With examples from “The Kugelmass Episode” By Woody Allen
A midlife crisis is a common occurrence that influences countless adults every year. Many experience this, but might not be aware of the symptoms. People also might not know why this crisis happens. A midlife crisis often has many effects that people do not realize, either. Sydney Kugelmass from Woody Allen’s story, “The Kugelmass Episode,” failed to understand these things and consequently, ruined his life, along with several others.
A midlife crisis occurs between the ages of forty and sixty. It frequently causes people to dramatically change something in their life. When someone is going through this, they sporadically buy expensive items such as cars, boats, …show more content…
At the same time, someone else may think these developments are very bizarre. The observer may ask themselves, “Why is this person acting differently all of the sudden?” Daphne Kugelmass asked this question quite often when her husband disappeared for many hours at a time. There are several reasons for this in Woody Allen’s story and in real life. The first thing that can cause this is frustration or boredom at work. This builds up because they have probably performed the same job for twenty or thirty years. Over this time period, they might become tired of the same routine, they might begin to dislike their boss, or they might not be financially ready for upcoming retirement. Another life event that can cause this is when someone watches their parents age. During this stage, people realize that they cannot rely on their parents like they once could, and their parents now rely on them. When they go through this, they understand that life is too short to be unhappy. People watching their children become adults can also trigger a midlife crisis. This is known as empty nest syndrome. For at least eighteen years, a parent’s main focus has been making sure their child is educated, loved, and taken care of. When their last child leaves the house for college or work, it can be devastating for parents, who can then lose a sense of purpose. Parents often describe feeling “worthless, disoriented and unsure of what meaning their future may hold” (“Empty Nest