is typically characterized by dominance and aggression, and femininity by passivity and submissiveness (390). In repudiation of these norms, Lois exhibits numerous masculine characteristics, controlling both the family’s schedule and acting as sole disciplinarian, she embodies the masculine position typically reserved for the male half of the parental unit, confident and outspoken, she won’t take no for an answer, cares little about the thoughts and criticism of other people, rarely shows emotions other than anger and never shows weakness in front of her children (462). When Malcom’s teacher visits their home, she is baffled by Lois’s brazen choice to answer the door topless, after a brief exchange dominated by Lois’s exclamations she is finally able to meekly express her reason for calling. It is clear. Husband Hal, by contrast avoids conflict, he looks down and away when challenged by his wife and children, He cannot make a decision and ignores the issue, at the dinner table when faced with a possible decision he changes the subject to the fact the ice tea is always empty when he gets home. Due to his passivity can be viewed as the more feminine