Author: mm4ip

Final-Ball Group 4

Missing Persons (Character)

Bassanio

·       Motivation – Bassanio wishes to woo and wed Portia, he also wants Antontio's well-being because he so devoted to him

·       Obstacles –  At first his lack of funds prevents him from wooing Portia, then he runs into the obstacle of the casket test. As for achieving Antonio's wellbeing, he runs into the obstacles of Antonio's ships apparently being lost at sea, and Shylock holding onto the agreement

·       Action/What? – What the characters does or is willing to do to satisfy the want In order to woo and wed Portia, Bassanio is willing to strain his relationship with Antonio by asking him for money yet again, and travel far. He is also willing to risk failing the casket test and being forced to swear to never pursue her again. In order to protect Antonio, Bassanio is willing to pay many times Shylock's original price.

·       Action/Why? – Why the character chooses these actions? Bassanio chooses to ask Antonio for money because he knows he can trust him in a tight spot (he's done it before), and he has really has a strong desire to try for Portia's hand. He tries to save Antonio's life because he is is closest friend, and he chooses the method of bribing Shylock because he is confident in his relationship with his new wife (it won't strain anything between them).

·       Avowed Action/Why? vs. True Action/Why? – Why does the character SAY he does an action compared to the truth un why he does an action. Bassanio expresses that he would give is own life to protect Antonio. "Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet!/The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all,/Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood." (IV, 1, lines 133-155) He seems to be honest in this, traveling far to make it to Antonio's trial and repeatedly offering to sacrifice money and his life for him.

Portia

·       Character(s) Motivation – Portia wishes to wed a good man that she loves, and support him and make him happy without breaking her late father's will. (Should we also include something about wanting to please/support Bassanio? After all she is willing to go to great lengths to aid Antonio because of Bassanio)

·       Obstacles –  Portia struggles with the arrival of many base, arrogant, or simply undesirable suitors. She also struggles with the fact that when Bassanio arrives she cannot simply marry him without breaking her father's will.

·       Action/What? – What the characters does or is willing to do to satisfy the want In order to not break her father's will, she is willing to risk not marrying the one she loves. In order to support Bassanio and therefore Antonio, she is willing to provide great amounts of money, and concoct a scheme involving Nerissa and going under cover.

·       Action/Why? – Why the character chooses these actions? She chooses to aid Antonio and pretend to be a man with Nerissa because she feels it is her duty as Bassanio's wife to support his close friend. "€¦for in companions/That do converse and waste the time together, /Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love,/There must be needs a like proportion/Of lineaments, of manners and spirit; Which makes me think that this Antonio, Being the bosom lover of my lord, Must needs be like my lord." (III, 4, lines 11- 18) Portia specifically offers support in the form of money because she is quite wealthy. There doesn't seem to be much difference in what she says and what she does, excepting the bit of fun she and Nerissa have with the rings and the expense of their husbands.

Shylock

€¢ Character Motivation – Shylock wishes to get revenge against Christian men, specifically Antonio, who treat him poorly because he is Jewish.
€¢ Obstacles – Shylock has to abide by the law, and so must find a way to avenge himself through legal means
€¢ Action/What? – What the character does or is willing to do to satisfy the want- Shylock creates an agreement with Antonio wherein, should Antonio fail to pay off his debt, Shylock may extract a pound of his flesh.
€¢ Action/Why? – Why the character chooses these actions?
€¢ Avowed Action/Why? vs. True Action/Why? – Why does the character SAY he does an action compared to the truth of why he does an action.- Shylock demands his pound of Antonio's flesh, claiming that he wants it because it is what he is owed, refusing to accept Bassiano's money. In actuality, he demands Antonio's flesh and nothing else, because he is bitter at Antonio for being prejudiced against him.

Antonio

€¢ Character(s) Motivation – Antonio is determined to see Bassanio happy
€¢ Obstacles – He must come to an agreement with Shylock that enables Bassanio to gain enough money to visit Portia and potentially marry her.
€¢ Action/What? – What the characters does or is willing to do to satisfy the want- He agrees to pay for Bassanio's bond and says that should his money not arrive in time for the deal to be met, he will let Shylock take a pound of his flesh in compensation.
€¢ Action/Why? – Why the character chooses these actions?
€¢ Avowed Action/Why? vs. True Action/Why? – Why does the character SAY he does an action compared to the truth of why he does an action. – There is not a real difference between Antonio's true action and avowed action. He says he creates the deal with Shylock to help his friend Bassanio, and that appears to be true.  It is possible, as he is depressed at the beginning of the play, that he is trying to achieve greater happiness vicariously through Bassanio's happiness.  This could be an ulterior motive to his helpfulness in aiding Bassanio's quest for Portia.

Lorenzo

€¢ Character(s) Motivation – Lorenzo wants to marry Jessica and have her convert to Christianity
€¢ Obstacles – Shylock does not want Jessica marrying Lorenzo, or any other Christian
€¢ Action/What? – What the characters does or is willing to do to satisfy the want¬-Lorenzo helps Jessica run away from Shylock's house during the night so that they can be together.
€¢ Action/Why? Lorenzo helps Jessica escape from Shylock, because he wants to marry her, and knows Shylock will not offer his permission, so he is left with the decision of choosing to follow Shylock's wishes, or secretly sneaking Jessica away from her father.  He chooses the latter option because he is very motivated by his desire to marry Jessica and convert her to Christianity

Jessica

·       ¨ Character(s) Motivation – Jessica wishes to marry Lorenzo, lead happy life with him, and dissociate herself from her father's ways.

·       ¨ Obstacles – She must find a way escape from her father's house and convert to Christianity. However, she is slightly torn because she feels it wrong, or at least tragic, that she should be ashamed of being her father's daughter.

·       ¨ Action/What? – Jessica sends Lorenzo a letter detailing how he should come to rescue her, and the preparations she has made for their new life together (parts of her father's wealth she has taken). She also converts to Christianity.

·       ¨ Action/Why? – Because Jessica is a Jew, it is forbidden for her to marry Lorenzo because he isn't Jewish, and it is forbidden for him to marry her. This gives the reason for both her needing to escape from her father's household and for her to convert to Christianity. Converting to Christianity also helps her to further dissociate herself from her father's ways.

·       ¨ Avowed Action/Why? vs. True Action/Why? – There doesn't seem to be a great difference between her avowed and true actions, however, one might question why she needed to take so much of her father's wealth. Yes, she and Lorenzo are poor and starting a new life with nothing, but as Shylock finds out after their escape, Jessica and Lorenzo have a bit of a spending spree directly following their elopement.

Gratiano

·       ¨ Character(s) Motivation – Gratiano wishes to live his live in a hearty, fun-loving fashion. He also wishes for his friends, especially Antonio and Bassanio, to be as happy as he is.

