Stella is remarkably sad at the end of the play because of what happens to Blanche. Was she right in doing what she has done?
I strongly believe that Stella was right in what she did Blanche and it was completely justified. Blanche was making Stella's life a misery and she was literally ruining it. Stella and Stanley had no problems which each other and first and they were getting along just fine but once Blanche stepped into the picture she turned things around and made Stanley look like the bad guy.
It was hard for Stella to see Blanche go to an insane asylum but at the end it was the right thing to do and most people that knew her and how crazy she was knew that! Seeing Blanche's death was also hard for Stella at the end of the play. Blanche wasn't the first person in the family to pass away and that also mad Stella even more sad. It was Blanche though who made the bad decisions and who could've turned herself around earlier..
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Street Car Scenes 6-8
What is revealed about Blanche in these chapters? Do these revelations come as a shock?
Many things about Blanche's character is revealed in these chapters. Blanche may seem like a nice person from the outside but she hides alot of things that not everyone can tell by meeting her the first time. Blanche is in fact a very manipulative person and she has lied to many people in her life. One of these lies includes when she told her sister that she lost the estate because she couldn't make the payments because she was given time "for her nerves". She was actually shunned out of the whole Laurel social system because she slept with one of her students at school! Blanche also lied to one of her boyfriends stating that she had only been kissed by one boy and that she was still a virgin. This is crazy because Blanche wasn't a virgin at all!
This becomes a shock to everyone including Blanche because after a while everyone finds out that they have all been lied too and everyone starts hating Blanche and they don't really want to talk to her still!
Many things about Blanche's character is revealed in these chapters. Blanche may seem like a nice person from the outside but she hides alot of things that not everyone can tell by meeting her the first time. Blanche is in fact a very manipulative person and she has lied to many people in her life. One of these lies includes when she told her sister that she lost the estate because she couldn't make the payments because she was given time "for her nerves". She was actually shunned out of the whole Laurel social system because she slept with one of her students at school! Blanche also lied to one of her boyfriends stating that she had only been kissed by one boy and that she was still a virgin. This is crazy because Blanche wasn't a virgin at all!
This becomes a shock to everyone including Blanche because after a while everyone finds out that they have all been lied too and everyone starts hating Blanche and they don't really want to talk to her still!
Street Car Scenes 4-5
Why does Blanche disapprove of Stanley?
Blanche disaproves of Stanley for many different reasons. The first main reason is that Stanley simply doesn't treat Blanche in the right way and in her mind he is a stone age person. Stanley also beat Blanche's sister which she didn't like at all. In Blanche's opinion Stanley is someone with no manners with an aggressive, mean and harsh personality that causes trouble more than anything. Blanche simply doesn't like him. He isn't a good person to be around with and he can't be trusted.
Besides all that there is also some kind of sexual tension between the two which excites Blanche but in a more negative way than anything. Stanley knows alot about Blanche that she doesn't want the rest of the world knowing and this makes her anxious. Overall Blanche believes that Stella shouldn't have chosen Stanley as a husband. He was definitely the wrong pick and not a good addition to the family.
Blanche disaproves of Stanley for many different reasons. The first main reason is that Stanley simply doesn't treat Blanche in the right way and in her mind he is a stone age person. Stanley also beat Blanche's sister which she didn't like at all. In Blanche's opinion Stanley is someone with no manners with an aggressive, mean and harsh personality that causes trouble more than anything. Blanche simply doesn't like him. He isn't a good person to be around with and he can't be trusted.
Besides all that there is also some kind of sexual tension between the two which excites Blanche but in a more negative way than anything. Stanley knows alot about Blanche that she doesn't want the rest of the world knowing and this makes her anxious. Overall Blanche believes that Stella shouldn't have chosen Stanley as a husband. He was definitely the wrong pick and not a good addition to the family.
Street Car Scenes 1-3
Explain something a character does in Scene 2-3 that teaches us something new about them, something we didn’t know in Scene 1?
In scene one we were introduced to Stanley but we didn't know a whole much about him and his overall personality. In scenes 2-3 we find out that he beat his wife. Stanley always seemed like an aggressive person from the get go who wouldn't mind causing trouble but we would've never known that he would be violent enough and dare to beat his own wife down. In scene 1 we get a sense that he would be the type of person that wouldn't mind cheating on other women but not that he would beat them. In the first scene Stanley treats Blanche aggressively and yells at her but he never beats her. This shows a side of Stanley's character that isn't very positive. He seems to be a tough character.
