The Tenenbombs

Response:

Royal Tenenbaums is a movie about a family that reunites under the auspices of taking care of their terminally ill father, Royal Tenenbaum. The Tenenbaums are a rich and dysfunctional family that relies on their mother, Etheline Tenenbaum, provide love and support. Although Royal neglects his family for his career and personal whims, he eventually relies on them to fulfill their assigned kinship role by taking care of him during his illness. Families often assume their kinship roles when another family member is in need even in the case a dysfunctional family.

The Tenenbaum children longed for Royal's genuine attention during their childhood and adolescent years. Royal's absence and lack of involvement in their lives resulted in the Tenenbaum children's dismissal of him. By the time Margot, Chas and Richie Tenenbaum mature to adulthood, it seems as though they have accepted Royal's neglect, although their lives are still negatively affected due to his mistreatment. When the Tenenbaum children find out that Royal is ill, they are moved to take on the role of a family by accepting him back into the home and providing him with care.

Royal's feigns his illness in order to manipulate his family into accepting him back into the Tenenbaum home. He commits this act of desperation because of his financial situation and his desire to reunite with his wife. Royal realizes that his family will feel obligated to assume their assigned kinship responsibilities by taking pity on him and caring for him. And indeed, once the family learns of his terminal illness, they respond by allowing him to return to the Tenenbaum home and facilitating his health care.

To conclude, naturally family members are obligated to take care of their needed family member. Royal was cognizant of this, and subsequently took advantage of his family.