·       ¨ Obstacles – Gratiano's flippant, talkative manner is off-putting to civilized company. It almost prevents him from accompanying Bassanio on his trip. Shylock's refusing to show mercy to Antonio is an obstacle to Gratiano seeing his friends happy.

·       ¨ Action/What/Why? – Bassanio says that he is willing to take on sober manners and act mildly. It is hard to tell whether he follows through on this or not because the action of the play moves away from him, however, neither Bassanio or Antonio reprimand him again. He accompanies Bassanio on his trip to Belmont, and also on his trip to defend Antonio. Gratiano is quite devoted to both Bassanio and Antonio as they are his close friends. He marries Nerissa in Belmont because he has fallen in love and he feels it will contribute to his happy lifestyle.

 

In looking at the characters, their desires, and their actions, there is a great contrast between all of the Christian characters and Shylock the Jew. Not only are all of the Christian characters "right" and the "good guys" and Shylock "wrong" and the "bad guy," the Christians seem more human. The Christians, even those who have their faults (Antonio mistreating Shylock, Gratiano being overly flippant, etc.) have more human desire and a greater thirst for a good life. They desire things that will make themselves and others happy. Shylock, however, only wants revenge and his "justice." It's as if he is somehow sub-human. The difference is not just about moral rights and wrongs but entire states of being and outlooks on life.  This plays into the overall themes in the play, which focus on what it means to be a good person.

 

IMAGES

·         Dominant Images  – Images/motifs in the play that underscore or augment the play's action

The Pound of Flesh

·        The pound of flesh is a dominant image, because it represents Shylock's lack of mercy and bloodlust.  It is not enough for him to be paid back for his bond in money.  Antonio has always persecuted him for being Jewish and now he must pay with something truly painful, and ultimately life threatening.  This idea of being merciless is important to the play, because it is Shylock's downfall.  He ends up losing his fortune (although it is returned upon his conversion) because he did not take the Christian path and forgive Antonio his debts, or at least take Bassanio's offere of Portia's money.

The Three Caskets

·        Gold, silver and lead

o   The three caskets contain gold, silver and lead.  The prize of Portia's hand in marriage is hidden in the lead casket.  The gold and silver caskets represent wealth and glamor.  They are desirable, but also often chased after by those who are greedy.  The lead is a strong image, because, as the correct choice, it symbolizes risking everything for faith (or in Bassanio and Portia's case, love).  This idea of risk for faith follows the strong pattern of Christian ideals that can be found throughout the play.  The three caskets demonstrate the importance of ignoring greed in order to find something higher, such as love.

·         Repeated Images – Images that reappear throughout the course of the play

 

·        Sea Images:
The sea images apply directly to Antonio having several merchant ships at sea – they remind us again and again that everything is riding on his ships coming back safely. If they don't come back with a profit he dies at Shylock's hand.

·        "€¦the pageants of the sea" (I, 1, line 11)
"Your mind is tossing on the ocean/there where your argosies with portly sail€¦" (I, i, 8-9)
"I should not see the sandy hourglass run/ But I should think of shallows and of flats /and see wealthy Andrew docked in sand/vailing her high top lower than her ribs€¦" (I, i, 25-29)
"But fish not with this melancholy bait/ For this fool gudgeon, this opinion," (I, i, 101-102)
"when he did redeem/the virgin tribute paid by howling Troy/to the sea-monster" (III, 2, lines 57-59)
"€¦with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea banks, and wav'd her love to come again to Cathage." (V, i, 100)

·        Religious References:
The religious references, many of them specifically Hebrew, are constantly accentuating the big Holy Christian vs. Evil Jew theme.
"When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep-/This Jacob from our holy Abram was/ As his wise mother wrought in his behalf/ The third possessor," (I, iii, 69-71)
"The Prodigal Christian€¦" (70)
"Black Monday€¦Ash Wednesday€¦" (72)
"Jacob's staff€¦" (72)
"..a gentle and no Jew" (75) – jews are bad
"€¦wise, fair and true€¦" (75)
"This shrine, this mortal breathing saint," (77)
"The figure of an angel" (78)
"Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold." (V, i, 102)

·        Nature Images:

The nature images often connect to the people within the play, reinforcing moods through the personification of an animal or element.
"Venus' pigeons fly€¦" (73) Venus is a reference to love and pigeons are common (not fancy).
"Strumpet wind€¦" (74) – prostitute wind
"There are a sort of men whose visages do cream and mantle like a standing pond," (I, i, 88-89)
"the lion's shadow ere himself, And ran dismay'd away" (V, i. 100) "muddy vesture of decay.." Soul will stay on earth if you don't take Christian path.

·        Famous Figures:

These famous figures are used to hyperbolize the situations the characters find themselves in through the use of familiar characters known to audiences.  These characters are also religious figures of Ancient Greece though their notoriety and out-datedness seems to negate the disdain placed upon the other non-Christian images.
"€¦Hang on her temples like a golden fleece/ Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strond/ And many Jasons come in quest of her," (I, i, 169-172).
"If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will," (I, ii, 105-107)

·        Misc. Images:

The use of personification in describing Death as not only an entity to be capitalized, but also an animal corpse emphasizes its terribleness.  Bassanio's wedding ring is a symbol of his devotion to his wife, and since he gives it up to repay Antonio's "lawyer" it also symbolizes his gratitude to both the lawyer for helping Antonio, and Antonio for helping him.

"A carrion Death€¦" (78)
Bassiano's wedding ring

·        Images in the Title – Is there a dominant image in the Title? What is its importance?

The Merchant of Venice: The Merchant of Venice is referring to Antonio.  Antonio is worthy of being the title character because he represents the good Christian values reflected in the play.  He is willing to sacrifice not only his fortune, but also his well being for the good of his friend Bassanio, and he expects to gain nothing in return.  He is altruistic and caring.

Themes of play as derived from images:

The predominant images revolve around religious themes, and ideals pertaining to goodness.  For example, as previously stated, the three caskets represent taking a leap of faith and choosing substance over wealth.  All of the Christian images are related to positive ideas, which connect to the fact that within this play Christianity is a symbol of goodness, whereas Judaism is not.  The famous figures and much of the nature, and specifically sea images increase the stakes of the characters in the play, and puts pressure on their decisions between following the good Christian path or falling short.

THEME

¨      Interpret the author's potential messages – what issues is the author exploring

¨      What are the abstract concepts which part of all of the play is "about?"

The play explores the following themes:

Love versus money

·        Shylock chooses money over love, as demonstrated by the fact that when his daughter runs away he is he is preoccupied by the loss of his "ducats." He says, "I shall never see my gold again." He values her in terms of financial dealings and other materials ("precious jewels" "a diamond gone") instead of missing the girl herself.

·        The three caskets that determine Portia's husband contain gold, silver and lead, but despite gold and silver having a higher monetary value, lead is the casket that Portia's picture is in, meaning the suitor who chooses lead will be able to wed Portia.

