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Character portrayal in the streetcar named desire
Character portrayal in the streetcar named desire
The character traits in the play a streetcar named desire
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Jay Gatsby and Blanche DuBois: Desire, Delusion and Demise
A Streetcar Named Desire and The Great Gatsby are two of the most renowned pieces of American literature arising from the twentieth century. Written by Tennessee Williams in 1947, the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, chronicles the life of Blanche Dubois, a confused and conflicted Southern belle fumbling through a life of misfortune and into a troubling relationship with her aggressive brother-in law. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby, follows mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby’s passionately obsessive pursuit of rekindling his love with the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, as told by his neighbour and friend Nick Carraway. Although the two protagonists appear to bear no resemblance
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at first glance, deeper analysis proves that their internal characteristics are strikingly similar. Whether it be their preoccupation with masking the past and true identity from the public, inability to overcome their mental fabrications of life and accept reality, or the decline in their mental and emotional states of being, the reader cannot help but feel sympathy for these two characters as they drive their own lives off a cliff and into a pit of despair. Although Gatsby appeared to live quite the extravagant life, it was not always so. He rose from an impoverished childhood as the son of two farmers through illegal business, longing for wealth and sophistication even during his early youth. While working as a young military officer in Louisville before leaving to fight in the war, he meets and deeply falls for the charming Daisy Buchanan: “He looked at Daisy while she was speaking, in a way that every young girl wants to be looked at some time” (73). Despite having no contact with Daisy from there on and her marrying another man a few years later, Gatsby dedicated his entire being to winning her love back. He is incapable of envisioning his future without Daisy in it, and attempts to use his fortune, mansion, and parties to carry out this plan. As he further involves himself in her life, Daisy’s husband, Tom, begins to uncover the truth about Gatsby’s rise to power and sets out to eliminate him from her life. As the novel comes to a close and he is murdered by an ignorantly jealous George Wilson, Gatsby is abandoned, with the exception of Nick, by every friend he ever had: “I found myself on Gatsby’s side, and alone” (156). It is not until late in the novel for the reader to realize the lost potential and piteous nature of his life. In spite of the fact that he attempted to fulfill his ceaselessly fervent dream in a dishonest and fashion, the reader cannot help but feel sorry for his foolish actions for love. On the contrary, when the play begins, Blanche is already seen as a terribly tragic case: a broken woman in society’s eyes. Her life has been a multitude of misfortune; her husband has committed suicide, she has lost her family fortune and estate, she is a social outcast due to her nymphomania, and she has turned to alcohol abuse. She has scandalized her hometown, lost her job as a teacher because of her relationship with a teenage boy, and must depend on her sister Stella for shelter and emotional support. As she joins Stella in New Orleans, she hopes to marry her brother-in-law Stanley’s friend Mitch, but he coldly rejects her after discovering the events of her past: “I don't think I want to marry you anymore” (150). The more she attempts to embrace a new chapter of her life, the closer she comes to driving herself off the edge. She is eventually raped by Stanley, which represents the physically corrupt component of her downfall and her failed attempt to redefine herself. When she is finally institutionalized, the reader has a hard time imagining an alternative ending as she has no other viable options at this point The concept of deception through public image is an important aspect of both of these works. These two characters have tediously created whole new personas for themselves in an attempt to erase their history, improve their reputation, and start their lives over. For example, Gatsby and Blanche both possess a plan of reinvention different internal and external motivators. The reader quickly learns that Gatsby has embraced the American Dream and has absorbed the idea that one can reinvent themselves in accordance to external success, abandoning his name, background, and even his family in the creation of his facade. No matter what Nick may tell him or Daisy may do to indicate a longing for otherwise, Gatsby is unable to let go of the beautiful yet utterly delusional vision he has for the future as he aims to “repeat the past” (106). Similarly to Gatsby’s efforts as a result of his fixation of acquiring the affection and partnership of Daisy, it is Blanche’s conflicting identity that ultimately sends her spiralling out of control. The more she attempts to embody the culture of the old south, hide her fading youth, and enact the role of a lady that she is clearly not, the more obvious her charade becomes as it is impossible for her to hide her dreary past. Her inclination to mask every part of her true being leads to her subsequent demise as she ruins her relationship with Mitch and is forced to leave her sister’s home in exchange for a mental institution. Another contributing