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Rather than explore John du Pont’s real life mental illness as a cause for his brutal murdering of Dave Schultz, Foxcatcher attributes much of the conflict in the story to heritage, namely familial heritage. There are two families here: the du Ponts, one of the most prestigious and wealthiest families in America, and the Schultzes (specifically brothers Mark and Dave) who come from working class immigrants. John du Pont hails from an upper class family with a long legacy tied to industry, while the Schultzes are Olympic wrestlers literally relying on their physical strength to etch by and make an income. The symbolism is evident in the film - portraits of the Founding Fathers adorn the walls of the du Pont estate while seemingly overlooking the “blue collared” wrestlers from Eastern European immigrant families.

The reputations of both families also reflect the way American culture has changed, with the increasing popularity of athletes and social celebrities over the more traditional staid notoriety of wealthy industrial magnate families like the du Ponts. Indeed, the Schultzes become well-known by the public for their athletic accomplishments, while the du Pont family’s older economic and scientific achievements do not receive as much media attention.

In Foxcatcher, these characters continually reflect on their legacy and their own roles within a greater context. Their views on life and society, as well as what they hope to achieve through professional success, seem consistently shaped by their social background and their class status. This is especially noticeable with du Pont, who seems very self-conscious about his family name. Du Pont’s obsession with suppressing his family’s legacy ultimately shapes his own low sense of self-worth and foreshadows the convicted criminal he eventually becomes.