Tennessee Williams’ psychiatrist told him that all his plays are full of “hate, anger and envy”. How far do you think this opinion applies to Scene Three of the Glass Menagerie?

Nina Tite 22.02.02 Tennessee Williams' psychiatrist told him that all his plays are full of "hate, anger and envy". How far do you think this opinion applies to Scene Three of the Glass Menagerie? In Scene three of the Glass Menagerie hate, anger and envy are all presented not only through the characters, (in what they say and in what they do,) but also by the set and by the argument between Amanda and Tom which is the main feature of the scene. However although Williams' psychiatrist listed emotions which are evident in the play he overlooked others such as love and sadness which play a big part in his writing. Hate and anger are perhaps the strongest emotions featured in this scene as all the characters seem to direct hate or anger at someone or something. As the majority of this scene focuses on the argument between Tom and Amanda it is mainly these two characters that obviously display their hatred and anger towards each other and society. Tom hates Amanda because she restrains him from a normal life as he is constantly providing for the family and not allowed to lead a life of his own. Tom resents his mother because of the wrong choice she made about her husband. Consequently Tom is carrying the responsibility of being the family man because of his mother's mistake by working in a factory job whilst really he would rather be writing poetry. His contempt for

  • Word count: 1511
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How Does Tennessee Williams Dramatize the Differences Between Stanley and Blanche in Scenes I and II?

How Does Tennessee Williams Dramatize the Differences Between Stanley and Blanche in Scenes I and II? TW (Tennessee Williams) depicts Blanche and Stanley as two very different people, who represent two very different things. He dramatizes this in many different ways. The first description of Blanche is about her appearance (page 5). "Her appearance is incongruous to this setting". This is the first sign that the book gives that Blanche is going to be very different from everyone else there and that she will be out of place. It means that whatever Blanche is like her setting will be completely different to what she is and she will stand out. The next sentence is; "She is daintily dressed in a white suit with a fluffy bodice, necklace and earrings of pearl, white gloves and a hat, looking as if she were arriving at a summer tea or cocktail party in the garden district." Blanche is completely dressed in white, and even her name is French for white. This gives the appearance of innocence, youth and beauty. The fact that she looks dressed for a garden party means that that is the sort of society she is used to and she was not expecting to arrive in a place so far from what she expected. The next part is; "She is about five years older than Stella." The page before says that Stella is about twenty-five, so that means that Blanche is about thirty, however, by the way she is dressed

  • Word count: 960
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How do the methods used by Lysistrata to accomplish her plight differ from those used by Laura?

Max Webster How do the methods used by Lysistrata to accomplish her plight differ from those used by Laura? Lysistrata is a play about one woman's plan to end a war by calling on all the women of Greece to perform a sex strike. She uses this to blackmail the men into ending the war, but her method involves various tactics that enable her to win the respect of the men and ultimately resolve the conflict on her terms. It is not simply a case of persuading all the women to adopt temporary celibacy with their husbands. The Father also involves a woman who is in conflict with her husband, but of course its most obvious difference from Lysistrata is that it is more focused, as it only involves one man and one woman, it is domestic rather than public. Both plays start with a conflict (in Lysistrata, the women's opposition to war; in The Father, a dispute over the education of their daughter) and go on to show how the female character is able to achieve dominance and get their way. Both Laura and Lysistrata use a number of methods to outwit the men in the plays and in this essay I aim to examine these and decide in what ways they are similar and different. The main success of the Lysistrata's plan is based on exploiting the sexuality of women. She knows that by denying the men/soldiers the thing they want, they will be tempted away from war and allow her to manipulate them. At

  • Word count: 1440
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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In Rossetti's 'Goblin Market' the forces of life and love are threatened by death - elaborate.

