'A Streetcar Named Desire' help..?

Question

I posted this yesterday, but..

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?

I know docorative fungus is a critical opinion of Blanche, but is 'doomed dinosaur approaching extinction' intended as a critical opinion or a sympathetic one?

Thanks.

Answer 1

DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK

Answer 2

At the time Williams wrote his play the character of Blanche finds herself living emotionally in an era which has not only ended but has long since passed. She was raised to be 'merely' attractive, gracious, well-groomed....and to find a husband; the quintessential flirtatious 'Southern Belle'. The play presents her as unprepared for the post-war world at large, well into middle-age and unmarried. This is what is meant by "decorative". That she is described as a "fungus" reflects her neediness and tendency to cling. She is also, ultimately, poisonous to those around her. She is a "doomed dinosaur" in that she is without options, without the skills to survive, emotionally and financially, and with a tendency to live/escape in the past without confronting her own reality.

Answer 3

Decorative Fungus, this would be the same as dressing up a pig. The pig might be pretty in a dress, but it is still a pig. Or it may be pretty but it is still stinky.

Doomed Dinosaur Approaching Extinction, well this is someone who knows that they are on the way out with no hope of survival. They are still clinging on to hope that just one more show will keep them immortal. Some stars fade faster than others. Some women have as many plastic surgeries on their face to keep themselves as young as possible. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I'm sure that what you need can be found wiyhin these links.

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.

I have found10+ summaries for you to look at, via the links below.

http://www.antistudy.com/search.php?title=A+Streetcar+Named+Desire

http://www.freebooknotes.com/book.php3?id=393

These links will give you a summary of the book, character analysis, plot and much more, so that you will be able to answer literary questions. Here is a short extract of what you can expect from the summaries.

Blanche Dubois

Blanche is an aging Southern belle from Laurel, Mississippi, who is descended from an old French aristocratic family but whose beauty and wealth have disappeared over time. More…..

http://www.jiffynotes.com/StreetcarNamedDesireA/MainCharacters.html

Good luck.

Kevin, Liverpool, England.