Taking risks on faith to achieve greater happiness

·        Antonio and Bassanio risk being unable to pay off their debt to Shylock in order for Bassanio to seek the greater happiness derived from being Portia's husband

·        Bassanio risks choosing the wrong casket and being exiled from Portia's company permanently for the chance to choose the right casket and be with Portia for the rest of his life.

Charity and mercy versus hatred and vengeance

·        Antonio is willing to pay for Bassanio to go to Portia and try to marry her, whereas Shylock is unwilling to lend Bassanio the money on goof faith, and must instead have a promise of money or flesh from Antonio

·        Portia is willing to lose large amounts of money to help Antonio pay off his debt to Shylock, even though she has never met Antonio.  She simply believes him to be a good man, and knows that he means a great deal to her husband.

·        Shylock is unwilling to move past his hatred and desire for vengeance when he has a chance to take a pound of Antonio's flesh.  He demands the flesh despite offers of more than the amount of money he is owed, showing no mercy.

·        When Shylock loses everything, Antonio offers him mercy, reinstating his fortunes and sparing his punishment, so long as Shylock converts to Christianity.

All of these themes can be contained within the overarching theme:

·        Supposed Christian values versus Jewish values (or non-Christian values)

o   Christians are supposed to value love over money, choosing to behave in charitable ways, and having great faith.  They should not be greedy, ignoring self-interest in order to bring happiness to others.  Also, they are supposed to be merciful, not wrathful, and choose love and forgiveness over hatred.

What this play is about:

In summary, these themes create a play that comments on what it takes to be a good person.  Looking past the Christian/Jewish stereotypes of the time in which this was written, the characteristics that make a person a "good Christian" in this story are also ideals that make a good person in general. All of the themes comment on different aspects of being a good person, such as choosing love over money and greed, or choosing mercy over vengeance.

Further Updated Image

·        IMAGES

·         Dominant Images  – Images/motifs in the play that underscore or augment the play's action

The Pound of Flesh

·        The pound of flesh is a dominant image, because it represents Shylock's lack of mercy and bloodlust.  It is not enough for him to be paid back for his bond in money.  Antonio has always persecuted him for being Jewish and now he must pay with something truly painful, and ultimately life threatening.  This idea of being merciless is important to the play, because it is Shylock's downfall.  He ends up losing his fortune (although it is returned upon his conversion) because he did not take the Christian path and forgive Antonio his debts, or at least take Bassanio's offere of Portia's money.

The Three Caskets

·        Gold, silver and lead

o   The three caskets contain gold, silver and lead.  The prize of Portia's hand in marriage is hidden in the lead casket.  The gold and silver caskets represent wealth and glamor.  They are desirable, but also often chased after by those who are greedy.  The lead is a strong image, because, as the correct choice, it symbolizes risking everything for faith (or in Bassanio and Portia's case, love).  This idea of risk for faith follows the strong pattern of Christian ideals that can be found throughout the play.  The three caskets demonstrate the importance of ignoring greed in order to find something higher, such as love.

·         Repeated Images – Images that reappear throughout the course of the play

 

·        Sea Images:
The sea images apply directly to Antonio having several merchant ships at sea – they remind us again and again that everything is riding on his ships coming back safely. If they don't come back with a profit he dies at Shylock's hand.

·        "€¦the pageants of the sea" (I, 1, line 11)
"Your mind is tossing on the ocean/there where your argosies with portly sail€¦" (I, i, 8-9)
"I should not see the sandy hourglass run/ But I should think of shallows and of flats /and see wealthy Andrew docked in sand/vailing her high top lower than her ribs€¦" (I, i, 25-29)
"But fish not with this melancholy bait/ For this fool gudgeon, this opinion," (I, i, 101-102)
"when he did redeem/the virgin tribute paid by howling Troy/to the sea-monster" (III, 2, lines 57-59)
"€¦with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea banks, and wav'd her love to come again to Cathage." (V, i, 100)

·        Religious References:
The religious references, many of them specifically Hebrew, are constantly accentuating the big Holy Christian vs. Evil Jew theme.
"When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep-/This Jacob from our holy Abram was/ As his wise mother wrought in his behalf/ The third possessor," (I, iii, 69-71)
"The Prodigal Christian€¦" (70)
"Black Monday€¦Ash Wednesday€¦" (72)
"Jacob's staff€¦" (72)
"..a gentle and no Jew" (75) – jews are bad
"€¦wise, fair and true€¦" (75)
"This shrine, this mortal breathing saint," (77)
"The figure of an angel" (78)
"Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold." (V, i, 102)

·        Nature Images:

The nature images often connect to the people within the play, reinforcing moods through the personification of an animal or element.
"Venus' pigeons fly€¦" (73) Venus is a reference to love and pigeons are common (not fancy).
"Strumpet wind€¦" (74) – prostitute wind
"There are a sort of men whose visages do cream and mantle like a standing pond," (I, i, 88-89)
"the lion's shadow ere himself, And ran dismay'd away" (V, i. 100) "muddy vesture of decay.." Soul will stay on earth if you don't take Christian path.

·        Famous Figures:

These famous figures are used to hyperbolize the situations the characters find themselves in through the use of familiar characters known to audiences.  These characters are also religious figures of Ancient Greece though their notoriety and out-datedness seems to negate the disdain placed upon the other non-Christian images.
"€¦Hang on her temples like a golden fleece/ Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strond/ And many Jasons come in quest of her," (I, i, 169-172).
"If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will," (I, ii, 105-107)

·        Misc. Images:

The use of personification in describing Death as not only an entity to be capitalized, but also an animal corpse emphasizes its terribleness.  Bassanio's wedding ring is a symbol of his devotion to his wife, and since he gives it up to repay Antonio's "lawyer" it also symbolizes his gratitude to both the lawyer for helping Antonio, and Antonio for helping him.

"A carrion Death€¦" (78)
Bassiano's wedding ring

·        Images in the Title – Is there a dominant image in the Title? What is its importance?

The Merchant of Venice: The Merchant of Venice is referring to Antonio.  Antonio is worthy of being the title character because he represents the good Christian values reflected in the play.  He is willing to sacrifice not only his fortune, but also his well being for the good of his friend Bassanio, and he expects to gain nothing in return.  He is altruistic and caring.

Themes of play as derived from images:

The predominant images revolve around religious themes, and ideals pertaining to goodness.  For example, as previously stated, the three caskets represent taking a leap of faith and choosing substance over wealth.  All of the Christian images are related to positive ideas, which connect to the fact that within this play Christianity is a symbol of goodness, whereas Judaism is not.  The famous figures and much of the nature, and specifically sea images increase the stakes of the characters in the play, and puts pressure on their decisions between following the good Christian path or falling short.

Themes in greater detail

THEME

¨      Interpret the author's potential messages – what issues is the author exploring

¨      What are the abstract concepts which part of all of the play is "about?"