01/09/2004 In Rossetti's 'Goblin Market' the forces of life and love are threatened by death - elaborate. No matter from which angle it is looked at, Christina Rossetti's 'Goblin Market' is fundamentally a battle of good against evil. Throughout her lifetime, Rossetti insisted that this poem should be treated as nothing more than a harmless fairytale. If one look's at the poem from its intended angle, a story of two kind, pure sisters, Lizzie and Laura, begins to unravel itself to the reader. One learns of how in their village, evil goblin men do their best to tempt the village folk to buy the succulent, forbidden fruit. Although Lizzie refuses to succumb to the temptation, it is her sister Laura who first indulges herself. As the story unfolds, Laura becomes addicted to the forbidden fruit and touches death's door. It is only in the end when her sister Lizzie risks her life by eating some of the goblin fruit herself, that Laura is cured. This was because Lizzie was willing to sacrifice her life in order for her sister to be cured. Lizzie's love saved Laura's life and prevented death. Despite, the story being about someone alive, trying not to die, the characters can be looked at in a more symbolic nature. Indeed, one may state that Lizzie and Laura are representative of life in general. As life is perceived to be when we are born, the girls are pure, simple

  • Word count: 1202
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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In the play, The Glass Menagerie, Scene One provides an insight into the events yet to come.

In the play, The Glass Menagerie, Scene One provides an insight into the events yet to come. It introduces the Wingfield family, giving a clear description of their lifestyle and personal behaviours. The Wingfield apartment is described as a small unit in an overcrowded and dirty urban slum. Visible outside is a fire escape, which holds symbolic weight, as it illustrates Tom's desperation for escape. He says that the buildings are burning with the "implacable fires of human desperation." Tom is the narrator of the play and is first seen dressed as a merchant sailor. He informs the audience as to the period in which the play is set, that is the thirties. This helps the audience to better understand and relate to the events to come, and gives an idea of the state of the economy at that time; during the thirties in America, there was great turmoil, and the economy was crumbling. He explains that the play is based on memory and therefore has certain unrealistic qualities about it, including the music and the sentimental lighting. Tom also introduces the other characters; his mother Amanda, his sister Laura, the gentleman caller who will appear later on in the play, and of course their father, the ever absent character who is only seen in a large smiling photograph on the living room wall. Amanda is seen as both a sympathetic and demanding mother, who quite often gives silly

  • Word count: 675
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Who do you believe is the most to blame for Blanche’s fate at the end of ‘ A Streetcar Named Desire’?

Who do you believe is the most to blame for Blanche's fate at the end of ' A Streetcar Named Desire'? How far do you think Blanche qualifies as a tragic heroine during the course of the play? There are many connecting themes that lead to Blanche's long-anticipated downfall. These themes I will discuss in my essay. She is under the influence of fate, her own sexual the desire for money. Major themes explored are death, fate and madness. Ironically the title incorporates the word 'desire', as we know this as an underlying theme in the novel. The fact that Williams saw an actual streetcar in Old Orleans gives the impression that William's play is close to own heart; we know that his sister could be viewed as a representation of Blanche in the play. She too had casual, frequent encounters much like Blanche has in the play. She was a nymphomaniac who was finally lobotomised and sent to an asylum. It is clear that 'A Streetcar Named Desire' is personal to the Playwright. Blanche has annoying obsessive behaviour and it is clear that the Writer portrays Blanche as a person who would be clearly hell to live with. Blanche is first introduced in the play as being 'moth' like; immediately she is compared in her smartness to the shabby, rundown street ironically named, 'Elysian Fields': " She is daintily dressed in a white suit with a fluffy bodice... " Her appearance is grand and

  • Word count: 1946
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Uncle Jemima¡¯s House

We were invited to my Uncle Jemima's House for the summer, Again!! Nearly every summer we spent about 3 weeks there, in a lonely old Petrol Station on the West Coast Of Ireland. His wife, my Aunt Nan, died not long ago and he's exceedingly lonely, so that's why we visit him often. Last time we went my Parents went off looking around leaving my Uncle and me together. He is a very nice person, full of stories, and knows the wild countryside and seashore better than anyone. Not much Traffic stopped to fuel up at the pumps, but Uncle Jemima was happy that the old road had been restored to its old shape when he was young, with all the wild flowers and herbs and insects and butterflies coming back now the petrol and diesel fumes had gone away. But everyday Uncle Jemima had at least one customer as a very old chauffer driving a long purple limousine, with yellow spots, with a young girl in the back. A wheel chair was tucked in beside the girl and she was covered in blankets, so I suspected he was Crippled, ill or both. "Boy that Limo, does drink the old petrol doesn't it?" Uncle Jemima would say. "Needs fillin' up every day. Wow! Wouldn't drive one a them to save me life!" "Who are they?" I asked curiously when the old chauffer turned up for the second time in the day and stood silently by the pumps as Uncle Jemima filled up the tank. The windows of the Limo had been would up

