Desperate Housewives' Bree: Breaking Free From The Secret TradWife Misery | Explained

Summary

The video explores the character development of Bree Van de Kamp from 'Desperate Housewives,' initially portrayed as a quintessential traditional housewife. Bree's journey sees her grappling with her conservative values and the facade of perfection, leading to personal growth and a redefinition of her identity. As she navigates challenges, including family dynamics and societal expectations, Bree learns to embrace change, find her voice, and ultimately, her path to happiness and success.

Takeaways

• 👩‍🍳 Brie Vamp from 'Desperate Housewives' embodies the traditional housewife, with a focus on old-fashioned values and a conservative lifestyle.
• 👗 Her appearance and demeanor are reminiscent of classic political figures like Jacqueline Kennedy and Pat Nixon, reflecting a 'Stepford Wife' image.
• 🏡 Despite the facade of perfection, Brie's family is deeply unhappy, and her rigid beliefs hinder her personal happiness and effective parenting.
• 🚫 Brie's harsh upbringing and gendered expectations affect her relationship with her daughter, leading to a strained mother-daughter dynamic.
• 🌈 Over time, Brie learns to accept her son's homosexuality, recognizing her own strengths in him and adjusting her views to support him.
• 👭 She forms close friendships with other housewives on Wisteria Lane, despite their differing political views, highlighting the importance of enduring friendships.
• 🔓 In season 3, Brie experiences a sexual awakening, which shifts her perspective on sexuality and personal freedom.
• 🍽️ Brie's traditional role as a housewife is challenged as she finds fulfillment and success in building a business empire, similar to Martha Stewart.
• 💼 Her career shift leads to a more modern lifestyle, where she promotes traditional values through her business while not adhering to them as strictly at home.
• 🗳️ Brie's political journey involves a transformation from a traditional housewife to a state legislator, requiring her to leave her past behind for a successful political image.

Q & A

How is Bree Van de Kamp initially portrayed in 'Desperate Housewives'?

Bree Van de Kamp is initially portrayed as the perfect traditional housewife, always put together conservatively, dressed prim and straight-laced, and believing in old-fashioned values such as respect for God, the importance of family, and love of country.

What is the contrast between Bree's external image and her family's internal state in the beginning of the series?

While Bree's family has a veneer of perfection externally, resembling the presidential first family, internally most of the family members, including Bree herself, are incredibly unhappy.

How does Bree's parenting style affect her relationship with her daughter Danielle?

Bree's harsh and traditional parenting style is quite cruel to her daughter Danielle, which backfires when Danielle becomes pregnant and is reluctant to let Bree raise the baby as her own due to the harsh upbringing she experienced.

How does Bree react to her son Andrew's revelation about his sexuality?

Initially, Bree is seemingly mortified when her son Andrew tells her he might be gay. However, as the show progresses, she begins to accept his sexuality and starts to work with him instead of trying to change him.

In what ways does Bree's character evolve throughout the series?

Bree's character evolves by breaking away from her traditional outlook, finding her sexual agency, building close friendships despite political differences, and eventually entering local politics while maintaining her outward appearance as the perfect WASP housewife.

How does Bree's perspective on her role as a housewife change over the course of the series?

Bree's perspective changes as she realizes that being a housewife and mother in the traditional sense leaves her unfulfilled and isolated, leading her to build a Martha Stewart-style empire and find more fulfillment in her career.

What is the significance of Bree's first orgasm in season 3 with her third husband?

Bree's first orgasm in season 3 marks a significant change in her outlook on sexuality, realizing the freeing and positive aspects of connecting with her own sexuality.

How does Bree's approach to relationships change as the series progresses?

Bree's approach to relationships evolves from seeking traditional partners to experimenting with different types of men, compartmentalizing her politics and public image from her personal life in pursuit of happiness.

What is the irony in Bree's success in building a business based on old-fashioned style values while not living out those values at home?

The irony is that while Bree builds a successful business promoting traditional values, she herself is not living by those values at home, indicating a disconnect between her public image and her private life.

How does Bree's character arc reflect the challenges faced by traditional housewives?

Bree's character arc reflects the challenges faced by traditional housewives by showing the pressure to maintain a perfect home and family while dealing with personal unhappiness and the realization that the traditional life taught by previous generations may not be the only path to happiness.

What message does Bree's journey throughout the series convey about self-improvement and happiness?

Bree's journey conveys that self-improvement and happiness can be achieved by recognizing and embracing aspects of oneself that were previously hidden, being open to change, and not being afraid to step out of one's comfort zone.