factor to these characters’ desired fabrication of themselves is their verbal inaccuracy. When Gatsby is describing his ancestry and his heroic war record to Nick, which even the reader questions the exactitude of as the novel progresses, he is only trying to boost his reputation in Nick’s eyes as he is planning on using him as an intermediary to connect with Daisy and doesn’t want him to believe that he is a man of little significance. Every aspect of his behaviour and word out of his mouth is a part of a meticulous decision to appear as great of a man as possible. Blanche self-admittedly often distorts the truth, telling what she believes “ought to be the truth” (145); she has spent so long lying to everyone else that she eventually comes to believe her own lies. If these individuals were to be honest in their actions and their words, it may have resulted in their lives having a more satisfactory outcome. Although there are many corresponding themes expressed in these two stories, most developed in either is that of fantasy’s inability to overcome reality. The specific portrayal of this theme may differ slightly in each work, but overall, it is clear that neither character has a grasp on the surrounding world as they are trapped in their own desires. Blanche, for instance, is characterized by mythically elevated expectations and the specific vision of a husband that she cannot seem to find; her hopelessly out-of-date ideas place her in a world that no longer exists. She is also unable to deal with certain events and circumstances of her troubled life, and retreating into a fantasy world of her own making is her coping mechanism: "I don't want realism! I want magic!" (143). On the other hand, Gatsby is struggling to accept that things and people can change in a span of a few years as he expected Daisy to run straight into his arms the moment of their reunion. He has devoted every aspect of his existence to exceeding Daisy's nonsensically hollow expectations of life, unaware of the harsh reality of that he had lost his beloved to Tom for good. Even from a young age he was stuck in his own world, inventing a completely different person in order to escape a life of poverty, a conception "to which he was faithful to the end” (95). Because of the fact that they possess the same lack of a realistic possibility of future contentment, it is clear to the reader early on in each story that neither Gatsby nor Blanche will achieve their desired happy ending. Lastly, both works chronicle not only the subsequent crumbling of the main characters’ self-image but of their sanity as well; it is apparent that neither is in good mental condition.
To elaborate, throughout both the novel and the play, insecurity dominates the lives of both protagonists as they strive to constantly improve their reputations and cannot come to terms with their true identity. For instance, despite Daisy’s obvious fascination with his pompous parties and plethora of possessions, Gatsby still worries about whether she is impressed or enjoying herself: “‘She didn’t like it,’ he insisted. ‘She didn’t have a good time.’ He was silent, and I guessed at his unutterable depression” (105). Because of the fact that she is in a state of perpetual panic about in regards to her fading beauty, Blanche must depend on male sexual admiration to increase her self-esteem, unaware that she is simply causing more destruction to herself in the process. She depends on romantic illusions for confidence, setting the bar far too high for any man of that day and age. Although both experience extreme psychological downfall nearing the end of their respective works, they have different subconscious perspectives and qualities that can be contributed to mental illness. Williams reinforces any speculation the reader may have in thinking that something is has gone awry with Blanche by expressing what is going on in her head- shadows on the wall, voices echoing madly, the sound of polka music. Her institutionalization at the end of the play firmly establishes a depleted psychological health as she displays symptoms of schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder: “The poker players stand back as Blanche and the Doctor cross the kitchen to the front door. She allows him to lead her as if she were blind (178). Likewise, Gatsby’s endless obsession with achieving Daisy’s affection and recapturing their past relationship surpasses the level of normality and also contributes to the
idea of schizophrenia, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Neither of the characters has come to terms with their own guilt: Gatsby’s arising from not writing back to Daisy and subsequently losing her to Tom, and Blanche’s from the suicide of her husband as well as her insufficiency to be a suitable match to his idea of a partner. They have both became so concerned with wealth, passions, and a materialistic lifestyle that they have forgotten to focus on their health and emotional stability. In conclusion, A Streetcar Named Desire and The Great Gatsby revolve around their pitiful protagonist’s relentless pursuit for achieving happiness through the affection of others. Exploring the concepts of image, fantasy, and self-destruction, both texts represent the pursuit of dreams that do not even exist- a desire to reach for something that was always impractical. Although Blanche DuBois and Jay Gatsby are both highly imaginative and have the potential for immense happiness, they allow themselves to be overtaken by dreams and delusion as they their lives both meet a tragic end. Their illusions had no place in the world and, consequently, when the illusions were destroyed, their lives experienced the same fate.
