Not a lot of characters on television scream masculinity as well as Jack Bauer of 24 does. He is the head of his family, the typical dominant male, works for the government, usually has a gun in his hand. He functions on the power he has in his position at work, as a male, and the power he has in his household.
One of Freud's big theories is all about the Oedipal Complex, and the repressed thoughts and emotions that live in all of us. Freud would most likely enjoy analyzing Bauer on his many issues. His marriage is falling apart, he can't control his daughter, and his job is taking over his life, just to name a few issues he has. Because of his overt masculinity, Freud might say that Bauer has completely conformed himself to the ideals of the traditional male figure. Freud also focuses on the ideas of repression of feelings that many children experience early in life. According to Freud, children repress painful memories, desires, and impulses into their unconscious mind. Freud might say that Jack Bauer has repressed memories into his unconscious that have made him the masculine figure he is today.
Bauer is a every aggressive person, and uses his aggression to assert his power and dominance over almost every situation he is in. In his home life, Bauer overpowers his wife in every situation, always dominating her and now allowing her to be a head of the family. In his workplace, he answers to no one, and does whatever he sees fit, even if it might not be the morally correct thing to do. And although he is not the head of the government office he works in, he has the power to manipulate and convince just about anyone in the office to do what he wants. Yet, with all of the power Jack Bauer wields, his life is not so neat and tidy. His marriage is falling apart, he can't control his teenage daughter, and he is having an affair with a co-worker. His private life is crumbling, so he has put all of his energy and focus into his job, where he can be masculine, carry a gun, and defend his country.
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