My Analysis of American Gothic

I have seen this painting many times in my life yet I have never really had the chance to give my interpretation of it until now. Everyone tries to pick it apart and analyze every inch of it but, what if it isn't meant for such things? What if it was supposed to be a glimpse into the life of an American family. Thats it. Yes, the house in the background as a strong, angular roof....but do you see many houses with round roofs? This is just a normal home. The colors in the background are also very light and happy. This isn't a tense environment. Yes, the man seems to be standing in front of the woman which does clue the viewer into him being more dominant. He seems to be the leader and provider. Considering that this was painted many years ago, this is not a surprising concept. As far as the woman looking off to the side...well...it might be to show that she is the follower. However, she might be keeping a watchful eye on her children playing in the distance.