Question about one of the characters in the movie, American Beauty.

I think she’s been brow beaten and very possibly physically and mentally abused by her husband. That’s why she’s a shadow of a woman in the movie.

I agree with @tranquilsea. It’s been some time since I’ve seen the move, but I felt that she had effectively disassociated due to the atrocities inflicted on her by her Nazi husband.

I always thought that it was emotional neglect.

Without her marginalization, her son would not have been such easy pickings for the father. Had she been a full partner in the marriage, and presumably more in tune with her son’s emotional needs, then he wouldn’t have been dominated as he was.

She’s in a heterosexual marriage with a homosexual man, which is a serious rejection in its own right, not to mention how her husband hides behind barbarism due to his own insecurities. His fear of himself leads to his abuse of her. She’s the timid type, too, so instead of confronting him, she hides within herself.

She seems to display a bit of post-traumatic stress disorder.