Kramer Versus Kramer - Essay Example

Social and behavior: Based on Kramer vs. Kramer
The reason for picking Kramer vs. Kramer is that almost all the characters are tangled in situations that involve making decisions. The fact that the movie takes sides makes it interesting since the viewer gets to understand that people ought to live with some compromise to achieve harmonious living. The characters’ decisions force viewers to choose sides and lay blame. However, such activities are based on selfishness. The moral lesson obtained is that all human situations require undivided attention towards solving the conflict, rather than pointing fingers; hence more reason to analyze the movie.
Ted Kramer, the main character, lands a job as an advertising executive and has no time for his family; Joanna Kramer and Billy Kramer as wife and son respectively. On the other hand, Joanna Kramer decides to walk out of the relationship in an effort to realize the person she left behind when she decided to get married. Parental duties lead to Ted’s retrenchment from the agency. He and Billy begin a new journey; with the help of Margret Phelps; another single parent. Joanna comes back to claim custody of Billy fifteen months after walking out. She is awarded custody of her son.
Joanna Kramer displays the role of women in the family unit. Joanna is torn between staying with her husband and child and walking out to ‘rediscover’ herself. Her decision to walk out develops the plot whereby Ted and Billy spend time together learning how to make the right decisions. She comes back to claim her son’s custody, and this brings out a significant decision from the court. The court holds that the mother best takes care of a child.
Joanna would have loved a situation whereby her husband was dedicated to the family, regardless of his job position. That way, she would not have made the decision to walk away, which can be considered rather selfish by the viewer. As a happy family, Joanna would have improved the way the two behaved in an attempt to raise their child upholding moral values. Good decisions influence behavior; hence, less selfish motives are undertaken. Read More