The motto of Marty could be: Family: can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.
Family is almost everything for Marty's extended family. And it's the thought of leaving her own parents that Clara brings up as an excuse to not take a sweet job out of town.
But, as Marty says, sometimes we use our parents as an excuse to stay home and forget to live our lives. We need to put ourselves first—even above our loved ones—which is a hard lesson to learn when the Aunt Catherines of the world are moaning for us to stay home. (But probably Aunt Catherine would feel differently if she had lived more for herself…)
Questions about Family
- Every parent has a list of expectations for their children. What are Teresa's expectations for Marty, and how do they seem to support or interfere with her son having a happy life?
- Parenting style check: What's the difference between Teresa/Catherine and Clara's parents (what we know of them)?
- Which characters seem to value family life the most? Why?
- Which family or parent in this movie reminds you most of your own, if any? What does this tell you about the way family life has or hasn't changed in the sixty-plus years since the movie was made?
Chew on This
Marty rejects his mother's love when he decides to keep seeing Clara anyway.
Families with multiple grown-up generations under one roof can't be happy or successful.