In scene one we were introduced to Stanley but we didn't know a whole much about him and his overall personality. In scenes 2-3 we find out that he beat his wife. Stanley always seemed like an aggressive person from the get go who wouldn't mind causing trouble but we would've never known that he would be violent enough and dare to beat his own wife down. In scene 1 we get a sense that he would be the type of person that wouldn't mind cheating on other women but not that he would beat them. In the first scene Stanley treats Blanche aggressively and yells at her but he never beats her. This shows a side of Stanley's character that isn't very positive. He seems to be a tough character.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Willy/Norma Essay Thoughts
Willy and Norma Desmond are very similar characters. They both had a dream and lived their life to the fullest in their past. Like Willy, Norma is cocky and believes that she is still a star. Although they both had a good reputation in the past things have changed over time and even though they don't have a very good reputation they both still believe that they do.
Willy vs. Norma
Compare Willy to Norma Desmond.
Willy compares to Norma because they both make themselves bigger and more important than they really are. Norma thinks that she has a good reputation just like Willy but in reality they really don't have that great of a reputation. Norma wants Joe to edit the book that she's been writing and she will pay him whatever he wants. When the two talk Norma brags about how good she used to be and that she is a pretty famous person. Willy was also like this saying that he was a very good salesman and he took a lot of pride for that.
Although Norma is the rich one between the two she may end up being more right than Willy about her reputation. She sounds more credible than Willy because Willy doesn't have any money and no job at all. At least Norma has been working on something and she has build up a good reputation. We will have to wait and see if she really is what she's told Joe.
Willy compares to Norma because they both make themselves bigger and more important than they really are. Norma thinks that she has a good reputation just like Willy but in reality they really don't have that great of a reputation. Norma wants Joe to edit the book that she's been writing and she will pay him whatever he wants. When the two talk Norma brags about how good she used to be and that she is a pretty famous person. Willy was also like this saying that he was a very good salesman and he took a lot of pride for that.
Although Norma is the rich one between the two she may end up being more right than Willy about her reputation. She sounds more credible than Willy because Willy doesn't have any money and no job at all. At least Norma has been working on something and she has build up a good reputation. We will have to wait and see if she really is what she's told Joe.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Death of a Salesman Final Blog
Were Willy’s final actions noble, or were they a sign of weakness?
I believe that Willy's final actions weren't very noble. In my opinion Willy failed throughout the entire play and he didnt' learn anything. He wasted his life for no reason. Although he really wanted that insurance money ($20,000) and he wanted Biff to succeed in life that isn't his problem. If I were Willy I would've left Biff figure his life out by himself and give him the right tools to do so but I wouldn't kill myself for him to get money. I know Willy cared alot about Biff but his final actions weren't reasonable. Willy should've accepted Charlie's job and he could've made some money off of that to give to Biff. He didn't do this though because he didn't want to look weak and pride and reputation was everything to him.
To conclude I'd like to say that Willy killing himself was a sign of weakness because he had no other option to make things work. At least he died thinking that his family would be in better hands now and that Biff would make it in life. I'm not sure he still will though..
I believe that Willy's final actions weren't very noble. In my opinion Willy failed throughout the entire play and he didnt' learn anything. He wasted his life for no reason. Although he really wanted that insurance money ($20,000) and he wanted Biff to succeed in life that isn't his problem. If I were Willy I would've left Biff figure his life out by himself and give him the right tools to do so but I wouldn't kill myself for him to get money. I know Willy cared alot about Biff but his final actions weren't reasonable. Willy should've accepted Charlie's job and he could've made some money off of that to give to Biff. He didn't do this though because he didn't want to look weak and pride and reputation was everything to him.
To conclude I'd like to say that Willy killing himself was a sign of weakness because he had no other option to make things work. At least he died thinking that his family would be in better hands now and that Biff would make it in life. I'm not sure he still will though..
Friday, March 6, 2009
Death of a Salesman #6
What happens to Biff and Willy’s relationship after Biff goes to the hotel?
After Biff goes to the hotel his relationship with Willy changes forever. After failing math class Biff goes to Boston to talk to his dad. When he arrives at the hotel that Willy is at he takes a long time to open up the door. After he finally walks in he starts talking to Willy and after a bit of conversation the two laugh along with another person in the room. This immediately caught Biff's attention and he asked Willy who that third person laughing was. Willy said that there was no third person in the room but he was lying to Biff right in the face. A few moments after the girl that was in the bathroom comes out. Willy had been cheating on Linda and lying to his son Biff.
This really ruined their relationship and made Biff very upset. This is why Biff kind of threw his life away. He was so mad at what happened in the past that it made him loose motivation to succeed in life.
