Bussey holds a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies and a bachelor's degree in English literature. She is an independent writer specializing in literature. In the following essay, Bussey compares John Cheever's 1954 story, "The Country Husband," with the 1999 American film, American Beauty.

One of John Cheever's most anthologized stories, "The Country Husband," is a depiction of life in the American suburbs in the 1950s. The depiction is not flattering, as the main character, Francis Weed, feels empty and unfulfilled in his superficial world of parties and pleasantries. Similarly, the 1999 American film, American Beauty, depicts a middle-aged suburban man, Lester Burnham, who finds his life unsatisfying. Both Francis and Lester have come to a crisis although they have come by very different paths. Francis has survived a near-death experience. Lester has reached the boiling point via what is today understood as a mid-life crisis. The ways in which these...