  • Word count: 1015
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Is conflict a key aspect of family life?

Is conflict a key aspect of family life? Conflict is indeed a key aspect of family life. It happens on a daily basis in almost every home in the country; even the Waltons had conflict with each other. I have the view that conflict is a corner stone of our life; it can help bring us together, not just drive us apart. During Flight this is particularly apparent, but in Your shoes conflict seems to have a negative effect. At the beginning of Flight the 'old man' seems to be looking for conflict; "'Hey!' he shouted; saw her jump...'Waiting for Steven, hey?' he said, his fingers curling like claws into his palm." Within thirty lines Lessing had set the scene for the family tension and demonised the old man. As Flight progresses we find out that the old man only causes the conflict in an effort to retain his last granddaughter, which removes most of the negative feeling. The turning point, the point where the old man's conflict is lost, is central to the story; "On the wrist of the post master's son balanced a young pigeon, the light gleaming on its breast. 'For me?' said the old man, letting the drops shake of his chin. 'For me?'" The relationship brought the granddaughter and her mother together because they were both united against the old man, but when the post master's son gives him the bird as a peace offering he lets go of his anger and is drawn closer to his

  • Word count: 570
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Glass Menagerie - By paying close attention to detail, describe how Williams creates tension on the part of Tom.

By paying close attention to detail, describe how Williams creates tension on the part of Tom The Glass Menagerie is a play that deals with a strong mix of emotions, including sadness, loneliness, anger and pride. This is especially true for the character of Tom. Williams uses many different ways of portraying Tom's feelings, and these become apparent when reading the play. I think one of the most important factors in the play is the role of the absent father. The fact that Williams chose to have his picture hanging in the family's living room through the entire play brings an underlying atmosphere, which is always present. Because of his fathers absence Tom feels a huge amount of pressure upon him this is due to a number of reasons. Firstly, Amanda can be very overbearing this causes Tom to be annoyed. Her constant 'nagging' and fussing and his sister can be very hard to bear and brings a great deal of tension to the household, so why is Amanda like that? Like many mothers, she has certain ideas of what she wants for her children. Memories of her own youth and her past life in Blue Mountain and give Amanda determination to force Laura into the same way of life. But because of the lack of 'gentlemen callers' for Laura, there is an atmosphere of both disappointment and unrealistic hope that is very obvious to Tom, "he is the long delayed but always expected something that

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams, is a play that is full of various types of themes.

Abdul Hassan Drama Analytical Essay The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams, is a play that is full of various types of themes. Not only are these themes shown in the characters of the play but they also become instilled in the reader. In this essay there will be three specific themes that will be referred to. The themes will consist of: the difficulty of accepting reality or otherwise known as realism, the impossibility of true escape, and the power of using memory in the play. The first theme that will be discussed is realism. Each member of the Wingfield family is unable to overcome this difficulty, and each, as a result, withdraws into a private fantasy world where he or she finds the comfort and meaning that the real world does not seem to offer. The private world in which Laura lives in is populated by glass animals, such as the Unicorn. Unlike his sister, Tom is capable of functioning in the real world, as we see in his having a job, taking care of his family, and having friends. But, in the end, he has no more motivation than Laura does to pursue a career, get married, or even ordinary friendships, and he prefers to retreat into the fantasies provided by books and especially movies. Amanda's connection to reality is the most complicated in the play. Unlike her children, she's into real world values and wishes her and her children financial success. Yet

  • Word count: 728
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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