Rushmore’s opening scene shows a daydream that exposes a lot about Max Fischer. Max sits in the back of the class drinking tea, not paying attention to the class, reading a newspaper, and is eventually asked to answer the “hardest geometry question in the world”. He confidently walks up to the chalkboard, solves the equation, and is carried off by students as they cheer his name. Quickly, he returns to reality. This daydream gives us an interesting look at Max’s character and reveals the main theme of the movie; growing up. He is shown to be someone who longs for popularity and importance, who desires not just to be accepted but to be admired. It also reveals Max’s main flaw: He is insecure and extremely concerned with how he is viewed by