The play explores the following themes:

Love versus money

·        Shylock chooses money over love, as demonstrated by the fact that when his daughter runs away he is he is preoccupied by the loss of his "ducats." He says, "I shall never see my gold again." He values her in terms of financial dealings and other materials ("precious jewels" "a diamond gone") instead of missing the girl herself.

·        The three caskets that determine Portia's husband contain gold, silver and lead, but despite gold and silver having a higher monetary value, lead is the casket that Portia's picture is in, meaning the suitor who chooses lead will be able to wed Portia.

Taking risks on faith to achieve greater happiness

·        Antonio and Bassanio risk being unable to pay off their debt to Shylock in order for Bassanio to seek the greater happiness derived from being Portia's husband

·        Bassanio risks choosing the wrong casket and being exiled from Portia's company permanently for the chance to choose the right casket and be with Portia for the rest of his life.

Charity and mercy versus hatred and vengeance

·        Antonio is willing to pay for Bassanio to go to Portia and try to marry her, whereas Shylock is unwilling to lend Bassanio the money on goof faith, and must instead have a promise of money or flesh from Antonio

·        Portia is willing to lose large amounts of money to help Antonio pay off his debt to Shylock, even though she has never met Antonio.  She simply believes him to be a good man, and knows that he means a great deal to her husband.

·        Shylock is unwilling to move past his hatred and desire for vengeance when he has a chance to take a pound of Antonio's flesh.  He demands the flesh despite offers of more than the amount of money he is owed, showing no mercy.

·        When Shylock loses everything, Antonio offers him mercy, reinstating his fortunes and sparing his punishment, so long as Shylock converts to Christianity.

All of these themes can be contained within the overarching theme:

·        Supposed Christian values versus Jewish values (or non-Christian values)

o   Christians are supposed to value love over money, choosing to behave in charitable ways, and having great faith.  They should not be greedy, ignoring self-interest in order to bring happiness to others.  Also, they are supposed to be merciful, not wrathful, and choose love and forgiveness over hatred.

What this play is about:

These themes create a play that comments on what it takes to be a good person.  Looking past the Christian/Jewish stereotypes of the time in which this was written, the characteristics that make a person a "good Christian" in this story are also ideals that make a good person in general. All of the themes represent different aspects of a good person, such as choosing love over money and greed, or choosing mercy over vengeance.

Images Revamped

·        IMAGES

·         Dominant Images  – Images/motifs in the play that underscore or augment the play's action

The Pound of Flesh

·        The pound of flesh is a dominant image, because it represents Shylock's lack of mercy and bloodlust.  It is not enough for him to be paid back for his bond in money.  Antonio has always persecuted him for being Jewish and now he must pay with something truly painful, and ultimately life threatening.  This idea of being merciless is important to the play, because it is Shylock's downfall.  He ends up losing his fortune (although it is returned upon his conversion) because he did not take the Christian path and forgive Antonio his debts, or at least take Bassanio's offere of Portia's money.

The Three Caskets

·        Gold, silver and lead

o   The three caskets contain gold, silver and lead.  The prize of Portia's hand in marriage is hidden in the lead casket.  The gold and silver caskets represent wealth and glamor.  They are desirable, but also often chased after by those who are greedy.  The lead is a strong image, because, as the correct choice, it symbolizes risking everything for faith (or in Bassanio and Portia's case, love).  This idea of risk for faith follows the strong pattern of Christian ideals that can be found throughout the play.  The three caskets demonstrate the importance of ignoring greed in order to find something higher, such as love.

·         Repeated Images – Images that reappear throughout the course of the play

 

·        Sea Images:
The sea images apply directly to Antonio having several merchant ships at sea – they remind us again and again that everything is riding on his ships coming back safely. If they don't come back with a profit he dies at Shylock's hand.

·        "€¦the pageants of the sea" (I, 1, line 11)
"Your mind is tossing on the ocean/there where your argosies with portly sail€¦" (I, i, 8-9)
"I should not see the sandy hourglass run/ But I should think of shallows and of flats /and see wealthy Andrew docked in sand/vailing her high top lower than her ribs€¦" (I, i, 25-29)
"But fish not with this melancholy bait/ For this fool gudgeon, this opinion," (I, i, 101-102)
"when he did redeem/the virgin tribute paid by howling Troy/to the sea-monster" (III, 2, lines 57-59)
"€¦with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea banks, and wav'd her love to come again to Caththage." (V, i, 100)

·        Religious References:
The religious references, many of them specifically Hebrew, are constantly accentuating the big Holy Christian vs. Evil Jew theme.
"When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep-/This Jacob from our holy Abram was/ As his wise mother wrought in his behalf/ The third possessor," (I, iii, 69-71)
"The Prodigal Christian€¦" (70)
"Black Monday€¦Ash Wednesday€¦" (72)
"Jacob's staff€¦" (72)
"..a gentle and no Jew" (75) – jews are bad
"€¦wise, fair and true€¦" (75)
"This shrine, this mortal breathing saint," (77)
"The figure of an angel" (78)
"Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold." (V, i, 102)

·        Nature Images:
"Venus' pigeons fly€¦" (73) Venus is a reference to love and pigeons are common (not fancy).
"Strumpet wind€¦" (74) – prostitute wind
"There are a sort of men whose visages do cream and mantle like a standing pond," (I, i, 88-89)
"the lion's shadow ere himself, And ran dismay'd away" (V, i. 100) "muddy vesture of decay.." Soul will stay on earth if you don't take Christian path.

·        Famous Figures:
"€¦Hang on her temples like a golden fleece/ Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strond/ And many Jasons come in quest of her," (I, i, 169-172).
"Why, hath a horse better than the Neopolitan's/ a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine€¦" (I, ii, 58-59)
"If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will," (I, ii, 105-107)

·        Misc. Images:
The different caskets: gold, silver, and dull lead
"A carrion Death€¦" (78)
"A pound of flesh€¦" (101) – The pound of flesh image really brings to mind that it's such small amount of something, but it's worth much more than the same amount in gold to Shylock. It will also be the death of Antonio, though it be so little.
Bass' wedding ring

·        Images in the Title – Is there a dominant image in the Title? What is its importance?

The Merchant of Venice: The Merchant of Venice is referring to Antonio.  Antonio is worthy of being the title character because he represents the good Christian values reflected in the play.  He is willing to sacrifice not only his fortune, but also his well being for the good of his friend Bassanio, and he expects to gain nothing in return.  He is altruistic and caring.

