The World of Brian Johnson

The Breakfast Club is a microcosm of teenage society, in which Brian Johnson is seen only as
the brain. Brians stereotype implies that he is a studious, erudite social outcast. We see
that there is some truth in his stereotype from how Brian acts, how he presents himself and
how he is treated by others. However, as the film progresses, it becomes apparent that
people are complex individuals that can not be defined by a single word.
The world Brian lives in is one of immense pressure. Although The Breakfast Club was
made in 1984, the problems and pressures that Brian faces still affect teenagers today.
When we are first introduced to Brian, his mother is telling him that he must put his time
to good use and find a way to study. It is clear that his family puts pressure on him
academically, and we see the catastrophic effect that this pressure has on Brian.
When Brian reveals that he is in detention because he had been intent on committing
suicide, the audience is shocked and appalled. We see that there is a direct correlation
between mental health and the pressure of achieving academic success.
Not only does Brian have to deal with pressure academically, he also encounters social
pressures. Brian is highly insecure, and craves validation from his peers. He copies Bender
and lies about his sexual experiences. Brian is ashamed of the fact that he is a virgin, but is
reassured by Claire, who says that it is normal. Brian values the opinions of others, as he
wishes to be accepted.
As the film advances, Brians character evolves. At the beginning of the film, he does not
defend himself when he is insulted. Brian accepts the derogatory terms that are directed at
him, almost as if they are a normal part of everyday life.
Claire and Vender treat Brian as an inferior. Bender belittles Brians extra-curricular
activities and Claire says that neither she nor Andrew would walk around the school with
Brian, for fear of what their friends would say. Brian finally stands up for himself when he
calls Claire conceited. Claire looked down upon Brian, and spoke about him as though he did
not have feelings or problems of his own. By being vocal and assertive, Brian has reached a
turning point in his characters development. He challenges Claires self-entitlement and the
hierarchy of this particular microcosm.
Brians essay articulates and embodies the theme of the film. As a society, we consciously
and subconsciously attribute traits and make judgments based on the way we see each
other as stereotypes. The High School is an ideal setting in which to explore this theme.
School reflects Western society in its hierarchical composition, power dynamics and gender
balance.

When the audience is first introduced to these characters, we attribute social status to them
based on the way that they look and dress. However, it is clear that we are more than our
stereotypes. We need not conform to the boxes that society creates for us.
When Brian first entered detention, he too saw the other students in their most convenient
definitions. However, by the end of detention, he sees himself, and others, as profound
individuals and complicated people.