Analyzing Leisure and Work in Revolutionary Road and Lefebvre's Views

This essay provides an analysis of the relationship between work and leisure as depicted in the movie "Revolutionary Road," drawing connections to Henri Lefebvre's theories on everyday life. The essay explores the central characters' struggles with societal expectations, their pursuit of an ideal life, and the impact of their choices on their work-life balance. It examines how the couple's differing views on work and leisure contribute to their marital conflicts and ultimately, their tragic downfall. The essay highlights the cyclical nature of their lives, the importance of finding balance between work and leisure, and the consequences of prioritizing one over the other. The analysis also considers the influence of social contexts, such as the 1950s suburban environment, on the characters' perceptions and actions. Through a detailed examination of key scenes and events in the movie, the essay demonstrates the validity of Lefebvre's statement that work is often seen as a means to earn leisure, creating a potentially vicious cycle.

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Lefebvre’s view of the work-leisure relationship
The movie “Revolutionary Road” as developed has significantly evolved to highlight the
various valleys and mountains that the today’s life is all about. At the start of the movie, a
married couple whose life is ahead of them is introduced, and they are required to decide on
critical matters. Lefebvre proposed that leisure time is the time spent away from work. The most
important question is whether there exists any considerable relationship between leisure and
work. The present work seeks to investigate whether such relationships do exist and what forms
an obstacle towards reaching the most regarded life status. Therefore, one can agree with
Lefebvre statement that “We work to earn our leisure, and leisure has only one meaning: to get
away from work. A vicious circle”.
The statement “We work to earn our leisure, and leisure has only one meaning: to get
away from work. A vicious circle” true as brought out in the movie. The two seem to be blinded
by love and have so much to ponder and achieve in their newly formed relationship. It is evident
that the couples are driven by some hunger for something not understanding their middle age
life. The couple wished to fulfill their fantasies little did they know their love was driven by
yearnings. Lefebvre particular considers an individual’s life is a totality of what happens
throughout time. Though much is anticipated, one can start to think or imagine that, the couple
seem to be losing track and ought to meet what they have been preparing for all their life. In the
introduction, it can be noted that Frank secures an executive job where he works as a salesperson
but April (a housewife and jobless) views her husband’s job as meaningless - and working as an
office machine. She jokes by saying that her husband may later become one of the office
machines if he is not one. The question that arises is whether April and her husband are confused
or don’t know how to handle rhetorical life situations that fall into place without knocking.

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Through analysis of the key parts of the movie, the paper seeks to provide an answer or simply
an explanation of their present actions (Ploger and Lefebvre 65).
Lefebvre proposed that leisure is free time spend away from the business, education,
domestic chores, and other activities. He points out that leisure and work are inseparable and life
of any person is subject to the division of labor and in the social perception, this is reflected in
leisure activities. ‘…everyday evidence always evidences the potential for transformation. He
perceived every day as a critical totality of social life. His final work persuades the theme of
everyday life by approaching it as a time-space that could be open to rhythm analysis” (Lefebvre,
65). With diverse life dimensions, it is important not to consider one’s life as one junk of a
thing. The movie depicts April as one who is after personal interests and has fewer
considerations into their current life with two kids and responsibilities to meet. Hence, a clear
indication that the statement “we work to earn our leisure, and leisure has only one meaning: to
get away from work. A vicious circle” is true.
The essay is interested in investigating the relation between leisure and work as portrayed
in the movie “Revolutionary Road” and also as depicted in Lefebvre essays. Kate Winslet, a
mother of two, suggests to her husband to quit job not bearing in mind they now have
responsibilities to meet as parents. The recklessness of the couple is shown by the fact that they
both got together through pregnancy and seemed to take their children as a car that you can’t
think of if you are not driving it. Lefebvre rhythm analysis implies that the newlywed has their
life happening in cyclically. This states by Lefebvre “we work to earn our leisure, and leisure has
only one meaning: to get away from work. A vicious circle” credibility and validity
("Revolutionary Road (2008) Movie - Leonardo Dicaprio, Kate Winslet, Christopher Fitzgerald"
19:25).