More images

Hey guys, most of these relate to religious references, weather, or money.I have to go help a quick change but I’ll add and edit later.More Images:

  • “…the pageants of the sea” (I, 1, line 11)
  • “when he did redeem/the virgin tribute paid by howling Troy/to the sea-monster” (III, 2, lines 57-59)
  • "Falconbridge, the young Baron of England…" (50)
  • "The Prodigal Christian…" (70)
  • "Black Monday…Ash Wednesday…" (72)
  • "Jacob’s staff…" (72)
  • "Venus’ pigeons fly…" (73)
  • "Strumpet wind…" (74) (strumpet meaning prostitute)
  • "..a gentle and no Jew" (75)
  • "…wise, fair and true…" (75)
  • The different caskets: gold, silver, and dull lead
  • "This shrine, this mortal breathing saint," (77)
  • "The figure of an angel" (78)
  • "A carrion Death…" (78)
  • "A pound of flesh…" (101)

Some Image Themes

Images: Sea and Famous People themed

  • "Your mind is tossing on the ocean/there where your argosies with portly sail€¦" (I, i, 8-9)

argosy -large merchant ship

  • "I should not see the sandy hourglass run/ But I should think of shallows and of flats /and see wealthy Andrew docked in sand/vailing her high top lower than her ribs€¦" (I, i, 25-29)
  • "There are a sort of men whose visages do cream and mantle like a standing pond," (I, i, 88-89)
  • "But fish not with this melancholy bait/ For this fool gudgeon, this opinion," (I, i, 101-102)

gudgeon – part of a rudder, small freshwater fish

  • "€¦Hang on her temples like a golden fleece/ Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strond/ And many Jasons come in quest of her," (I, i, 169-172).
  • "Why, hath a horse better than the Neopolitan's/ a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine€¦" (I, ii, 58-59)
  • "If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will," (I, ii, 105-107)"
  • When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep-/This Jacob from our holy Abram was/ As his wise mother wrought in his behalf/ The third possessor," (I, iii, 69-71)

FINAL ANALYSIS

I. Environmental Facts:

1. Geographical

·       Set in New Orleans

·       Exterior of a corner building on a street called "Elysian Fields"
*Elysian Fields-ancient Greek version of the afterlife; heaven.
between the river and the train tracks in a poor section of New Orleans with "raffish [crude] charm

·       House #632

·       Steve and Eunice live upstairs
Stanley and Stella live downstairs

·       There are two rooms (kitchen and bedroom) and a bathroom.

·       There is a bar within earshot

·       bowling alley down the street

2. Date

·         Sc. I: Early May evening

·         Sc. II: 6:00 the evening after Scene 1.

  • Sc. III: Early morning: 2:30
  • Sc.  IV: Later that morning
  • Sc. VI: 2 AM the same evening as Scene 5.

·         Sc. VII: Late afternoon in mid-September .

·         Sc. IIIV: 45 minutes after Scene 7.

·         Sc. IX: "A while later that evening."

·         Sc. X: "A few hours later that night."

·         Sc. XI: Weeks later after Scene 10.

3. Economic

·       Shabby, faded, everything is falling apart

  • Blanche DuBois: dressed in a white suit appropriate for an upper-crust social event
  • Blanche is broke after losing Belle Reve

·       Stanley and Mitch are in denim "work clothes"

·       Blanche is shocked that Stella has no maid

·       Stanley controls the household finances (Stella does not receive a "regular allowance"; possible that this is the norm?).

·            Coming off the heels of WWII, Great Depression, etc

4. Political

·            Stanley's adherence to the Napoleonic Code and the ideals of Huey Long

·            Technical Revolution and the rise of the working class are in full swing.

·            The script was published in 1946, which was just after the conclusion of World War II and during the Technological Revolution (second Industrial Revolution). Americans idealized the middle/lower class men who served in the war. The characteristics which make a great soldier (strong, savage, detached) became accepted within the home and family. Also, Americans' attitudes towards the upper class was unfavorable. Following the Great Depression, after a period of high unemployment rates, many Americans disliked the affluent who were unaffected.

·            Stanley represents the working class. He is a decorated soldier. His behavior is acceptable, even when he is violent. In contrast, Blanche cannot catch a break. Blanche's old southern values have been replaced by the values of the Technological Revolution.

5. Social

·       Stanley treats Stella badly: yells at her

·       Blanche DuBois: dressed in a white suit appropriate for an upper-crust social event

·       Blanche and Stella are originally from Laurel, Mississippi

·       Blanche is a school teacher

·       Stella is pregnant

·       Stanley and Mitch are 28-30 years old, and in denim "work clothes"

·       Stella looks 25 and has "a background obviously quite different from her husband's" (4)

·       Stella, Eunice and Blanche are white

·       Blanche is around 5 years older than Stella. They are sisters.

·       Stanley is Polish, and a Master Sergeant in the Engineers Corps

·       Blanche has an acquaintance named Shep Huntleigh, who she dated in college. Shep has become fairly wealthy through the oil business. Social

·       Stanley controls the household finances (Stella does not receive a "regular allowance"; possible that this is the norm?).

·       Stanley is a Capricorn.

·       Blanche (claims she) is a Virgo.

·       Blanche can speak at least a few phrases of French; Mitch cannot

·       Blanche has "old-fashioned ideals."

·       Mitch's mother worries that he will not marry before she dies

·       Stanley and Mitch work at the same plant and play on the same bowling team

6. Religious

·            Blanche references God and being made in His image; implies that she is a Christian.

·            Stanley's adherence to the Napoleonic Code and the ideals of Huey Long

·            Coming off the heels of WWII, Great Depression, etc

·             Blanche seems to put some sort of stock in astrology.

·            Blanche believes in the power of self-deception to shape subjective reality.

·             Blanche claims that "deliberate cruelty is not forgivable."

·            The characteristics which make a great soldier (strong, savage, detached) were valued at this time.

II. Previous Action:

·       Blanche lost Belle Reve estate after the deaths of her and Stella's remaining relatives.  It was lost on a foreclosed mortgage.

·       She has taken a leave of absence from teaching "for her nerves" but later it is discovered it was because she slept with a 17 year old student.

·       Stella is pregnant.

·       Blanche was married before to a man named Allan, but after she discovered he was homosexual, he committed suicide.

·       Steve has been engaging in behavior giving Eunice cause to suspect him of infidelity

·       Mitch and Stanley served together in the "Two-forty-first."

·       Blanche was kicked out of The Flamingo Hotel for her promiscuous behavior, and ruined her reputation in Laurel.

III. Polar attitudes of main characters:

Blanche:

Starts the play with a superior ability to ignore the aspects of her reality she does not like, by masking herself in a web of lies. By the end of the play, the web has untangled, and she falls into insanity to avoid acknowledging the stress of her past behavior.

1.       How do I (the character) feel about my world?

a.       The world is for the socially elite.  As long as one has some semblance of dignity and one can truly maintain your reputation, the world will be fine.  Social class is of utmost importance, along with every aspect of class.  The money, appearance, and knowledge of the upper classes should not be ignored and I must make sure that I can continue my reputation as a lady; I know that everyone will respect me and take care of me.  At this point in my life I don't exactly know where I can turn; my family connections are dead or in poverty and my estate is ruined.  I have had my weak moments in the past, but I know that I am still a woman to be respected and treated daintily and nothing can change that.

