'A Streetcar Named Desire' essay help please?

Question

I've got this essay question for English Literature coursework:

Although Blanche Dubois is often referred to as a tragic figure, critic Patricia Hern likens her to a 'decorative fungus' and Ella Kazan to a 'doomed dinosaur approaching extinction'. Consider Williams' presentation of Blanche in light of these opinions.


I'm just checking my understanding of what is meant by 'decorative fungus' and by 'doomed dinosaur approaching extinction', so please can you explain those views to me if you can?

Thanks.

Thanks. I know what content I'm going to have in my essay, I just needed to check that my understanding of the opinions I was going to shape it around was correct.

Answer 1

OK, the person who said 'decorative fungus' is referring to the fact that Blanche, while attractive, is sort of growing and spreading and casting a nasty shadow over the Kowalskis.

The 'doomed dinosaur aproaching excinction' quote refers to the fact that Blanche is aging ungracefully, throwing herself at younger men in order to make herself feel better about her diminishing appearance, and envying her sister for having a young, fertile life with a husband and a baby on the way. Because of the jealousy, denial, and fear she has about growing old, she comes across less like a sexy temptress and more like a sad, middle-aged woman who can't come to terms with her own reality. I hope that helps!

Answer 2

I just can tell you that Blanche DuBois as Williams describes her is a very dramatic character like when talking with Mitch about Alan Grey his dead gay husband and when talking to Stella about Stanley in one of the initial scence, and to criticise Kazan I would probably say first that she is not a dinosaur because although she 'always depended on the kindness of strangers' and took her victims to Tarantula she didn't actually was looking to satisfy her desire but was looking for someone who loves her lkike Mitch like when she says 'sometimes there is God so quickly!' and that dinosaur attitude could be the cause of her mental illness that of course is not on purpose but that Blanche ia the victim. Explain her charater, her attitudes, her personality and descriptions and things will start popping up. Hope I have helped, wish you luck.

Answer 3

Blanche is the essential old time "Southern comfortable woman". The old time "Southern Belle" dies contained in the play, and substances thanks to the more moderen, weaker, a lot less old trend woman-like woman who would particularly have instant gratification of exact and emotional needs particularly than have criteria. Stella represents this more moderen type of woman. the upward push of this new woman over the Southern Belle is the tragedy of the play.