Revolutionary Road can be made relevant to young professionals in numerous ways and I think there are a lot of lessons to be drawn, one of which you have outlined above. I will explore some other issues below, which will hopefully produce some food for thought.

I think the essence of the problem is that the characters of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio have been dragged into the American “dream,” without actively choosing it. They get married because that’s what society expects, move to the suburbs because Kate’s character gets pregnant and gradually exchange their vivacious personalities for dreary conformity. The movie captures their anguish at a point when they are both realizing the severity of a sequence of mistakes, which have lodged them in a structure whose rules and judgments are comparable to Victorian England with modern appliances.

Briefly put, both characters are stuck in a 1/3rd-life existential crisis and each have their own ideas as to how to overcome it. Leo’s character is especially unimaginative in his existence, sustaining himself with a promotion rather than an overhaul of his life. He seeks a solution within the structure rather than overturning it. Kate’s character is much more revolutionary and proposes a life change that runs counter to the ideals of idyllic but conservative 50s America. The plan switches around the provider in the house, involves moving to another country and in the end, is too much for Leo’s character to stomach. He sells his dream for a raise, settling for compromise rather than risk.

Moving to the present day, the lessons from the rather tragic story hold true. Sketch your own journey in life and be prepared to make risky changes if necessary. When you hit a dead-end, delete and resketch. You’ll notice that Leo’s character does anything but determine the direction of his life. He works at his company because his father worked there. Even his promotion is by accident, arising from a joke rather than any passion or effort. Too many of my friends have followed convention in making career choices. They all seek the prestigious corporate job as if it were some holy grail. Not surprisingly, most are unhappy, having gone with the flow rather than causing a splash of their own. Society’s definition of “prestigious” is vague and rarely suits individual needs.

In short, conformity is the easiest track you can take. The most difficult part of establishing a career is getting to know yourself, researching the marketplace and choosing the best job for your personality and skills, no matter what your parents, coworkers, neighbors or society in general think. Ultimately, if you are Kate Winslet’s character, it is a mistake to choose the life of a housewife in suburban America, even if everyone else is doing it.

Might as well start early.