The Virgin Suicides takes place in Michigan in 1974 surburbia. Knowing the time period the story is set in, it is easier to understand the shock of five sisters committing suicide. Though it would still be a shock to our society today, it was even more so back then because there were no suicide prevention or awareness functions going on. The major suicide/death scandal to occur that set the nation into motion of preventing it were the deaths in Jonestown under leadership of Jim Jones, 1978. Before then, suicide occurred but it wasn’t in mass numbers. To have siblings commit suicide is horrifying, especially without understanding why.
For the protective parents aspect, the generation to have children and teens in the 70s had grown up in the 40s/50s. This was a time where parents were very protective and religious over their children due to the nation being at war. That upbringing caused parents of the 70s to either be rebellious or practice those ways with their children. As seen in the home, the mother was protective of her children even before the youngest daughter committed suicide. The party the girls have only happens with the mother’s approval.
In the 70s, people were not aware on why suicide happens or had any way of preventing it. Crisis hotlines in the US, mainly directed towards suicide, were set up in the mid70s. Suicide is a horrible action that still happens today. Sadly, we still have not reached an age where suicide does not occur, but we are definitely making progress.
Adolescence in 1990s Films 
April 28th, 2014 at 4:22 pm
I like the way you tie the generation difference into the characters and their actions. Like the mother being protective, for example. It’s a very valid observation but this mother took it to an extreme, I think. There must have been something tragic in her life for her to be the way she is. It’s just so obviously unhealthy to keep your daughters locked up like that, regardless of whether or not you’re in the heat of a suicide.
Awareness is also a huge issue, not just in suicide but other major societal and cultural problems. It’s great that so many problems these days are being addressed with awareness and prevention programs. This helps our lives and society as a whole, function much better.