8016351
| Question | Answer |
| Isolation - rev road | Caused by failure to conform to societal expectations - April wanting abortion, not legal until 1973 most states, nonconformist. Frank declares this evidence of 'emotional problem'. 'crazy' Only trying to manipulate - 'I would've treated him like an animal in the zoo' species separation from others, not explicitly conformity but clear doesn't fit in therefore insane Isolated characters must be removed from society - 'knowing what she had always known... if you wanted to do something absolutely honest, something true, it always turned out to be a thing that had to be done alone.' absolute shows certainty. Highly ironic emphasis on 'honest', 'true' in reality April has no choice but to remain alone in suicide. DIFFERENCE is that she does it herself not others - John institutionalised, "quite out of the question for us ever to think in terms of bringing him into contact with outside people again." concept of 'outside people' establishes a separation, different species that John must be separated from |
| Isolation - streetcar | Caused by failure to conform to societal expectations - “Well, so much for being a refined and particular type of girl.” failure to fit type connected by imagery in semantic field of production prevents her being accepted Isolated characters must be removed from society - "the ONLY thing you could do. She COULDN'T stay here; there wasn't no other place for her to go." inevitable that isolated characters are removed |
| Truth vs. Illusion Streetcar | Truth has a destructive impact on personal illusion - “Well, so much for being a refined and particular type of girl.” exposure of truth catalyses breakdown Truth Illusion is used by vulnerable characters as a defence - “I don't want realism… I’ll tell you what I want. Magic!!' childish connotations Characters cling on to illusions even after they have been shattered - “Say, it’s only a paper moon, Sailing over a cardboard sea – But it wouldn’t be make believe if you believed in me!” - dramatic structure allows the audience to see the truth, or what happens - The rapid, feverish polka tune, the "Varsouviana," is heard. The music is in her mind; she is drinking to escape it and the sense of disaster closing in on her… |
| Truth vs. Illusion Rev.Road | Truth has a destructive impact on personal illusion - "Everything That Man Said Is True" capitalisation suggests official and therefore inevitable/always happens 'impossibly destructive' Illusion is used by vulnerable characters as a defence 'older, less explicit promises of failure might lie in wait for them there' juxtaposition between failure of play and failure of lives, showing the delusions of grandeur in the play to distract Characters cling on to illusions even after they have been shattered - "on this great premise of ours that we’re somehow very special and superior to the whole thing, and I wanted to say ‘But we’re not!'" highly ironic as she suggests trip so 'you'll be finding yourself' “Because the man is insane.” |
| Masculinity - Rev Road | Masculinity regarded as power - "You’re the most valuable and wonderful thing in the world. You’re a man.” contrast with 'by any stretch of the imagination you can call yourself a man' ironic. Juxtaposition Male characters are presented as insecure in their sense of masculinity - 'Did the swan apologize to Leda? Did an eagle apologize? Did a lion apologize? Hell, no.' self concious narration vs. play style suggests frank is aspiring to a masculinity that Stanley naturally has Masculinity is dominant and oppressive of other characters - “Never ‘Donaldson’ or ‘John J. Donaldson’ or whatever the hell his name is. Always ‘The Donaldsons.’" masculinity drives out identity of others. literally in this case the man is dominant - And of all the capitulations in his life, this was the one that seemed most like a victory. - “by any stretch of the imagination you can call yourself a man!” |
| Masculinity - streetcar | Masculinity regarded as power - “On the contrary, I saw him at his best! What such a man has to offer is animal force and he gave a wonderful exhibition of that!” power attached to brutishness. DIFFERENCE as the power is more clear than the unspoken title in rev road Male characters are presented as insecure in their sense of masculinity - 'the power and pride of a richly feathered male bird among hens' 'ape' natural imagery suggests natural secure masculinity Masculinity is dominant and oppressive of other characters - "Remember what Huey Long said--"Every Man is a King!" And I am the king around here, so don't forget it!” ironic, takes contextual point of Huey Long and has stanley misunderstand it to show his self-centredness |
| Femininity - rev road empty | Rigid in expectations of women - April wanting abortion, not legal until 1973 most states, nonconformist. Frank declares this evidence of 'emotional problem'. 'crazy' Only trying to manipulate Traditional femininity is weak - Helen Givings "a feminine woman never laughs out loud and always shaves her armpits" defined by passive, submissive behaviour CONTEXT enforced by advertising & culture Women who don't fit feminine norms must be removed from society - 'knowing what she had always known... if you wanted to do something absolutely honest, something true, it always turned out to be a thing that had to be done alone.' absolute shows certainty. Highly ironic emphasis on 'honest', 'true' in reality April has no choice but to remain alone in suicide. DIFFERENCE is that she does it herself not others |
| Femininity - streetcar empty | Rigid in expectations of women - “Well, so much for being a refined and particular type of girl.” failure to fit type connected by imagery in semantic field of production prevents her being accepted Traditional femininity is weak - southern belle stereotype, 'There is something about her uncertain manner, as well as her white clothes, that suggests a moth.' fragile animal Women who don't fit feminine norms must be removed from society - "the ONLY thing you could do. She COULDN'T stay here; there wasn't no other place for her to go." inevitable that non-conformist women characters are removed. Although blanche fits ideas her sexual immorality means she doesn't fit |
| Delusion | - "on this great premise of ours that we’re somehow very special and superior to the whole thing, and I wanted to say ‘But we’re not!'" - "You’ll be finding yourself.” - "Take a look at yourself in that wornout Mardi Gras outfit" |
