Arrested Development and Philosophy_ They've Made a Huge Mistake - Kristopher G. Phillips [31]
Michael
Michael is the most rational and self-sacrificing character in the show, and takes over the presidency from his father (except in Season 2, where he is vice president . . . but let’s be honest—he’s still president, Gob’s just sitting in his chair). Despite all this, Michael still exhibits a desire for too much control in situations and in his relationships.
Thanks to his personal moral code, Michael is far more functional and successful than any of the other Bluths. He tries to be a good father to George Michael, a good son to his parents, a good brother to his siblings, a good manager to his employees. In fact, he spends the whole show trying to save his family and their business—except, of course, for the few times he tries to leave his crazy family entirely (but who can blame him?). He is not an alcoholic or a womanizer, and he does not let his desire for too much control (which may or may not be necessary with a family so crazy) become pathological (like his father) or passive-aggressive (like his mother).
At the same time, Michael, good as he is personally, is forced in his attempts to save the family business to view the world in terms of profitability, success, and failure. This is a view that has been pushed on him by his disapproving father, himself judging the world and his sons by that standard. As a result, Michael is too self-conscious and too self-critical and has difficulties finding a relationship after the death of his wife (it’s always “too soon” or “bad for George Michael”). And despite the fact that he sees his father for what he is, Michael still seeks his approval.
In short, Michael’s worldview (which he struggles against) is the product of alienation produced by the capitalist system. He adopts a set of priorities that don’t suit him personally. Indeed, he doesn’t seem to have the choice to see the world in any other terms if he wants to save his family.
Don’t Buy This Book! Down with Capitalism!
But what can the Bluths, or anyone for that matter, do to break the cycle? First, the Bluths (and anyone living under capitalism) need to look closely at the traits and values they have, social relationships they are in, and how they behave in different social roles. They need to examine these in terms of authenticity, and whether they are ultimately more helpful to themselves and others, or not. Second, the Bluths need to reflect on how the harmful traits, values, relationships, and so on embed themselves in their actions and choices—they need to see the web of effects. Third, they need to be committed to overcoming these harmful traits on a personal level while also looking for the ways in which society promotes these traits. The Bluths might then become committed to fighting for a socioeconomic system that struggles against these traits rather than one that is built on them.
Let’s be blunt: the Bluths need to be committed to overcoming capitalism in favor of a democratic socialism, in which all people have control over their lives and share equal control over their society.
Toward the end of the series, the dysfunctional Bluths become increasingly caricatures of themselves: The more they try to fix their alienation within the system, the more disfigured and alienated they become. Such is the fate of any attempt at change that stops short of the heart of the matter. The volume of their absurdity, the very reason why Arrested Development is funny, grows in a manner that shows us one thing: alienation can only be solved by a radical departure from the way things have been done, and any attempt to solve our social problems within the system can