A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams - Essay Example

 Documentation The in-text citations are still not correctly formatted, and the entry on the Work Cited page needs a slight modification. Organization/Structure The introduction still lacks a clear thesis statement, and the topic sentences of the body paragraphs are sometimes are not, as they should be, the first sentence of a paragraph. In addition, some of the paragraphs lack focus. I suggest that you work on paragraph construction. To be as effective as possible, a paragraph should contain each of the following: unity, coherence, a topic sentence, and adequate development. All of those traits overlap. Using and adapting them to your individual purposes will help you construct effective paragraphs. With regard to unity, the entire paragraph should have a single focus. If it begins with a one focus or major point of discussion, it should not end with another or wander with different ideas. Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. You can help create coherence in your paragraphs by creating logical bridges and verbal bridges. The topic (which is introduced by the topic sentence) should be discussed fully and adequately. Again, this varies from paragraph to paragraph, depending on your purpose, but writers should beware of paragraphs that have only two or three sentences. It is likely that the paragraph is not fully developed if it is that short. Two very important elements of paragraphing are signposts and transitions. Signposts are internal aids to assist readers; they usually consist of several sentences or a paragraph outlining what the article has covered and where the article will be going. Transitions are usually one or several sentences that "transition" from one idea to the next. Transitions can be used at the end of most paragraphs to help the paragraphs flow one into the next. Content/Thought A number of sentences are difficult to understand, confusing, and/or illogical. With respect to clarity and appropriate language, I suggest that you carefully examine each sentence, especially any sentence marked awk, SIM or ill, and make sure it is saying what you intend. Take time to explain what you mean. Always be as specific as possible. Write simple (not complex) and concise (short) sentences. Try to not get bogged down in the information you are trying to present. Avoid writing the way you speak to friends — using general words (such as thing, things, and everyone), informal language, slang, and clichés, and vague words (such as ‘this’). ). Be extremely careful, also, of your word choice for it is instrumental to the clarity of your work. It is an important technique in academic writing to make sure that the words are chosen specifically and crucially to the text. I suggest that you carefully go through the assignment directions and make sure that you have followed all of them. One that you definitely need to address is the following, which is stated in red in the directins: DO NOT DROP A QUOTE INTO YOUR PAPER WITHOUTEXPLAINING THE SIGNIFICANCE. Grammar/Mechanics Three areas you especially need to work on are pronoun usage, prepositions, and misplaced modifiers. Be sure to use the Web Layout option under VIEW in your Microsoft toolbar so you can read the information in the bubbles to the right of your pages. [Every paper must have a title. Create a title that reflects (represents) the content of your paper. The title should prepare the reader for what follows.] The interplay of dominance and desires in the play A Streetcar Named Desire is primarily a play about the conflict between the individual and society. The play is set in a realistic background of New Orleans where the distinction between wrong and right has vanished and everything has molded itself into a general grayness of gloom. The protagonists of the play suffer from conflicting realities, which do not match with the general societal norms. The play is inspired from Williams’ own personal life. The setting or the backdrop of the play is the alienated 1940’s when there was an air of general tension among the masses for their fear of government and nuclear attacks had taught them well that they could no longer feel safe in traditional boundaries. They all were in a search for a place of security. Living a fantasy that does not coincide with the realities of the society becomes the hammartia of all the protagonists. The play also sheds light on the striking lack of authority of the women and the cruel treatment that the men inflicted upon them. The play is famous because of its sexual undertones which is highlighted by the general treatment of men towards women- the way they speak to them. Stanley is one of the male protagonists of the play. He is Stella’s husband. Stanley’s passion is almost animalistic as he is described by Blanche outright as an animal in the latter half of the play, and she refers that if possible he would strike Stella, grunt at her, and then kiss her just like an ape. Blanche says to Stella; “He acts like an animal, has an animal's habits! Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one! There's something even sub-human-something not quite to the stage of humanity yet!” (Scene 4). Thus although the male character “Stanley”, at the beginning of the play is portrayed as an egalitarian hero who is loyal to his friends and passionate towards his wife but in the latter half of the play it is found that Blanche is right because Stanley does hit Stella. He has a disturbing nature which is expressed when he inflicts physical violence on his wife and even rapes his own sister in-law and shows no feelings and remorse. Stanley hates Blanche and this hate is fuelled by Blanche’s past. Stanley is disgusted with the aristocratic past which Blanche represents. The sham of respect which Blanche tries to portray in the starting of the play with her fur coats proves that although she tries to show the world that she is aristocratic in nature she is easily swayed by her desires and her cravings which we find in the instance that she cannot even control her own desire for alcohol. Stanley from the beginning identifies Blanche’s character and understands her rightly and distrusts her. This is the reason Stanley tells Stella; “What is your sister - a deep sea diver? Bracelets, solid gold. (To Stella) Where are your pearls and gold bracelets? And here you are.” (Scene1). This quote reinforces the gaudy dressing sense of Blanche and also shows how Blanche is trying to show that she is from an aristocratic background. It also gives us an instance of the intense hatred that Stanley feels towards her and therefore this hatred provides the premise for the act of rape which Stanley inflicts upon Blanche. Stanley asserts his male dominance and chauvinism when he says that he is the “King” (Scene 8). He cannot tolerate the way Blanche and Stella talk about him as he knows that he is not polished and neither is he from the upper class. Stanley’s treatment of Stella from the beginning of the play shows his general thoughts about women; although a loving, passionate husband, Stanley does not respect Stella as a woman and this is proven by his actions such as just in the beginning of the play his hurling of meat towards his wife is almost as if hurling her aside “Stanley: catch” (Scene1).The hurling of the meat proves that Stella is similar to that packet of meat to be used for desire and then hurled away in the corner. Stanley portrays the chauvinistic male who not only revels in oppressing the female but also does not shun away from destroying her completely by committing a vile act such as rape. Stanley’s general banter with Blanche and his complete dislike for her proves his utter disregard about the women in the play . He cannot tolerate her because of her past with the rich. Stanley’s treatment of his wife also shows his animalistic desires when even after hitting her he wants to have sexual relationships with her. Stanley says to Stella;“Wasn’t it all ok?” (Scene 8). The men in this play treat all the women as objects for sex where the females are consumed in the darkness of the night, reinforcing the title of the play A Streetcar Named Desire. Throughout the play the desire becomes the central action or theme of the play not in a sweet , romantic , passionate or consummating way but in a rough, brutal, almost carnal desire which ultimately has its climax in the rape of Blanche. The other male character of the play, “Mitch” feels ashamed when he discovers Blanche’s past although that does not stop him from wanting to have sexual relations with her. Again the following quote reveals what Mitch’s actual feelings are for Blanch: “No, I don't think I want to marry you anymore. . . . No, you're not clean enough to bring into the house with my mother.”(Scene 9). Therefore it is proved that although Mitch wants to have sexual relationship with Blanche, he does not want to marry her due to her past. He even justifies his dislike for Blanche’s past by judging her on the basis of character and chastity. Both the male characters, Stanley and Mitch very strongly highlight and portray the confusion which is portrayed in the society itself, a rift between tradition and modernity. The silent passion in night and the relationship of men and women in the dark have reached the street where everything is naked and brutal. This brutality can be found in the mental disturbance of Stanley which leads to Blanche’s rape and the incident of hitting Stella. The world in the play is portrayed as broken fragments where the characters of the play are lost between the actual reality and the reality in their own minds. Work Cited Williams, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire. 1st ed. 1947. Web. 9 Jul. 2014. Read More