Wednesday, April 29, 2020

The Real Housewives of Elysian Fields Essays -

Sarah Cherry Professor Suzanne Carlton ENC1102 18 May 2016 The Real Housewives of Elysian Fields Is being in a relationship the key to happiness and should marriage be a womens ultimate life goal? The play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams presents a penetrating look into the way the attitudes of American women and their dependence on men define them. This dependence can place them in situations that eventually lead to their unhappiness and disenchantment. Blanche and Stella both see men as their means to happiness and both depend on men for both their sustenance and their self-image. Blanche and Stellas dependence on men showcases the mentality of women during that time frame but there are segments of American women today who still grapple with this misconception. The ultimate fantasy that endures even today is that a woman can rely on a man to make her happy. By looking for anyone other than oneself to provide for one's happiness a woman becomes less realistic about her needs, and therefore less fulfilled than had she looked inward. In Scene 4 there is a long conversation between Blanche, the aging Southern belle and Stella, the more solid and earthly sister. During this conversation Blanche urges Stella to leave Stanley her physically abusive husband. After Stanley assaults Stella, she comes back to him and the sisters have a conversation about their future which illustrates Blanches' attitude of depending on men to solve her problems and also Stella's acceptance of her life with Stanley. In my opinion? Youre married to a madman says Blanche trying to convince Stella her husband is no good (Williams 1842). Blanche goes on to say how Stella should try and find a way out of her relationship with Stanley, I am not in anything that I have a desire to get out of says Stella, who is in love and denies the fact she is unhappy with Stanley. People have got to tolerate each others habits, I guess, Stella not only accepts her lifestyles with Stanley she makes excuses for his abusive ways (Williams 1842). But Blanche's al ternativecontacting her ex-beau Shep Huntleigh for financial supportstill involves complete dependence on men. When Stella chooses to remain with Stanley, she chooses to remain dependent on a man even though her dependence is much more realistic than Blanche's rescue fantasy. Although it is not an easy lifestyle Stella seems somewhat satisfied with her life. Stanley dominates Stella in every way and is physically and emotionally abusive. Stella excuses her husbands behavior as being his way of releasing the tension of work and home. Their relationship is heavily based on a powerful, animal-like sexual chemistry. Stanley's character is drawn as somewhat of a caveman, the ultimate provider from the initial scene of him tossing the day's hunt, the meat, to Stella on the porch. Throughout the play his "animal" characteristics are commented on and implied as seen in the following conversation between Stella and Blanche. BLANCHE. May I speak plainly? STELLA. Yes, do. Go ahead. As plainly as you want to. [Stanley enters, stands unseen through following] BLANCHE. Well if youll forgive me hes common! STELLA. Why, yes, I suppose he is. BLANCHE. Suppose! You cant have forgotten that much of our bringing up, Stella, that you just suppose that any part of a gentlemans in his nature! Not one particle, no! Oh, if he was just ordinary! Just plain but good and wholesome, but no. Theres something downright bestial about him! Youre hating me saying this, arent you? Blanche believes Stanley acts like an animal, has an animals habits! Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one!, and that Theres even something sub-human something not quite to the stage of human yet! Yes, something ape-like about him (Williams 1845). As a provider Stanley is not exemplary but manages to keep a roof over Stella's head and she seems reasonable content with her life. Stella ties her life to Stanley with the most common bond. Despite their relative poverty and the violence of their relationship Stella chooses to have a child with Stanley and therefore cement their bond. This is a phenomenon is seen repeatedly in our current society. One only has to turn on an episode of Maury Povich

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