Authoritarianism
Defined as the enforcement of strict obedience to authority and the repression of personal freedom, authoritarianism is a dominant theme in The Breakfast Club. Hughes explores the theme through the character of Vice Principal Richard Vernon, who oversees the all-day detention of Bender, Claire, Andrew, Brian, and Allison. Vernon attempts to impose his authority by placing unrealistic demands on the students, shouting at them to stay still and not speak for the next eight hours. Throughout the course of the film, Vernon continues to act tough with the students, treating them as miscreants whose freedom should be restricted. However, his attempts at strong-arming respect ultimately fail, because the students can see through Vernon's act and perceive the insecurity that fuels his need for obedience. In this way, Hughes portrays Vernon's authoritarian attitude as a compensation for his failure to earn genuine respect from others.
Rebellion
As a counterpoint to authoritarianism, Hughes addresses the theme of rebellion in The Breakfast Club. When Vernon attempts to impose his will on the detention students, Bender is provoked to rebel, and he defies Vernon's authority at every opportunity. Bender's first act of rebellion is to speak to the others as soon as Vernon leaves the room. While the others initially resist Bender's rule-breaking, they soon join in and speak with him. Bender's next move is to make it so the door to Vernon's office won't stay propped open. With this act, Bender wins back the students' privacy by making it so Vernon can't spy on them as easily. As the film goes on, Bender continues to lead the other students in rebellious acts, which include tearing up old books, smoking pot, running up the walls, climbing furniture, and crawling through air ducts. The film concludes on one last act of rebellion: rejecting the premise of Vernon's essay assignment in a curt note. However, it isn't Bender who writes the note, but Brian, the brainy member of the group who, through Bender's example, has found that he too has the capacity and desire to question authority.
Resentment
Resentment is another major theme in the film. Defined as the bitter indignation that follows unfair treatment, resentment first arises in The Breakfast Club when Vernon addresses the group at the beginning of their detention. By treating them with disrespect, Vernon reveals that he resents having to spend his Saturday watching over the group of troublemakers. Bender also reveals his resentful nature when he takes shots at Claire, Brian, and Andrew—people he doesn't like because he sees them as far more privileged than he. Claire soon confesses to resenting both of her parents, who have neglected her following their divorce. Brian also resents his parents; in his case, it is because they put too much pressure on him to excel in academics. For Andrew, his resentment stems from being raised by a bullying father who is obsessed with winning. Similarly, Bender has been raised by a violent, overbearing father who instilled in Bender a desire to rebel and lash out at others. Allison isn't immune either: she resents her parents for emotionally neglecting her. Although Hughes portrays resentment as a negative emotion, resentment is also something that helps bring the students together as they bond over their indignation at having been mistreated by authority figures.
Family Dysfunction
Family dysfunction is a major theme in The Breakfast Club. Defined as deviation from the healthy norms of behavior within a family, family dysfunction enters the film when Claire speaks of how her parents have been using her as a weapon in their acrimonious divorce, adding that she would prefer to live with her older brother if she could. Bender also comes from an extremely dysfunctional family, explaining to the others that his father is physically abusive. For Andrew, the issue is being pushed into sports by an unfeeling monster of a father. For Allison, it is being neglected by her parents, who ignore her cries for attention. For Brian, it is being pushed by parents to keep perfect grades without them accounting for the psychological toll so much pressure can take. Ultimately, Hughes shows that each of the students in the Shermer High School Saturday detention is dealing with unaddressed family dysfunction in some form. However, an unsympathetic figure like Vernon lacks the imagination to consider the roots of the students' misbehavior.
Emotional Repression
Emotional repression—the action of restraining the expression or examination of one's feelings—is another key theme in The Breakfast Club. Having grown up in dysfunctional homes where feelings were minimized in one way or another, the students at the center of the film have been implicitly taught by their parents to push down any negative emotions that arise. This repression can often lead to acting out, which Bender exhibits when he provokes reactions from Vernon and the other students. In undermining others, Bender relieves the internal pressure of the anger and grief he feels in regard to his parents. Allison is another strong case of emotional repression: Seemingly mute when the film begins, Allison draws attention to herself with bizarre outbursts. When she finally opens up about the grief she feels at being neglected by her parents, she can barely put words to her pent-up emotions. Similarly, Andrew suppresses his resentment of his father; when he gets high, however, Andrew shouts and dances and flexes his muscles, letting himself release some of the tension. With these depictions, Hughes shows the destructive effects of bottling up one's emotions and the satisfaction that comes with letting go.
Bonding
Bonding—the establishment of a relationship based on shared feelings—is another crucial theme in The Breakfast Club. At the beginning of the film, it seems the only thing that unites the five students is the fact they must serve all-day detention on the weekend. However, the students soon find they have shared feelings that result from living in similarly difficult circumstances. As the students each establish that they resent their parents and wish they could escape the pressures of teenage life, they reach a level of understanding among each other; most feel safe enough to be vulnerable and shed tears in front of the others. At the end of the film, the group cements their bond by submitting one essay to Vernon that Brian writes on all of their behalf, presenting a united front in defiance of his abusive authority. Hughes further emphasizes the group's newly forged bond by showing the burgeoning relationships of Claire and Bender, and Allison and Andrew. Both couples have seen past the superficial divisions of high-school cliques and discovered genuine emotional connections.
Social Division
Social division is another important theme in The Breakfast Club. The theme enters the story when the students begin their detention and it becomes clear that the individuals in the group have little in common—at least superficially. Through the characters' dialogue, Hughes establishes that the only two in the group who know each other are Claire and Andrew, because they are both members of the popular set. Brian, branded as a "dork" by Bender, belongs to the quiet, nerdy, over-achieving crowd, and only associates with other academically gifted kids. Bender is a rebel "burner" who hangs out with other grungy, drug-taking kids, and Allison is a socially outcast girl who appears to not have any social skills. Despite these social divisions, the students come to learn that they are more similar than it would seem, as they each struggle to relate to their dysfunctional families and are inclined to repress their feelings of resentment and grief. Through sharing their problems with each other, the students see beyond the arbitrary social divisions that have defined them and learn to relate on a more intimate, universal level.