The Great Gatsby is an emotional tale of hope of love and “romantic readiness”(1.2) that is both admirable and meritorious .Yet, the question of Daisy ever being able to measure up to Gatsby’s expectations is one that reverberates throughout the course of the novel. Be that as it may, Daisy is never truly able to measure up to Gatsby’s expectations because the image of Daisy in Gatsby’s mind is entirely different from who she actually is. Even during his younger years, Gatsby had always had a vision of himself “as a son of God”(6.98) and that “he must be about his fathers business, the service of a vast, vulgar and meretricious beauty”(6.98). Gatsby’s desire for aristocracy, wealth, and luxury is exactly what drives him to pursue Daisy who embodies everything that that Gatsby desires and worked towards achieving. Therefore, Gatsby sees Daisy as the final piece to his puzzle in order realize his vision. Gatsby’s hyperbolized expectation of Daisy throws light on the notion if our dreams as individuals are actually limited by reality. Since our dreams as human beings are never truly realized, because they may be lacking a specific element. Daisy proves to be that element that lingers in Gatsby’s dreams but eludes his reality.
Gatsby’s distinct charisma indicates his struggle against moral corruption and sets him apart from the moral decay evident in the upper class. Owl eyes is very surprised when he finds out all the books in Gatsby’s library are real, “‘The books?...Absolutely real--have pages and everything...It’s a bona-fide piece of printed matter. It fooled me. This fella’s a regular Belasco’” (45). While most of the upper class uses outward displays of wealth to cover their inner moral corruption, Gatsby uses his extravagant opulence to mask his love for Daisy. In this way his morals and ability to conceal his love prove his willingness and drive to acquire Daisy’s love and acceptance. The majority of the upper class suffers from moral poverty, lacking internal morals to keep them grounded acting out in ways that diminishes their social status. Gatsby is so close to Daisy his whole life yet he is unable to get any closer until their relationship is destroyed forever. “I thought of Gatsby’s wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock...his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him” (180). Gatsby continually reaches out for Daisy with hope and optimism, but the distance between his dock and the Buchanan’s does not get any closer symbolic for the
When he first meets Daisy, Gatsby becomes infatuated with his idea of her, or rather, the false persona that she creates of herself. In fact, Gatsby reveals that “she was the first ‘nice’ girl he had ever known” (155). Gatsby was so impressed with Daisy mainly because of her wealth and her status; it is what he wants. However, Daisy chooses Tom Buchanan over Gatsby, solely because of his social status. As a result, Gatsby revolves his whole life around her: he becomes wealthy, creates a new image of himself, and buys a house across the bay from Daisy. For instance, he fabricates lies about how “ [he is] the son of some wealthy people in the middle-west” (69) and how “ [he] was brought up in America but educated at Oxford” (69) in order to impress her. These lies end up altering others’ perspectives of him - not necessarily in a positive way - and impacting his life as a whole. Daisy unwittingly transforms Gatsby into a picture-perfect image of the 1920s: lavish parties, showy cars, and a false illusion of the attainment of the American Dream. Despite Gatsby’s newfound wealth and success, he never fully accomplishes his dream: to get Daisy. Gatsby’s final act for the sake of Daisy has no impact on her feelings towards him. When Gatsby claims that he crashed into Myrtle and killed her, Daisy carelessly lets him do so, which ultimately results in his death. To make
Imagine. You are sitting in complete silence, even the nearby crickets won't dare to let out even the slightest of croaks. You stare down at your cluttered, dimly lit desk. Your hand grasps your pen, and the other rubs back and forth across your temple in angst. Your eyes pass over each paper, containing each incomplete thought, and your mind floods with memories of your past. Trapped by writer’s block, you are all alone with only your experiences, surroundings, and philosophy aiding you in the fall that is the dark reality of alcoholism and depression. For renowned authors F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, these influences all played a crucial role in identifying their style techniques, as well as determining similarities and differences
