The Royal Tenenbaums Essay Questions

Describe the contradiction in Royal Tenenbaum's nature.

In many ways, Royal Tenenbaum is villainous. He has been exceedingly neglectful of his family, he seems to care only about his most base impulses and desires, and he is not above lying about his own impending death in order to win favor with his family members. In spite of this, however, he is the protagonist of the film, an anti-hero of sorts, who ends up teaching his family members to care about their lives and themselves again. He makes up for the fact that he was absent for his children's coming of age by connecting with them as adults and encouraging them to care about themselves. His love for life, however destructive and selfish it may be, is an inspiration to his existentially-discouraged family.

What are some of the inspirations for the film?

Wes Anderson uses his soundtrack to illuminate emotional truths throughout the film. Music, particularly rock music, informs the tone and mood of the film. He also took cues from the films of Louis Malle, and Orson Welles' film The Magnificent Ambersons. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger also served as an inspiration, as well as the museum setting of E.L. Konigsburg's young adult novel From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The theme of divorce and parental estrangement was inspired by Wes Anderson's own family history.

What is ironic about the title?

The title uses "royal" as an adjective to describe the family. As we learn quickly, "Royal" is the name of the ne'er-do-well father of the family, and he is an indulgent and penniless man, hardly royal at all. The title is ironic because it frames the family as somehow elevated or grand, when in fact the family is in disrepair, a damaged and dysfunctional group of people who burned out before they could have a chance at success.

What does the film demonstrate about early childhood precociousness and prodigies?

As children, Margot, Chas, and Richie were precociously gifted in their areas of interest. Margot was an expert playwright, winning a hefty grant at a young age, Chas was a business and science wunderkind, and Richie was playing pro tennis as soon as he could hold a racket. The Tenenbaum children were shining examples of success, but as adults, they are relative failures. Richie humiliatingly lost a pivotal tennis match, Margot is a recluse who never shares her plays anymore, and Chas lives in near-constant fear of danger and death. The film shows the pitfalls of early success, and the ways that being mature in childhood does not necessarily lead to a mature and successful adulthood.

How does rock music feature in the film?

At several pivotal moments, the soundtrack underscores and enhances the emotional continuity of the scenes portrayed. Notable instances of this include the moment when Margot emerges from the bus to pick up Richie after not seeing him for many years. She smiles at him as the film slows down and Nico's recording of "These Days" plays. This musical choice is at once romantic, innocent, and sad, underscoring the fact that the romantic love shared between the two siblings exists in a suspended state of impossibility. Later, when they admit their love for one another, a different Nico song plays. Another notable moment is when Richie shaves and commits suicide. As he does so, Elliot Smith's 1995 song “Needle In The Hay” plays. This is actually one of the few moments in which a more contemporary song plays, and it is an apt choice. Elliot Smith is famous for being an emotionally raw songwriter, but he is also famous for struggling with depression and committing suicide in 2003. The song choice calls to mind not only Richie's suicide attempt, but suicide and depression more broadly.