A Streetcar Named Desire
By: Jessica • Essay • 703 Words • February 23, 2010 • 1,106 Views
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Discuss the various ways the confidant or confidante functions in one of the following works.
In the play, A Streetcar named Desire, Tennessee Williams depicts a conflict through his main character, Blanche Dubois. Blanche has a problem in believing that she is in a fantasy world. In this play one of the confidants that she has is Mitch. She not only develops a sexual connection to him but an emotional connection as well.
Throughout the play and in real life one thing that plays a major role in our daily lives is society. Even though many may not realize it, or want to admit it, society is what dictates the way we basically are. Some might call it peer pressure but that is just the way of life. In today’s world, the popularity that I feel is mostly affected by society are women. The societal pressures on women to be attractive, successful, and thin are stronger than ever. “In American society it has become very apparent that the perception of how a "real" woman should look and how a "real" woman really looks are two different things.” Women look at media to demonstrate what they should look like. More and more, different perceptions of beauty are being thrown at women saying females need to have certain characteristics in order to be accepted by society. What most women don’t truly get is that, trying to reach their dream of looking like a celebrity is a very hard task. Because of the fact that that these "beautiful" women on T.V., in movies, and on magazine covers have people to make them look the way that they do. It’s not until hours of makeup and airbrush, plus computerized alterations that a picture will go onto a magazine cover. People are not meant to be perfect. It just doesn't happen. But according to society we have to try at least to be very close, and until we realize the truth nothing will change.
When the play begins Blanche is already considered to be a “fallen women”. The play opens up with Blanche moving to New Orleans to live with her sister, Stella and her husband, Stanley Kowalski. Without any evidence of the reason of Blanche’s sudden departure the play begins with Blanche criticizing her sister about living in such poor conditions. Blanche and Stella were raised in wealth and are used to high standards of living. As a member of the higher social class, she has been required to live by certain