George Minafer

"I said automobiles are a useless nuisance. Never amount to anything but a nuisance and they had no business to be invented."

## Biographical information

### Related to

Unnamed grandfather (deceased)Isabel Amberson (mother; deceased)

Wilbur Minafer (father; deceased)

Fanny Minafer (aunt)

Jack Amberson (uncle)

## Alignment and character traits

### Alignment

Neutral

**George Amberson Minafer** is the main protagonist of the 1942 Orson Welles film *The Magnificent Ambersons.* As the only son (and child) of Wilbur and Isabel Amberson and the grandson of Major Amberson, he's the spoiled heir to the Ambersons' fortune that quickly declines through the rise of industrialization.

He was portrayed by Tim Holt as an adult and Bobby Cooper as a child.

## Why He Rocks

1. Tim Holt does a completely unmatched and irreplaceable performance as spoiled heir to the family's wealth. In fact, said performance is so well done, you'd be forgiven for feeling a bit uncomfortable while watching the film.
2. Even though he's selfish and arrogant man, he still manages to be an very interesting and well-written character, with a detailed history and timeline that showcases important moments of his life and pretty much sums up is traits. He's also shown have various levels of depths so he manages to avoid being completely detestable. One of the most notable being his relationship with Lucy, and his hidden caring side for his family -- which he keeps *very* well hidden.
3. His fall to despair and misery flows decent and fits well enough. By not accepting Eugene's passion for his mother, he had indirectly hastened the declining state of his own mother's health and her eventual death, and severs his own ties with Lucy, for she remains faithful to her father. Then after his mother and grandmother pass away and the Ambersons' wealth (and overall legacy) was pretty much gone, he finally realizes the error of his ways and changes for the sake of his Aunt Fanny, for whom it turns out he cares a great deal about and makes sure she can enjoy some comfort. Unfortunately, he had reformed himself a bit too late since Amberson name was now in shambles. And to make matters even worse, he's eventually struck down by a car -- the machine he once scoffed at as a ludicrous fad that is now the source of Morgan's great fortune -- which breaks both his legs in a dramatic case of irony. So even though George had gotten his comeuppance after of lifetime of rudeness and selfishness, now you pity for him more than anything.
4. There are also a various points shown throughout the film where George has shown to not be completely heartless. When George is convinced that Isabel had once been engaged to Eugene, and that gossips in the town talk of Eugene's love for his widowed mother. He assumes one of Fanny's friends, Tully Johnson, is the source of the malicious gossip about his mother, and goes to defend his mother's honor/reputation.
5. As a member of his family who wants to avoid any business or professions --since he doesn't see what that gets out of life -- and would rather be a yachtsmen or take part in movements, he's often attempting to be independent and solo.
6. Another rather enjoyable factor from George is his sarcastic sense of humor that tends to lighten the mood in some otherwise serious moments, especially those aimed towards his aunt Fanny.
7. Throughout various scenes in the movie, George has been shown to be a traditionalist who refuses to adjust to the changing times. There's dinner scene where Eugene Morgan's invited to the Amberson mansion and George calls automobiles a "useless nuisance", but said insult, while definitely harsh, was also fair as there would be various inherent dangers in the progress. Eugene even defended George's statement and delivered a powerful philosophical speech about growth of his creation.