| Dreams - streetcar empty | Dreams represent an escape from an unfavourable reality - “Well, it's a red letter night for us both. You having an oil millionaire and me having a baby.” dreams equated as life changing as having a child, chance of a new lease of life. Oil millionaire represents an escape Dreams are unattainable - “I don't want realism… I’ll tell you what I want. Magic!' childish connotations. Dreams put as antagonist of realism, explicitly they are unrealistic Those unable to abandon dreams must be removed - "the ONLY thing you could do. She COULDN'T stay here; there wasn't no other place for her to go." inevitable that deluded characters are removed |
| Dreams - rev road empty | Dreams represent an escape from an unfavourable reality Paris trip 'finding yourself' is a literal escape from the world. Paris is used as a conceit for the dream world of 'golden people' that April wants to escape to Dreams are unattainable "this great premise of ours that we’re somehow very special and superior to the whole thing, and I wanted to say ‘But we’re not!'" ironic as she then suggests Frank have time for 'finding himself'. April oblivious to the ciclicle nature of dreams, no fulfillment Those unable to abandon dreams must be removed - 'knowing what she had always known... if you wanted to do something absolutely honest, something true, it always turned out to be a thing that had to be done alone.' absolute shows certainty. Highly ironic emphasis on 'honest', 'true' in reality April has no choice but to remain alone in suicide. DIFFERENCE is that she does it herself not others - The solitary tracer of railroad maps had never hopped his freight, but it had begun to seem unlikely that any Krebs would ever call him a jerk again. |
| Insanity - rev road | Caused by societal noncomformity - April wanting abortion, not legal until 1973 most states, nonconformist. Frank declares this evidence of 'emotional problem'. 'crazy' Only trying to manipulate - 'I would've treated him like an animal in the zoo' species separation from others, not explicitly conformity but clear doesn't fit in therefore insane Must result in removal from society - 'knowing what she had always known... if you wanted to do something absolutely honest, something true, it always turned out to be a thing that had to be done alone.' absolute shows certainty. Highly ironic emphasis on 'honest', 'true' in reality April has no choice but to remain alone in suicide. DIFFERENCE is that she does it herself not others - John institutionalised, "quite out of the question for us ever to think in terms of bringing him into contact with outside people again." concept of 'outside people' establishes a separation, different species that John must be separated from |
| Insanity - streetcar | Caused by societal noncomformity - “Well, so much for being a refined and particular type of girl.” failure to fit type connected by imagery in semantic field of production prevents her being accepted. Catalyses insanity as shown by how structural device of music 'the distant piano goes into hectic breakdown' Must result in removal from society - "the ONLY thing you could do. She COULDN'T stay here; there wasn't no other place for her to go." inevitable that insanity characters are removed - structural device of music- 'The rapid, feverish polka tune, the "Varsouviana," is heard. The music is in her mind; she is drinking to escape it and the sense of disaster closing in on her…' counterpoint to dialogue 'major key' after the 'shot' |
| Conformity - rev road empty | Non-conformity in characters leads to insanity - abortion not legal in most states until 1973, she's non-conformist by wanting abortions. 'emotional problem' 'emotionally disturbed' - 'I would've treated him like an animal in the zoo' species separation from others, non conformist due to seeing the 'hopeless emptiness of society' Non-conformists must ultimately be removed from society - 'knowing what she had always known... if you wanted to do something absolutely honest, something true, it always turned out to be a thing that had to be done alone.' absolute shows certainty. Highly ironic emphasis on 'honest', 'true' in reality April has no choice but to remove herself from society. DIFFERENCE is that she does it herself not others - John institutionalised, "quite out of the question for us ever to think in terms of bringing him into contact with outside people again." concept of 'outside people' establishes a separation, different species that John must be separated from |
| Conformity - streetcar empty | Non-conformity in female characters leads to insanity - “Well, so much for being a refined and particular type of girl.” catalyst of breakdown Non-conformists must ultimately be removed from society - "the ONLY thing you could do. She COULDN'T stay here; there wasn't no other place for her to go." removal from society only escape from conformity |
| Rev Road context | - 1945-1960, US GDP increased from $200 billion to over $500 billion - 1950s - 4 million babies born a year - almost full employment - abortion not legal in most states until 1973 - by 1955, 559,000 people institutionalised. electric shock therapy widely used. increasing deinstitutionalisation, many patients used as workers for less than minimum wage with no escape |
| Streetcar context | - New Orleans - successful & prosperous port, biggest in South USA, shown through banana and coffee smells on stage - electric shock therapy widely used on mental patients |
| Relationships | Destructive environment - 'I saw him at his best' 'what such a man has to offer is animal force, and he gave a wonderful exhibition of that' - 'emotional problem' 'crazy' when April violates Franks idea 'on the side of the angels' Male dominated - 'remember what Huey Long said "every man is a king!" and I'm the king around here so don't you forget it!' - 'never Donaldson or John J. Donaldson' 'always The Donaldsons' Inescapable except by death - 'knowing what she had always known... if you wanted to do something absolutely honest, something true, it almost always turned out be something that had to be done alone' - 'the only thing you could do' 'she couldn't stay here' marriage destroys invaders |
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