When conversations turn to gender and queerness within the iconic Addams Family, Gomez and Morticia often take center stage. Their passionate romance, unconventional lifestyle, and embrace of the macabre undoubtedly position them as symbols of liberated, non-conformist love within a heteronormative world. Initially, like many, I admired Gomez and Morticia, even aspiring to their dynamic. However, revisiting the 1991 classic film recently, I realized my deeper connection resonated not with the family patriarch and matriarch, but with the endearingly bizarre Uncle Fester.
In stark contrast to the suave Gomez and elegant Morticia, Uncle Fester embodies the unconventional in its most outwardly visible form. His appearance is often described as grotesque, his behavior erratic, and his social graces… well, lacking. He is not the character one might immediately expect to identify with, yet Fester’s journey through The Addams Family films reveals a profound and relatable narrative, particularly for those who have felt like outsiders.
The narratives of both The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993) are intrinsically linked to Fester’s character arc, specifically his internal struggles with identity. In the first film, Fester arrives at the Addams mansion with amnesia, manipulated by Abigail pretending to be his mother, intending to defraud the family. However, he gradually discovers a genuine sense of belonging, wrestling with a conflict between his fabricated past and his burgeoning Addams identity. Similarly, Addams Family Values explores Fester’s romantic and sexual awakening through his entanglement with the predatory Debbie Jellinsky, leading to further identity crises. In both instances, the unwavering love and acceptance of his eccentric family ultimately become his anchors.
Two key themes emerge from Fester’s portrayal. Firstly, he embodies the “unacceptable queer” figure – someone deemed outside societal norms – who finds unconditional acceptance within a chosen family. Secondly, Fester’s internal struggle to embrace his Addams identity mirrors the complex journey of self-discovery and coming out as LGBTQ+.
The Unconventional Queer Figure in the Adams Family
As noted, Fester Addams stands in stark contrast to the polished charm of Gomez and Morticia. He lacks conventional attractiveness, often described with terms like “ugly” or “grotesque.” Despite this, Gomez views Fester as utterly charming, even more so than himself, a perspective that, while comedic, reveals Gomez’s profound acceptance of Fester’s perceived flaws. Gomez’s admiration is genuine and complete, highlighting the Addams’ family’s unique value system.
This concept of embracing the grotesque extends to the entire Addams clan. When the extended family gathers, a diverse array of body types and unconventional aesthetics are celebrated. Fester’s party scene showcases individuals who might be considered “disfigured” by mainstream society, those who present themselves in unusual ways, and even beings of indeterminate origin. Their unifying characteristic is their exuberant zest for life. They are united in their pursuit of pleasure, open expression of sensuality and sexuality, joy, and mutual celebration.
Barry Sonnenfeld / The Addams Family (1991)
The Addams family, universally labeled as “odd,” finds unity in their shared “Addams-ness.” They function as an allegory for an ideal queer community. While Gomez and Morticia are arguably the most palatable to mainstream society, they actively reject assimilation, instead reveling in their eccentricities and challenging conventional norms.
The humor of the Addams Family stems from their dark inversion of traditional American values concerning family and social decorum. Gomez and Morticia, our primary guides into this world, are presented as murderous, morally ambiguous, openly kinky, and sexually active – traits deemed unacceptable by “traditional” values. Yet, these very traits contribute to a healthier and more positive relationship than those of the “normal” characters surrounding them. The Addamses’ inclusivity is boundless, welcoming anyone who rejects the rigid constraints of “straight” society. Morticia’s iconic graveyard tour, listing her ancestors as “psychopaths, fiends, mad-dog killers, brutes, Fester… pioneers,” exemplifies this. Within this accepting embrace, Fester, awkward and unconventional, finds a home where he is valued for who he is – unequivocally an Addams.