2.       How do I feel about my relationships?

a.       As far as men are concerned, they should pay attention to me and provide for me simply because of who I am and where I came from.  I love Stella and I only want the best for her, but I'm still angry that she left Belle Reve.  Stanley is low class and Stella deserves better.  Even so, I want to know what makes him tick.  Mitch is sweet, but will never be any more than just a friend.  He lacks the true qualities of a gentleman.  Shep Huntleigh, on the other hand, is everything that I ever dreamed that he would be, and if I can make sure that he is my husband, then we can live the perfect life together.

3.       How do I feel about myself?

a.       I am sweet and sensitive and I always want to put my best foot forward.  I can only hope that people feel the same about me, and I hope that my social standing will remain constant throughout the rest of my life.

4.       How do I feel about my prospects?

a.       At this point, prospects do not look so promising.  My husband has committed suicide and I must now live with my freshly impoverished sister.  As soon as I can find a husband who can provide for me I will be able to live the rest of my life comfortably.

Naïve-If you appear to be innocent and naïve, no one will question you.

Untrue-Living in lies will end your reputation.

Innocent: Women should not give in to their desires.

Guilty: Once women have given in to their desires, the attempts to cover them up will be futile.

Hopeful: It is still possible to live in the past.

Desperate: Once you have crossed certain boundaries, there is no going back.

Beautiful-The art of being a southern belle will bring me a future.

Ashamed and Disheveled- Southern gentility is dead.

Stella:

Stella begins the play hoping to help her sister, and ends the play having given up on her.  She also has fluctuations with her relationship with Stanley: She seems relatively content at the beginning of the play, attempts to leave him in the middle for a brief period, returns to him, and ends the play purposefully ignoring his rotten behavior so that she can attempt to be happy with him.

1.       How do I (the character) feel about my world?

a.       I used to live in the Laurel, Mississippi on a grand estate, but now I essentially live in the slums of New Orleans.  I know this life isn't what was supposed to happen to me, but I don't mind it at all.  I'm madly in love with Stanley and I know, no matter what he does, that he loves me back.  It annoys me that Blanche feels that she can judge my life based on what she thinks I should be.  I am perfectly fine where I am.

2.       How do I feel about my relationships?

a.       Stanley is the most important person in my life.  I don't like being out of his presence for a second and I feel horrible when he's not with me.  Blanche is my sister and of course I love her, but she needs to figure out what's going on in her life and not judge me.

3.       How do I feel about myself?

a.       I feel like I'm doing all right with my life as of right now.  I couldn't move away from here even if I needed to.  I love Stanley and I need to be with him and I'm carrying his child, so there's no way that I could leave this alone.

4.       How do I feel about my prospects?

a.       Stanley is going places.  He knows that he's going to be somebody important and I believe him wholeheartedly.  I'll be there for him when he becomes successful.

Imagination-Living the dream is possible.

Determination- Reality is difficult but you must learn to live with it.

Floating-Devotion is given to the person who loves me the most.

Loyalty-I must support everything that Stanley stands for.

Stanley:

Stanley does not change much throughout the play.  He is violent and head strong at the beginning, and violent and headstrong at the end.

1.       How do I (the character) feel about my world?

a.       I have the ambition and drive to go where nobody else can go.  I may seem crude to some people, but they just don't understand me.  I've always been lucky and I know that that will make me successful later on in life.  I live in the now, I never think in the future and I don't let events in the past bother me.

2.       How do I feel about my relationships?

a.       Stella is the only thing I care about.  I'm going to do whatever it takes to take care of her, but sometimes she doesn't understand that I'm in charge and I have to remind her.  Sometimes I get a little out of control, but it's what I'm supposed to do.  I don't trust Blanche and I think that she's trying to cut Stella out of the Belle Reve money.  She's a drunk and a liar and I'm going to figure out what's happening behind her Southern Belle mask.

3.       How do I feel about myself?

a.       I'm pretty proud with what I've been able to accomplish and I know that there's something special and unique about me.

4.       How do I feel about my prospects?

a.       The future is bright for me.  I know what I want and I know how to get it, and there's never anything that stands in my way.  I know that I'll eventually end up on top no matter what.

Determined -If you know what you love then you'll be able to get it in the end

Unmotivated-Social class has nothing to do with internal class: money is not important.

Passionate-The love between a man and a woman will never die.

Brutish-Sex is nothing more than an animalistic urge.

Mitch:

At the start of the play, Mitch is very polite and respectful to Blanche, believing her to be a pure woman.  By the end of the play, he has become disrespectful after learning of her past, but also depressed at her mental state

IV.  Significance of the Facts in the Total Meaning of the Play:

This is a play about reality versus fantasy. Blanche spends the majority of the play attempting to ignore her reality by creating a fantasy world. Stanley is the realist, and picks apart Blanche's fantasies every step of the way, eventually dominating her by raping her, demonstrating reality's triumph over fantasy. The given circumstances of the play help demonstrate this struggle by giving it a context. Blanche used to live in a wealthy home, she lost her money, her husband, her virtue, and her youth. Without those given circumstances Blanche would have no need to hide herself lies, because her reality would not be so painful. Stella parallels Blanche, and her given circumstances, though fairly similar, lead to a different conclusion. Stella, too, has lost her fortune, but she gave up her higher class background to be with Stanley. They live in a cramped apartment in a cheap neighborhood, but unlike Blanche, who tries to dress it up, Stella accepts it. She is also pregnant when the play starts, a manifestation of the positive side of her life, and why she is willing to accept her reality: her attraction to Stanley.

The given circumstances also create the social climate of the time, which is very important in creating a context for Blanche, Stella and Stanley's behaviors. Stanley is a decorated soldier, and lives like a soldier: strong and savage when need be. He is a "man's man" making him the head of the house. This gives him leave to treat the woman of the house how he sees fit. Including both beating on Stella and raping Blanche. Stella forgives Stanley, which is believable considering the amount of her life she has already sacrificed for him, including wealth and living close to home. Blanche is supposed to abide by the values of a good woman: innocence and beauty, but sacrifices her innocence to feel beautiful and comforted after her husband commits suicide. Thus, she is not a good woman and deals with the consequences as previously stated: by creating a web of lies to live behind. These values emphasize the double standards of gender roles, with a man getting away with abuse and rape, while a woman who has consensual sex, but with many men, is completely destroyed.

Final Stuff

We just need to review, edit a little and;

Describe how the information we gathered reflects the meaning of the play.  If people have ideas can we just comment on them all here? Then when we seem to have a cohesive paragraph or two we can add it to the updated draft?  I am free from 10.15 to 12 tomorrow so I’ll add more then too. I’m pretty sure the blog closes at twelve, so if you see this before then, just review the updated thing and add ideas for meaning.  Go team!

