American Drama – ‘Consider any of the two texts studied in terms of their representations of the conflict between realism and idealism’.
Quotes from both texts to show idealism and realism and from other sources. Doesn’t have to be 13 sources – however many suitable
Consider any of the two texts studied in terms of their representations of the conflict between realism and idealism.
Two texts are A streetcar named desire and Death of a salesman
Main argument off essay – The fight to balance idealism and realism in both plays is seen as being the constructive force whereas those who abandon one for the other become destructive.
Those characters who fight to balance realism and idealism are seen as constructive forces. Those who abandon one for the other become destructive. Has a function to either to destroy or protect.
Blanche – Material things symbolic of her dream. Her past reality has become her present dream
Failure, New generation fulfilling the hopes of the old. Dream is materialistic and false.
Biffs idealism and realism is good because he is trying to save Willys life
Realism – save lives , idealism – destroying lives
What makes Stanleys realism bad is that there is no idealism
Biff still has idealism . all the things from his past that are bad he is desperate to get away from.
Willy’s idealism is bad because he has no realism, completely unrealistic, no awareness of reality at all.Only interested in trying to reminisce on things that confirm the illusion of the present. Hence the scene ‘ I was right, I was right’
Blanches idealism is good because has realism, still realistic. Blanch turning the lights off constantly and being in low light, demonstrates that she is perfectly conscious of the fact of what her reality is. In others eyes she is present this image from the past, doesn’t want to see the reality of what she is in the present.
Rather than talking about both plays separately, talk about them at the same time as in one paragraph, therefore talk about destructive characters (Willy and Stanley) from both plays and follow them by the constructive characters (Blanche and Biff).
Stanley represents complete realism and Blanche is fantastical and idealistic, the schism between the two clearly shows the struggle between reality and illusion in the play. Stanley’s aim is to obliterate the nostalgic and fantastical reverie that dominates Blanche’s mindset.
‘ I don’t want realism, I want magic’ – blanche – shows shes aware of her realism.
Get quotes from both plays to show realism and idealism.
American Drama – ‘Consider any of the two texts studied in terms of their representations of the conflict between realism and idealism’.
