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Whose Reality?. Ways of constructing an alternate reality Ways of escaping reality. To develop an understanding how A Streetcar Named Desire shows us how people construct alternate realities. Objective. Reality?. Escapism Illusion Dishonesty. Ways of constructing alternate realities.
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Whose Reality? Ways of constructing an alternate reality Ways of escaping reality
To develop an understanding how A Streetcar Named Desire shows us how people construct alternate realities Objective
Escapism • Illusion • Dishonesty Ways of constructing alternate realities
Fantasy • Delusion • Substance abuse 1 Escapism
Based on untruths • Seductive and positive – a ‘refuge’ • Painful to lose – ‘shattered illusions’ 2 Illusion
Constructing facades • Manipulating appearances • Evasion • Deceiving oneself and others • Denying, rejecting or manipulating the truth 3 Dishonesty
Fantasy • Delusion • Substance abuse Escapism
How is the role of fantasy illustrated in Streetcar? • Can you identify an example of a fantasy that Blanche chooses to indulge in? • Does Blanche not also manipulate the commonly-held fantasy about women that Mitch seems to subscribe to? • Consider the role of fantasy in everyday romance. • Does Blanche entertain a fantastical (as opposed to realistic) idea of Mitch and their possible future together? • Is she subject to a fantasy that he can make her happy? Fantasy as escapism
Delusion: |diˈloōzhən| noun • an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder : the delusion of being watched. delusions of grandeur a false impression of one's own importance. Delusion as escapism
Delusion is associated with mental illness – Blanche is delusional about her status as a lady, it conflicts with the truth of her promiscuity. • Why do you think Blanche created the delusion? • Is it the work of maintaining the two conflicting realities that drives her over the edge? • Does this create a ‘fractured’ sense of self? • Why else does she lose her mind? • Find quotes. Delusion as escapism
How, exactly is alcohol used as a form of escapism in Streetcar? • How does Blanche’s use of alcohol differ to that of Stanley’s? • Why does Blanche try to hide her drinking? • What are the implications of an alcohol addiction? Substance abuse as escapism
Based on untruths • Seductive and positive – a ‘refuge’ • Painful to lose – ‘shattered illusions Illusion
|iˈloōzhən| noun a false idea or belief : he had no illusions about the trouble she was in. • a deceptive appearance or impression : the illusion of family togetherness | the tension between illusion and reality. • a thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses : Zollner's illusion makes parallel lines seem to diverge by placing them on a zigzag-striped background. be under the illusion that believe mistakenly that : the world is under the illusion that the original painting still hangs in the Winter Palace. be under no illusion (or illusions) be fully aware of the true state of affairs. Illusion
What are some of the common illusions? (consider illusions of childhood) • What illusion does Mitch have about Blanche? • What untruths has Blanche been subject to, and how have these contributed to her construction of illusions? • Consider – what is the ‘big lie’ by which she has lead her life? Illusion: based on untruths
What illusions did Blanche have about her young husband? • What illusions has she had about her appeal (consider the Rosenkavalier idea)? • People take refuge in illusion – from what truth must Blanche seek refuge? Illusions: nice to have
Identify a couple of examples of shattered illusions in Streetcar. • How do you think those illusions came to be/why did the characters develop them? • How do those characters respond when those illusions are shattered? Illusions: painful to lose
Constructing facades • Manipulating appearances • Evasion • Deceiving oneself and others • Denying, rejecting or manipulating the truth Dishonesty
Which characters construct facades? • How do these facades differ from objective reality? • What are the implications of constructed facades? Who does it affect, and how? • Can you find a piece of dialogue that relates to this? Dishonesty: constructing facades
What does Blanche hope to gain by dressing the way she does? • Is anyone fooled by this? • Find a quote to support this. Dishonesty: manipulating appearances
What does Williams use to symbolise truth in Streetcar? • How does Blanche evade the truth? • What are the implications of evading the truth – for Blanche, for anyone? • What happens to the truth when people live dishonestly? Dishonesty: evasion
Is self-deception common? • Can it be described as a ‘coping mechanism’ ? • How does it come about? • How has Blanche deceived herself? • Is she ‘in denial’? What does this mean? • What’s the alternative? Dishonesty: self-deception and denial
What makes some truths unbearable? • Which truths do Blanche and Stella reject? • What are the implications of this? • Find quotes that illustrate how people can reject difficult truths. Dishonesty: rejection of the truth
How does Stanley manipulate the truth? • How does Blanche? • In what ways do these manipulated truths differ from objective reality? E.g. do the manipulated truths favour those who created them? • What are the consequences of their lies? Dishonesty: manipulating the truth
Because it’s not all doom and gloom… • Truth • Acceptance • Relocation Brighter options
On ‘the weak’, or On ‘the need for illusions’ We need to hold onto illusions in order to cope with reality (Expository, persuasive or imaginative) • The weak are forced to create alternate realities (Expository, persuasive or imaginative) Writing tasks (400 words)