Barry Sonnenfeld / Addams Family Values (1993)
Fester’s Journey to Self-Acceptance: A Queer Narrative
Fester’s journey of self-discovery unfolds through his exposure to the Addams family, mirroring the experience of acquiring the “vocabulary” for one’s own gender or sexual identity. For many, particularly those who grew up in environments lacking LGBTQ+ representation or facing outright censorship, understanding and articulating their own identities can be a delayed process. The author’s personal anecdote of discovering their queerness in their late twenties underscores this point, highlighting the crucial role of language and representation in self-understanding.
Initially infiltrating the Addams family with ulterior motives, Fester begins by “pretending” to be an Addams, essentially “performing” a gender. However, this performance unexpectedly leads to genuine self-discovery. He finds himself drawn to the Addams’ way of life, experiencing a sense of “rightness” that clashes with his previous, externally imposed identity. While initially disturbed by the family’s macabre customs, from being offered living food to Gomez’s unsettling childhood stories, this discomfort is short-lived.
A turning point occurs when Fester witnesses Wednesday and Pugsley sword fighting. His excited exclamation of “bloodshed!” and eagerness to instruct them in “proper” slaughter marks a moment of recognition and connection. He finds common ground in their shared fascination with the morbid, a shared language that transcends conventional societal norms. This shared interest blossoms into a sequence where Fester enthusiastically educates his niece and nephew in the arts of explosives, poisons, and creating realistic scabs. His immersion in Addams family life becomes so fulfilling that it distracts him from his original mission, culminating in his rebellious attendance at the children’s school play.
The pinnacle of Fester’s self-acceptance is vividly portrayed in the aftermath of the Mamushka dance. The scene of Fester dancing into his bedroom, singing with unrestrained joy, resonates deeply as a visual metaphor for gender euphoria. This unbridled happiness mirrors the elation experienced when one authentically expresses their gender identity for the first time, a feeling of finally aligning inner self with outward presentation. For the author, this scene evoked personal experiences of gender affirmation, such as wearing a blouse or experimenting with makeup.
Barry Sonnenfeld / The Addams Family (1991)
Fester’s journey is not without its setbacks. His path to self-acceptance is marked by periods of resistance, both internal and externally imposed. In The Addams Family, his fear of being exposed as a fraud, of not being a “real” Addams, mirrors the anxieties of those questioning their gender identity, the fear of not “passing” or being perceived as inauthentic.
However, the major crises in Fester’s arc stem from external pressures. Abigail’s emotionally abusive control in The Addams Family leads him to betray his newfound family. In Addams Family Values, Debbie’s manipulative romantic advances, while abusive, introduce Fester to forms of affection absent within his familial context, creating a different kind of conflict. Both Abigail and Debbie represent forces attempting to push Fester back into a conventional, “normal” world, a world that would forever ostracize him.
These controlling relationships manifest in distinct ways. Abigail weaponizes Fester’s strangeness in her criminal enterprise, exploiting him as a tool rather than recognizing him as an individual. Debbie, conversely, attempts to mold Fester into a palatable version of himself, forcing him into conventional clothing, a hair transplant, and silence, all to alleviate her own social anxieties about his unconventionality.
The core of the abuse in both relationships lies in the insistence that Fester conform to their desires, prioritizing their comfort and expectations over his authentic self. These scenarios resonate with the experiences of many in the queer community who face pressure to conform to heteronormative expectations. Ironically, both Abigail and Debbie, with their morally flexible compasses, might have found a place within the Addams family, were it not for their intolerance of the Addams’ inherent “queerness.”
Fester, unlike the polished Gomez and Morticia, is rough around the edges, unconventional in appearance and temperament. Yet, he is unconditionally loved and valued within his community. His journey emphasizes that true acceptance begins with self-acceptance. Fester’s narrative is a powerful reminder that embracing one’s true self, even when it deviates from societal norms, is essential for finding a place of belonging and love. For those still navigating their own journeys of self-discovery, Fester Addams offers a comforting and hopeful portrayal of embracing one’s authentic, unconventional self.
