Analysis: The meaning of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is that people learn more outside school than inside school.
Examples that support this Ferris Bueller’s Day Off analysis:
The scenes inside the school show that no learning occurs there
– “Bueller…Bueller…Bueller”
-“This was called the something-something Tariff Act. Anyone? Anyone?”
– The walls are bare white
– Grace passes the time by getting high off of White Out
Ferris’s sister learns outside of the school
– She doesn’t learn inside of the school because of her focus on hating Ferris
– But Charlie Sheen’s character teaches her to let go of her hate of Ferris
Cameron learns a lot on his day off
– He learns to not be afraid of his father and that an odometer doesn’t go backwards by putting the car in reverse
– He views art in a museum, watches the stock market in action, and finds out what a nude female looks like in person
Ferris makes the most of his day
– Instead of watching TV, he practices playing his clarinet and using his computer
– He learns to wrap his head in a hot towel when he’s sick
– He even learns what it’s like to perform in a parade
The principal, Edward Rooney learns the most of all: he discovers that outside of the school, he has no power over anyone
– This is first hinted at when he falls for the fake phone call
– He learns that he cannot tell off strangers, break into houses, or park in front of hydrants
– In the end, he truly realizes that outside of school he is just another person, just like his students, when he is forced to ride the bus with them
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