Introduction
“Mrs. Doubtfire” is a great comedy movie on how one parent wanted to be closer to his children. In fact, the movie is rather fun and has lots of episodes describing cheesy scenes (for instance, when her breast was burning or when in the bathroom). This paper is about finding out the way to counsel families and adolescents living within them. Thus, the critique of the movie touches upon social as well as moral aspects in counseling adolescents of different age seen on the example of Mrs. Doubtfire by Robin Williams.
Main body
First of all, it is necessary to touch on the divorce that came out to be in the Hillard’s family. Daniel (Robin Williams) is a father of three children who is an unemployed voice actor at the moment (Columbus, 1993). His tragedy is in the fact that loving his children and letting them do almost what they want he cannot reach out harmony with his wife, Miranda. That is a crucial point for Miranda to decide on divorce. Daniel is only allowed to meet his children on Saturdays. However, he wants to be closer to his lovely children.
By chance, Daniel runs into the Miranda’s announcement as of hiring a housekeeper (Columbus, 1993). It is clear, because working all day long she needs to have somebody to keep an eye on her under age children. Daniel is an actor by profession, so, he follows artistic tricks and makes an old noble lady (Mrs. Doubtfire) out of him. Thus, he got closer to the point of his desire to be quite closer to children.
Analyzing the theme and the main idea of the movie, one should pay special attention to the objectives that caused divorce of Hillards. First of all, it is a century-long problem of parents’ business and their indifference to what is happening in the family. It is up to be discussed in two features for observation: relation to children and relation to a spouse. The latter makes the whole story sad, because Daniel was wrong while maintaining relationships with children and Miranda. She was constantly annoyed with Daniel’s irresponsibility. Of course, she is a bit conservative and wanted to follow etalons of social life. However, Daniel did not mind it.
In case with Hillards there are 3 under age children. It is fair to note Miranda’s inability to please all of them. Children are more likely to have their darling father at home. In fact, Daniel knew the way to speak to children and to treat them right as well. However, he scarcely used such methods formerly. One of the main points on adolescent development is seen in the episode when Mrs. Doubtfire prepared delicious dinner and, thus, pleased Miranda. In turn Mrs. Doubtfire acquired more respectful attitudes on the part of the children.
Thus, it is noteworthy that one is better to follow the way Daniel uses for counseling his children (Kornbluth, 1993). In this respect Machiavelli’s words “the end justifies the means” are suitable to follow. It is an insanity to transform a man into a woman by means of make-up, artificial breast and woman clothes. However, Daniel dared do this. For the sake of children’s normal development he di not give up and do that. To make it somewhat special, it is necessary to remark Daniel’s preventing children from crisis of loneliness. To say more, being a housekeeper, Daniel did his best for keeping children under his personal control. It happens frequently that housekeepers annoy adolescents. However, with parent’s heart it is impossible. In case with Mrs. Doubtfire one can simply state this truth. Moreover, Daniel as Mrs. Doubtfire provides the rule that prescribes doing home assignments thoroughly. She enforces children following this principle day by day. Mrs. Doubtfire wins this competition, for she keeps a strict eye on children and knows how to make Miranda comfortable.
One more outcome of Daniel’s being as Mrs. Doubtfire is that he has become a real farther whom he was not formerly. Children adore Mrs. Doubtfire, because she made them believe in their own efforts, for instance, in doing home assignments thoroughly. Moreover, Mrs. Doubtfire pleases children with cooking, even though it acquires a funny outlook (igniting breast). Daniel became closer to children’s problems. Moreover, he, as Mrs. Doubtfire, let Miranda get an idea of what was happening in the mind of each child or “cherub”, as Mrs. Doubtfire initially outlined. The consequence is the avoidance of generation “gap” between Daniel and Miranda, as parents, and Lydia, Chris, and Natalie, as children. Mrs. Doubtfire helped Miranda find out the way to communicate and convey children’s pretences.
The culmination of the movie is concerned with the episode when Mrs. Doubtfire is disclosed. At this moment Daniel agrees with Lydia and Chris to keep silent in terms of Miranda and the youngest, Natalie. Here, Daniel reaches out mutual understanding with children and lets them omit adolescent crisis. On the other hand, he has got the slightest idea not to hurt little and quite fragile heart of Natalie.
Conclusion
So, a parent might share the experience of a man described in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire, for it is a milestone to improve on children’s development. It means that even when divorced, not a parent should take care of adolescents. It does not matter that some misunderstanding is still taking place between former spouses. Children should be surrounded with love on the part of parents. It makes no difference for children that parents are separated. For most of them a parent is a person who remains with particular qualities invoking warmest attitudes coming from children. Being helpless, children do really need more attention of parents to their needs in terms of growing up.
Reference
Columbus, C. (1993). Mrs. Doubtfire. Starring Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein.
Kornbluth, J. (1993). “Robin Williams’s Change of Life.” New York Magazine: 34-41.