He never wanted to give up on her, so he tried to recreate their past in hopes of rekindling a love they once had. “Gatsby's gospel of hedonism is reflected in his house, wild parties, clothing, roadster, and particularly in his blatant wooing of another man's wife. Daisy, a rather soiled and cheapened figure, is Gatsby's ultimate goal in his concept of the American dream. However, he falls victim to his own preaching. He comes to believe himself omniscient-above the restrictions of society and morality. His presumption extends to a belief that he can even transcend the natural boundaries placed upon human beings. He will win back Daisy by recapturing the past” (Pearson). Gatsby lies about his lifestyle including the parties, clothing, and almost all of the other aspects he reveals about himself, to impress his teenage love, Daisy, who also happens to be Tom’s wife. He believes he can win Daisy back from her husband by throwing lavish parties, and putting on a deceitful lifestyle in an attempt to lead her in believing he qualified to be one of the elite. “The book's chief characters are blind, and they behave blindly. Gatsby does not see Daisy's vicious emptiness, and Daisy, deluded, thinks she will reward her gold-hatted lover until he tries to force from her an affirmation she is too weak to make. Tom is blind to his hypocrisy; with "a short deft movement" he breaks Myrtle's nose for daring to mention the
Antagonists often offer a powerful contribution to various pieces of literature. Stanley Kowalski, in “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams, and Tom Buchanan, in “The Great Gatsby”, both act as valid and powerful antagonists in their respective texts. These two characters share the need to find out the truth about the protagonists of the novels. They both are considered dominant, violent and strong men. They share the trait of honesty, but lack a sense of morality. Although there are evident differences regarding the social class of these two characters, they rightfully serve as similar characters. Both authors used very similar character traits to prove that despite the domineering and abusive mannerisms-characteristics of these
Gatsby and Blanche are blinded by their own pasts. Gatsby decides to live in a constant fantasy that he will get Daisy back. He is not willing to accept that she is married and loves another man. This is shown through this quote: "He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. "
Daisy’s character is built with association of innocence and purity. Narrator in the novel mentions, “They were both in white, and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house” (18). In this passage, the narrator talks about Daisy and Daisy’s friend, Jordan. They both were dressed in white, which represents the purity and innocence. Daisy’s exterior beauty is pure and innocence, but her interior self represents false purity and innocence in the novel. When Daisy and Gatsby reunites after five years, they seem to have found their love for each other, although Daisy loves the attention. Daisy is aware of her husband’s affair but still does nothing about it. Daisy’s response to Gatsby’s wealth proves the love Daisy has for money, especially the shirts. Narrator mentions in the novel, “Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shorts and began to cry stormily” (92). This describes that’s for Daisy the shirts represents wealth. Daisy bows her head into the shirts representing her interest in wealthy materialism. Daisy doesn’t cry because of the pure affection unlike Gatsby.
A woman’s need to pursue society’s expectations of her can corrupt her entire view on relationships and human interactions. In the novel The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, suggests that an individuals desire to achieve a standard of perfection in society can demoralize them into engrossing only what is best for themselves during conflict. Daisy is the epitome of a woman during the 1920’s, she wants nothing more than the appearance of a perfect family life, so when her future is indefinite she hides behind Tom’s wealth, and certainty to achieve her desires.
