Question
How is addictive behaviour portrayed by all the characters in the movie Requiem for a Dream?
Answer
“Requiem for a Dream” portrays addictive behavior through its four main characters, each representing different facets of addiction and its devastating impacts. The film, based on Hubert Selby Jr.’s novel, explores how each character’s pursuit of their version of the American Dream leads to their downfall through addiction.
Characters and Their Addictions
Harry Goldfarb and Tyrone C. Love: Both characters are heroin addicts who dream of wealth and success. Their addiction leads them to use more than they sell, resulting in Harry losing his arm to a gangrenous infection and Tyrone ending up in a Georgia prison (Bowers, 2010).
Marion Silver: Harry’s girlfriend, Marion, turns to prostitution to support her heroin addiction. This not only causes her to lose Harry but also her sense of self, illustrating the destructive nature of her dependency (Bowers, 2010).
Sara Goldfarb: Harry’s mother, Sara, becomes addicted to amphetamines in her quest to lose weight and appear on television. Her addiction spirals into schizophrenia, ultimately leading to her institutionalization (Bowers, 2010).
Themes and Impacts
Pursuit of the American Dream: The film critiques the American Dream, portraying it as a false ideal that leads to self-destruction. Each character’s addiction is tied to their desire for success and happiness, which they mistakenly believe can be achieved through material means (Vikhrova, 2022; Bowers, 2010).
Physical and Psychological Deterioration: The characters’ addictions result in severe physical and mental health issues, highlighting the destructive power of addiction. This is evident in Harry’s physical decay, Marion’s loss of identity, and Sara’s mental breakdown (Muniowski, 2019; Bowers, 2010).
Social and Personal Consequences: The film illustrates how addiction isolates individuals, leading them to the social underworld and causing them to lose touch with reality and their loved ones (Vikhrova, 2022; Bowers, 2010).
Conclusion
“Requiem for a Dream” uses its characters to depict the multifaceted nature of addiction, emphasising its physical, psychological, and social consequences. The film serves as a powerful critique of the American Dream, illustrating how the pursuit of material success can lead to devastating addiction and personal ruin.
References
Muniowski, Ł., 2019. Incomplete Objects and Unfulfilled Desire: Hubert Selby Jr.’s Requiem for a Dream. Anglica. An International Journal of English Studies. https://doi.org/10.7311/0860-5734.28.1.09
Vikhrova, K., 2022. AMERICAN DREAM: CONSUMPTION AND ADDICTION IN THE NOVELS BY H. SELBY, JR.. Practices & Interpretations: A Journal of Philology, Teaching and Cultural Studies. https://doi.org/10.18522/2415-8852-2022-4-117-128
Bowers, A., 2010. An enemy deep: spectacular addiction in Hubert Selby’s “Requiem for a Dream”.. Journal of American culture, 33 3, pp. 240-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1542-734X.2010.00747.X
Requiem for a Dream (2000). [Film]. Directed by Darren Aronofsky. USA: Artisan Entertainment.