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A rhetorical question that would arise is where the two are headed? One can see by the
look of things; the two are headed to life dilemma. The movie reveals by coincidence that, the
time Frank secures job promotion and a pay rise is the same time April is persistent about their
move to Paris. As put forward by Lefebvre, the couple fails to confront the twists that seem to
befall them and are headed to a big loss. It is frustrating for their son to come from a mental
hospital just to meet the ugly insights at the Wheelers (McGuire, Vio and O'leary 251-257)
(Zuzanek and Mannell 31-57).
Dicaprio and Winslet predicted the romance heading in “Titanic” – this simply implies
just like the most regard ship did perish, the lives of the couple seem to be headed the same
direction. At one point the movie portrays the couple with their children as living in Connecticut
suburbs and being viewed as role models in the region, however, this seems to take a different
direction due to April’s selfishness. The couple seems to be in love with the world of
entertainment and is moved by the photo of Beatnik listening to a record of modern jazz that was
said to be cool. They seem to value leisure more than the ideal life and are too extravagant on
luxuries (Townsend 442-456).
April is portrayed as a villain. She thinks her man is busy doing a useless job which she
related that of his father. The movie portrays our daily lives as composed of rhythms, and
understanding this, is an inherent factor of everyday life. The rhythm is circular and inevitable on
the road of one’s revolution (Zuzanek and Mannell 31-57). At some point, Frank is brought out
as having a love affair with a secretary (workmate). The theme of betrayal is well depicted when
he spends a night with his workmate. This demonstrates immorality and bad use of leisure time.
He does seem to understand himself and also betrays his wife April. Several immoral practices
are therefore witnessed as both partners indulge in dancing and drinking in the cities. In the

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movie, Frank spends a night away from home without a substantial reason. “Some session of the
movie presents a series of emotionally laden memories and textual echoes that render the film
cyclical” (Lefebvre 65). The revolutionary road is a cyclical narrative, a recapitulation of events
that allow change of in an emotional perspective. Like any other man of the times (the 1950’s),
Frank fails tragically in reaching out his dream life being a man of substance, different from his
father who worked in the same organization but led a miserable life (Revolutionary Road (2008)
44:05).
Lefebvre brings out leisure as one term that can be understood by not only considering
the free alternative of work but as broader relations. He points out that some practices that
individuals assume may not be distinctively taken as leisure. Individuals and personalities can
improve their productivity by getting involved in leisure activities (Aitchison 20). Productive
labor is matched with the rhythm of life – people look for active leisure activities while leisure
machines like television sets and radios promote passive leisure (Shaw 271-286). The question
that comes in here is whether Leisure is important to one’s life. The likely answer to this
question could be relaxation, entertainment, and pleasure. Leisure should not be spent in immoral
behaviors. Thus, sexual practices, criminal actions, and other social vices should not be part of
leisure activities (Choi and Yoo 140-155). The statement “we work to earn our leisure, and
leisure has only one meaning: to get away from work. A vicious circle” as depicted by Lefebvre
is true.
In a nutshell, the Revolutionary Road movie leaves the audience in a situation that
compels an individual to reflect on present-day life. Every day is represented by a variety of
issues that couples need to absorb and have the right mentality towards handling these issues that
led to disastrous life for the couple. It should be noted that falling for ferocious fights, and

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conflict is bound to happen. In “Revolutionary Road” movie, this seemed to be the case for
Frank and April since both have failed to establish their passions and missions in their lives.
Since life is quite unpredictable, and no one knows what tomorrow has in store for us, then it can
be recommended that balance between leisure and work is quite paramount (Highmore 40-0216-
40-0216). One can agree with Lefebvre statement that “We work to earn our leisure, and leisure
has only one meaning: to get away from work. A vicious circle”.

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Works cited
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"Revolutionary Road (2008) Movie - Leonardo Dicaprio, Kate Winslet, Christopher
Fitzgerald." YouTube. N.p., 2017. Web. 8 Oct. 2017.
McGuire, Francis A., F. Dominic Dotta Vio, and Joseph T. O'leary. "The Relationship of Early
Life Experiences to Later Life Leisure Involvement." Leisure Sciences 9.4 (1987): 251-257.
Web.

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Ploger, John, and Henri Lefebvre. "Critique of Everyday Life." Geografiska Annaler. Series B,
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