The first time that Daisy and Gatsby are alone his narcissistic tendencies display themselves. Gatsby notes that Daisy’s attractiveness increased because of the many men that had already loved Daisy. He also mentions that he was amazed by Daisy’s breath-taking house. But, crucially, Gatsby does not think of Daisy in terms of psychological compatibility. He never remarks that her flirtatious statements were funny nor that they even shared any specific interest. To Gatsby it was material goods that made a woman worthy of his affection, rather than any other aspect of her being. He was a poor man and Daisy was a rich lady. By doing so he demonstrates his incessant narcissism because he cares to increase his personal affluence by leeching from his romantic interests and gain social class by having a relationship with a girl of gold.
In The Great Gatsby, everything is shown to be dream-like and illusive - especially Gatsby’s house, which is described as “a factual imitation of some Hôtel de Ville in Normandy” implying its artificialness, and the “tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool” only adding to how unreal it truly is. In addition, in Daisy’s surname, ‘Fay’ means in other words ‘Fairy’, suggesting that as a creature that she will only adapt to a world of fantasy, as she is unable to live in her own ennui, confined around Tom. It is possible that youth was the only magical thing they had – Daisy’s name being the only thing she has left of it and surprisingly, not taking on Tom Buchanan’s surname, whom she is married to. When coming across Gatsby, she is wowed and sees that she can still go back to what she has felt before, something that she feels is “like the world’s fair.” Equivalently, like Daisy with Tom, Stella is trapped in her relationship with Stanley. A critic, Santosh Neupane says “Daisy’s marriage has become painful, and her affair with Gatsby proved a welcome distraction” – Stella and Stanley’s marriage has also become painful, but Blanche can’t become a distraction as she is the reason for the relationship’s
Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire is one of the most popular plays in American history. The play contains this theme of Old South versus New South where old southern ideals and way of life clashes against newly formed ideals of the late 19th and early 20th century. The distinctions between the Old South’s emphasis on tradition, social class, and segregation versus the New South’s emphasis on hard work can be seen throughout the play. It is manifested in the main characters of the play. Blanche DuBois’s civilized and polished nature makes her a symbol of the Old South while Stanley Kowalski’s brutish, direct, and defying nature represents the New South. Tennessee Williams uses the characters of his play to present a picture of the social, gender role, and behavior distinctions that existed between the Old South versus the New South. Furthermore, the two settings provided in the play, Belle Reve and Elysian Fields can also be seen as different representations of the Old versus the New with the way both places are fundamentally different.
Daisy's life is full of excitement and wealth, she gets practically everything she desires and feels like she has it all. As a person of high society she treats those below her with disdain, even her cousin. “What shall we do with ourselves this afternoon...and the day after that, and the next thirty years?” (Fitzgerald 118). The Jazz age had changed Daisy and influenced her to become careless as she seeks empty love, money and pleasure. It is only when Gatsby comes along she realizes that she has been missing something. Gatsby had been her first love, but she
Tennessee Williams gives insight into three ordinary lives in his play, “A Streetcar Named Desire” which is set in the mid-1930’s in New Orleans. The main characters in the play are Blanche, Stanley, and Stella. All three of these characters suffer from personalities that differentiate each of them to great extremes. Because of these dramatic contrarieties in attitudes, there are mounting conflicts between the characters throughout the play. The principal conflict lies between Blanche and Stanley, due to their conflicting ideals of happiness and the way things “ought to be”.
Love and power are both and enticing; however, they both can end with disastrous results. Written by Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire is a dramatic story of two sisters and a deadbeat husband who are drowned in troubles from the past and present. Throughout the play, two of the main characters, Stanley, the deadbeat husband, and Blanche, the crazed romantic, are thought of as polar opposites.