Updated

I. Environmental Facts:

1. Geographical

·       Set in New Orleans

·       Exterior of a corner building on a street called "Elysian Fields"
*Elysian Fields-ancient Greek version of the afterlife; heaven.
between the river and the train tracks in a poor section of New Orleans with "raffish [crude] charm

·       House #632

·       Steve and Eunice live upstairs
Stanley and Stella live downstairs

·       There are two rooms (kitchen and bedroom) and a bathroom.

·       There is a bar within earshot

·       bowling alley down the street

2. Date

·         Sc. I: Early May evening

·         Sc. II: 6:00 the evening after Scene 1.

  • Sc. III: Early morning: 2:30
  • Sc.  IV: Later that morning
  • Sc. VI: 2 AM the same evening as Scene 5.

·         Sc. VII: Late afternoon in mid-September .

·         Sc. IIIV: 45 minutes after Scene 7.

·         Sc. IX: "A while later that evening."

·         Sc. X: "A few hours later that night."

·         Sc. XI: Weeks later after Scene 10.

3. Economic

·       Shabby, faded, everything is falling apart

  • Blanche DuBois: dressed in a white suit appropriate for an upper-crust social event
  • Blanche is broke after losing Belle Reve

·       Stanley and Mitch are in denim "work clothes"

·       Blanche is shocked that Stella has no maid

·       Stanley controls the household finances (Stella does not receive a "regular allowance"; possible that this is the norm?).

·            Coming off the heels of WWII, Great Depression, etc

4. Political

·            Stanley's adherence to the Napoleonic Code and the ideals of Huey Long

·            Technical Revolution and the rise of the working class are in full swing.

·            The script was published in 1946, which was just after the conclusion of World War II and during the Technological Revolution (second Industrial Revolution). Americans idealized the middle/lower class men who served in the war. The characteristics which make a great soldier (strong, savage, detached) became accepted within the home and family. Also, Americans' attitudes towards the upper class was unfavorable. Following the Great Depression, after a period of high unemployment rates, many Americans disliked the affluent who were unaffected.

·            Stanley represents the working class. He is a decorated soldier. His behavior is acceptable, even when he is violent. In contrast, Blanche cannot catch a break. Blanche's old southern values have been replaced by the values of the Technological Revolution.

5. Social

·       Stanley treats Stella badly: yells at her

·       Blanche DuBois: dressed in a white suit appropriate for an upper-crust social event

·       Blanche and Stella are originally from Laurel, Mississippi

·       Blanche is a school teacher

·       Stella is pregnant

·       Stanley and Mitch are 28-30 years old, and in denim "work clothes"

·       Stella looks 25 and has "a background obviously quite different from her husband's" (4)

·       Stella, Eunice and Blanche are white

·       Blanche is around 5 years older than Stella. They are sisters.

·       Stanley is Polish, and a Master Sergeant in the Engineers Corps

·       Blanche has an acquaintance named Shep Huntleigh, who she dated in college. Shep has become fairly wealthy through the oil business. Social

·       Stanley controls the household finances (Stella does not receive a "regular allowance"; possible that this is the norm?).

·       Stanley is a Capricorn.

·       Blanche (claims she) is a Virgo.

·       Blanche can speak at least a few phrases of French; Mitch cannot

·       Blanche has "old-fashioned ideals."

·       Mitch's mother worries that he will not marry before she dies

·       Stanley and Mitch work at the same plant and play on the same bowling team

6. Religious

·            Blanche references God and being made in His image; implies that she is a Christian.

·            Stanley's adherence to the Napoleonic Code and the ideals of Huey Long

·            Coming off the heels of WWII, Great Depression, etc

·             Blanche seems to put some sort of stock in astrology.

·            Blanche believes in the power of self-deception to shape subjective reality.

·             Blanche claims that "deliberate cruelty is not forgivable."

·            The characteristics which make a great soldier (strong, savage, detached) were valued at this time.

II. Previous Action:

·       Blanche lost Belle Reve estate after the deaths of her and Stella's remaining relatives.  It was lost on a foreclosed mortgage.

·       She has taken a leave of absence from teaching "for her nerves" but later it is discovered it was because she slept with a 17 year old student.

·       Stella is pregnant.

·       Blanche was married before to a man named Allan, but after she discovered he was homosexual, he committed suicide.

·       Steve has been engaging in behavior giving Eunice cause to suspect him of infidelity

·       Mitch and Stanley served together in the "Two-forty-first."

·       Blanche was kicked out of The Flamingo Hotel for her promiscuous behavior, and ruined her reputation in Laurel.

III. Polar attitudes of main characters:

Blanche:

Starts the play with a superior ability to ignore the aspects of her reality she does not like, by masking herself in a web of lies. By the end of the play, the web has untangled, and she falls into insanity to avoid acknowledging the stress of her past behavior.

1.       How do I (the character) feel about my world?

a.       The world is for the socially elite.  As long as one has some semblance of dignity and one can truly maintain your reputation, the world will be fine.  Social class is of utmost importance, along with every aspect of class.  The money, appearance, and knowledge of the upper classes should not be ignored and I must make sure that I can continue my reputation as a lady; I know that everyone will respect me and take care of me.  At this point in my life I don't exactly know where I can turn; my family connections are dead or in poverty and my estate is ruined.  I have had my weak moments in the past, but I know that I am still a woman to be respected and treated daintily and nothing can change that.

2.       How do I feel about my relationships?

a.       As far as men are concerned, they should pay attention to me and provide for me simply because of who I am and where I came from.  I love Stella and I only want the best for her, but I'm still angry that she left Belle Reve.  Stanley is low class and Stella deserves better.  Even so, I want to know what makes him tick.  Mitch is sweet, but will never be any more than just a friend.  He lacks the true qualities of a gentleman.  Shep Huntleigh, on the other hand, is everything that I ever dreamed that he would be, and if I can make sure that he is my husband, then we can live the perfect life together.

3.       How do I feel about myself?

a.       I am sweet and sensitive and I always want to put my best foot forward.  I can only hope that people feel the same about me, and I hope that my social standing will remain constant throughout the rest of my life.

4.       How do I feel about my prospects?

a.       At this point, prospects do not look so promising.  My husband has committed suicide and I must now live with my freshly impoverished sister.  As soon as I can find a husband who can provide for me I will be able to live the rest of my life comfortably.

Naïve-If you appear to be innocent and naïve, no one will question you. Untrue-Living in lies will end your reputation.
Innocent: Women should not give in to their desires. Guilty: Once women have given in to their desires, the attempts to cover them up will be futile.
Hopeful: It is still possible to live in the past. Desperate: Once you have crossed certain boundaries, there is no going back.
Beautiful-The art of being a southern belle will bring me a future. Ashamed and Disheveled- Southern gentility is dead.

