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began to explore the supplemantal members of the family anf their friends in more depth.
B. American Nuclear Family Traditional Values Presented in “Malcolm in the
Middle” Drama
In this part, the writer would like to analyze the traditional values of American Nuclear Family based on the concept of Margareth Mead and the drama scripts that is
presented per episode. The American nuclear family traditional values mentioned in the chapter two would be described based on the evidence available in episode of
MIM. Here are some evidences and explanations taken episode including its original airdates and production;
1. The younger generations have made every effort to improve the quality of
the old couple’s life.
It is told in the first that one of the characters Reese, the Malcolm’s brother, Reese is the second oldest of the children, and is also the least intelligent and
most destructive, although at some times, he shows even more intelligence than Malcolm when devising fiendish, partly as is a bully at school. He bullies the
“Krelboynes” in Malcolm’s class, as well as his younger brothers, especially Dewey. Due to this, Reese is seen working out a lot to give himself a muscular
build. During his ten years, Reese ran off to join the US military under a faked
name and forged age for being that he was underage at time, without telling his
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family where he had gone. He was successful in completing Basic Training and was praised as one of the most brilliant soldiers in his platoon after he learned to
“turn his brain off” and surrender his will to his superiors. After being sent to Iraq in combat conditions, Reese struggles to stay alive. When his mother, Lois,
catches wind of what Reese has done, she tracks him down in Iraq and personally brings home without objection from the military since Reese was underage.
It has been hinted that Reese may also be a genius, like Dewey and Malcolm. At the end of his senior year of high school, he is seen studying all day and night
multiple times. He says that the tests are a bunch of true-false questions. When his results on the final exams come back, it is found out that he had done so bad that
he couldn’t make it up in summer school so he would have to repeat the year and thus, not move out or need to get a job.
Not wanting to loose the change of becoming more genius like his brother, Malcolm tries to find a college even it becomes a nightmare for his mother, Lois.
However, it is nothing but due to the family’s glory, like the evidence below: Title
Original Airdate Production Episode
“Malcolm Visits College” March 28, 2004
516 101
Malcolm looks forward to visiting college, but it becomes a nightmare when Lois comes along and they meet the dorm head, Leland. Dewey steals items
around the house to drive Hal nuts and to build a piano. Reese pretends to be a drug dealer to go out with the schools narc. Francis and Otto take care of a
day care, with disastrous results.
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