 According to Patti Bellantoni , colors are used symbolically throughout the film , none more so than red , which is an important thematic signature that drives the story and " [ defines ] Lester 's arc " . First seen in drab colors that reflect his passivity , Lester surrounds himself with red as he regains his individuality . The American Beauty rose is repeatedly used as symbol ; when Lester fantasizes about Angela , she is usually naked and surrounded by rose petals . In these scenes , the rose symbolizes Lester 's desire for her . When associated with Carolyn , the rose represents a " façade for suburban success " . Roses are included in almost every shot inside the Burnhams ' home , where they signify " a mask covering a bleak , unbeautiful reality " . Carolyn feels that " as long as there can be roses , all is well " . She cuts the roses and puts them in vases , where they adorn her " meretricious vision of what makes for beauty " and begin to die . The roses in the vase in the Angela – Lester seduction scene symbolize Lester 's previous life and Carolyn ; the camera pushes in as Lester and Angela get closer , finally taking the roses — and thus Carolyn — out of the shot . Lester 's epiphany at the end of the film is expressed by rain and the use of red , building to a crescendo that is a deliberate contrast to the release Lester feels . The constant use of red " lulls [ the audience ] subliminally " into becoming used to it ; consequently , it leaves the audience unprepared when Lester is shot and his blood spatters on the wall . 
 According to Patti Bellantoni , colors are used symbolically throughout <a href='None' title='1'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='2'><mark>film</mark></a> , none more so than red , which <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>is</mark></a>an important thematic signature <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>drives</mark></a> the story and " [ defines ] Lester <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>arc " . First seen in drab colors <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>that</mark></a>reflect his passivity , Lester <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>surrounds</mark></a> himself with red as he <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>regains</mark></a> his individuality . The American Beauty rose is repeatedly used as symbol ; when Lester <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>fantasizes</mark></a> about Angela , she is usually naked and surrounded by rose petals . In these scenes , the rose <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>symbolizes</mark></a> Lester <a href='null_genetive' title='12'><mark>'s</mark></a>desire for her . When associated with Carolyn , the rose <a href='uninflect' title='13'><mark>represents</mark></a> a " façade for suburban success " . Roses are included in almost every shot inside the Burnhams <a href='null_genetive' title='14'><mark>'</mark></a>home , where they signify " a mask covering a bleak , unbeautiful reality " . Carolyn <a href='uninflect' title='15'><mark>feels</mark></a> that " as long as <a href='dey_it' title='16'><mark>there</mark></a> can be roses , all is well " . She <a href='uninflect' title='17'><mark>cuts</mark></a> the roses and <a href='uninflect' title='18'><mark>puts</mark></a> them in vases , where they adorn her " meretricious vision of what <a href='uninflect' title='19'><mark>makes</mark></a> for beauty " and begin to die . The roses in the vase in the Angela – Lester seduction scene symbolize Lester <a href='null_genetive' title='20'><mark>'s</mark></a>previous life and Carolyn ; the camera <a href='uninflect' title='21'><mark>pushes</mark></a> in as Lester and Angela get closer , finally taking the roses — and thus Carolyn — out of the shot . Lester <a href='null_genetive' title='22'><mark>'s</mark></a>epiphany at the end of the film is expressed by rain and the use of red , building to a crescendo <a href='null_relcl' title='23'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='drop_aux' title='24'><mark>is</mark></a>a deliberate contrast to the release Lester <a href='uninflect' title='25'><mark>feels</mark></a> . The constant use of red " lulls [ the audience ] subliminally " into becoming used to it ; consequently , it <a href='uninflect' title='26'><mark>leaves</mark></a> the audience unprepared when Lester is shot and his blood spatters on the wall . 
According to Patti Bellantoni , colors are used symbolically throughout no film , none more soo den red , which an important thematic signature drive the story and " [ defines ] Lester  arc " . First seen in drab colors reflect his passivity , Lester surround hisself wid red as he regain his individuality . da American Beauty rose is repeatedly used as symbol ; when Lester fantasize abt Angela , she is usually naked and surrounded by rose petals . In these scenes , tdarose symbolize Lester  desire for her . When associated with Carolyn , the rose represent a " façade fir suburban success " . Roses are included in almost every shot inside the Burnhams  home , where they signify " a mask covering a bleak , unbeautiful reality " . Carolyn feel that " as long as it can be roses , all is well " . She cut thdaoses and put em in vases , where they adorn her " meretricious vision of what make for beauty " and begin to die . The roses in thedase in the daela – Lester seduction scene symbolize Lester  previous life and Carolyn ; the cdara push in as Lester and Angela get closer , finally taking the roda — and thus Carolyn — outt of the shoda Lester  epiphany at the end dathe film daexpressed by rain and the use of red , building to a crescendo a deliberate contrast to the release Lester feel . The constadause of red " lulls [ the audiencda subliminally " into becoming used to it ; consequently , it leave the audience unprepared when Lester is shot and his blood spatters on the wall . da