After Biff goes to the hotel his relationship with Willy changes forever. After failing math class Biff goes to Boston to talk to his dad. When he arrives at the hotel that Willy is at he takes a long time to open up the door. After he finally walks in he starts talking to Willy and after a bit of conversation the two laugh along with another person in the room. This immediately caught Biff's attention and he asked Willy who that third person laughing was. Willy said that there was no third person in the room but he was lying to Biff right in the face. A few moments after the girl that was in the bathroom comes out. Willy had been cheating on Linda and lying to his son Biff.
This really ruined their relationship and made Biff very upset. This is why Biff kind of threw his life away. He was so mad at what happened in the past that it made him loose motivation to succeed in life.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Death of a Salesman #5
Do you think Willy made the right decision to refuse Charlie’s help?
I believe that it was a very hard decision for Willy and at the end he decided to refuse Charlie's help for pride and to not seem inferior to him. I do think that although pride is important not having a job is pretty bad! Willy is in a tough situation at the moment and he had the opportunity to get a job that paid him $50 a week and he declined the offer. To me that was personally a bad decision. Charlie is one of his only good friends at the moment and probably the only one that would want to hire him. I don't understand why he couldn't overcome the pride and jealousy factor and just take the job! He could've used this money to help bring his life back together and use it for good things. I wonder how the end of the play will play out now with him not working. I highly doubt that he will get another offer like this one..
I believe that it was a very hard decision for Willy and at the end he decided to refuse Charlie's help for pride and to not seem inferior to him. I do think that although pride is important not having a job is pretty bad! Willy is in a tough situation at the moment and he had the opportunity to get a job that paid him $50 a week and he declined the offer. To me that was personally a bad decision. Charlie is one of his only good friends at the moment and probably the only one that would want to hire him. I don't understand why he couldn't overcome the pride and jealousy factor and just take the job! He could've used this money to help bring his life back together and use it for good things. I wonder how the end of the play will play out now with him not working. I highly doubt that he will get another offer like this one..
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Death of a Salesman #4
Was Ben a positive or negative influence on Willy? What does Linda think?
Ben was a very bad influence on Willy. Ben likes to brag about how he made his fortunes and his travels to Africa and across the world. When Willy listens to Ben about all this he believes him and also thinks that he could become wealthy if he did the same thing. Linda is the realistic one in all this and its good that she's there to check on Willy. Linda doesn't believe Ben's crazy stories about his past and wants to make sure that Willy doesn't either. She just wants Willy to stay safe. Willy needs to be kept under control and stay in reality and that's what Linda's here for.
If Linda wasn't here to help Willy maybe he would start trying to be like Ben again and start traveling. This may cause him to run into some trouble and Linda wants to make sure that that doesn't happen.
Ben was a very bad influence on Willy. Ben likes to brag about how he made his fortunes and his travels to Africa and across the world. When Willy listens to Ben about all this he believes him and also thinks that he could become wealthy if he did the same thing. Linda is the realistic one in all this and its good that she's there to check on Willy. Linda doesn't believe Ben's crazy stories about his past and wants to make sure that Willy doesn't either. She just wants Willy to stay safe. Willy needs to be kept under control and stay in reality and that's what Linda's here for.
If Linda wasn't here to help Willy maybe he would start trying to be like Ben again and start traveling. This may cause him to run into some trouble and Linda wants to make sure that that doesn't happen.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Death of a Salesman #3
Do you think Biff and Happy’s plan will work?
Due to their excitement about the plan (starting a sporting goods line) and how bad they want it to work I strongly believe that in the end they will make it happen. In order for the plan to work though they will need a lot of money and I'm not sure that they will get it all. A lot of their connections (a man they haven't talked to in a decade) that could help them get the money in the beginning of the play are now starting to disappear so I'm not sure how everything will unfold there. I mean $10,000 is a lot of money back then to gather up and their plan on playing each other in sports to get spectator's attention and want to buy their product probably won't work. We will have to wait and see...
Due to their excitement about the plan (starting a sporting goods line) and how bad they want it to work I strongly believe that in the end they will make it happen. In order for the plan to work though they will need a lot of money and I'm not sure that they will get it all. A lot of their connections (a man they haven't talked to in a decade) that could help them get the money in the beginning of the play are now starting to disappear so I'm not sure how everything will unfold there. I mean $10,000 is a lot of money back then to gather up and their plan on playing each other in sports to get spectator's attention and want to buy their product probably won't work. We will have to wait and see...
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