Stella:

Stella begins the play hoping to help her sister, and ends the play having given up on her.  She also has fluctuations with her relationship with Stanley: She seems relatively content at the beginning of the play, attempts to leave him in the middle for a brief period, returns to him, and ends the play purposefully ignoring his rotten behavior so that she can attempt to be happy with him.

1.       How do I (the character) feel about my world?

a.       I used to live in the Laurel, Mississippi on a grand estate, but now I essentially live in the slums of New Orleans.  I know this life isn't what was supposed to happen to me, but I don't mind it at all.  I'm madly in love with Stanley and I know, no matter what he does, that he loves me back.  It annoys me that Blanche feels that she can judge my life based on what she thinks I should be.  I am perfectly fine where I am.

2.       How do I feel about my relationships?

a.       Stanley is the most important person in my life.  I don't like being out of his presence for a second and I feel horrible when he's not with me.  Blanche is my sister and of course I love her, but she needs to figure out what's going on in her life and not judge me.

3.       How do I feel about myself?

a.       I feel like I'm doing all right with my life as of right now.  I couldn't move away from here even if I needed to.  I love Stanley and I need to be with him and I'm carrying his child, so there's no way that I could leave this alone.

4.       How do I feel about my prospects?

a.       Stanley is going places.  He knows that he's going to be somebody important and I believe him wholeheartedly.  I'll be there for him when he becomes successful.

Imagination-Living the dream is possible. Determination- Reality is difficult but you must learn to live with it.
Floating-Devotion is given to the person who loves me the most. Loyalty-I must support everything that Stanley stands for.

Stanley:

Stanley does not change much throughout the play.  He is violent and head strong at the beginning, and violent and headstrong at the end.

1.       How do I (the character) feel about my world?

a.       I have the ambition and drive to go where nobody else can go.  I may seem crude to some people, but they just don't understand me.  I've always been lucky and I know that that will make me successful later on in life.  I live in the now, I never think in the future and I don't let events in the past bother me.

2.       How do I feel about my relationships?

a.       Stella is the only thing I care about.  I'm going to do whatever it takes to take care of her, but sometimes she doesn't understand that I'm in charge and I have to remind her.  Sometimes I get a little out of control, but it's what I'm supposed to do.  I don't trust Blanche and I think that she's trying to cut Stella out of the Belle Reve money.  She's a drunk and a liar and I'm going to figure out what's happening behind her Southern Belle mask.

3.       How do I feel about myself?

a.       I'm pretty proud with what I've been able to accomplish and I know that there's something special and unique about me.

4.       How do I feel about my prospects?

a.       The future is bright for me.  I know what I want and I know how to get it, and there's never anything that stands in my way.  I know that I'll eventually end up on top no matter what.

Determined -If you know what you love then you'll be able to get it in the end Unmotivated-Social class has nothing to do with internal class: money is not important.
Passionate-The love between a man and a woman will never die. Brutish-Sex is nothing more than an animalistic urge.

Mitch:

At the start of the play, Mitch is very polite and respectful to Blanche, believing her to be a pure woman.  By the end of the play, he has become disrespectful after learning of her past, but also depressed at her mental state

IV.  Significance of the Facts in the Total Meaning of the Play:

Thus far…

Ok, I tried to combine everything we have come up with so far.  I altered the polar attitudes according to what you were saying Jason, but if I didn't say it the way you meant, you can just either edit this, or add a comment and I'll add/replace things.  I think we should try and find some political stuff maybe? It's possible that there isn't any, I don't remember finding it.  We can also incorporate "professional politics" (the way people get along, so it kind of crosses over with social).  And also, religious can include moral ideas, like strength of family and the values of the people.  I'll add stuff too in a bit.

Environmental Facts:

1. Geographical

·       Set in New Orleans

·       Exterior of a corner building on a street called "Elysian Fields"
*Elysian Fields-ancient Greek version of the afterlife; heaven.
between the river and the train tracks in a poor section of New Orleans with "raffish [crude] charm

·       House #632

·       Steve and Eunice live upstairs
Stanley and Stella live downstairs

·       There are two rooms (kitchen and bedroom) and a bathroom.

·       There is a bar within earshot

·       bowling alley down the street

2. Date

·       Sc. I: Early May evening

·       Sc. III: Early morning: 2:30 AM

·       Sc. VII: Late afternoon in mid-September

3. Economic

·       Shabby, faded, everything is falling apart
Blanche DuBois: dressed in a white suit appropriate for an upper-crust social event

·       Stanley and Mitch are in denim "work clothes"

·       Blanche is shocked that Stella has no maid

·       Stanley controls the household finances (Stella does not receive a "regular allowance"; possible that this is the norm?).

 

4. Political

5. Social

·       Stanley treats Stella badly: yells at her

·       Blanche DuBois: dressed in a white suit appropriate for an upper-crust social event

·       Blanche and Stella are originally from Laurel, Mississippi

·       Blanche is a school teacher

·       Stella is pregnant

·       Stanley and Mitch are 28-30 years old, and in denim "work clothes"

·       Stella looks 25 and has "a background obviously quite different from her husband's" (4)

·       Stella, Eunice and Blanche are white

·       Blanche is around 5 years older than Stella. They are sisters.

·       Stanley is Polish, and a Master Sergeant in the Engineers Corps

·       Blanche has an acquaintance named Shep Huntleigh, who she dated in college. Shep has become fairly wealthy through the oil business. Social

·       Stanley controls the household finances (Stella does not receive a "regular allowance"; possible that this is the norm?).

·       Stanley is a Capricorn.

·       Blanche (claims she) is a Virgo.

·       Blanche can speak at least a few phrases of French; Mitch cannot

·       Blanche has "old-fashioned ideals."

·       Mitch's mother worries that he will not marry before she dies

·       Stanley and Mitch work at the same plant and play on the same bowling team

6. Religious

·       Blanche references God and being made in His image; implies that she is a Christian.

Previous Action:

·       Blanche lost Belle Reve estate after the deaths of her and Stella's remaing relatives.  It was lost on a foreclosed mortgage.

·       She has taken a leave of absence from teaching "for her nerves" but later it is discovered it was because she slept with a 17 year old student.

·       Stella is pregnant.

·       Blanche was married before to a man named Allan, but after she discovered he was homosexual, he committed suicide.

·       Steve has been engaging in behavior giving Eunice cause to suspect him of infidelity

·       Mitch and Stanley served together in the "Two-forty-first."

·       Blanche was kicked out of The Flamingo Hotel for her promiscuous behavior, and ruined her reputation in Laurel.

Polar attitudes of main characters:

·       Blanche: Starts the play with a superior ability to ignore the aspects of her reality she does not like, by masking herself in a web of lies. By the end of the play, the web has untangled, and she falls into insanity to avoid acknowledging the stress of her past behavior.

·       Stella: Stella begins the play hoping to help her sister, and ends the play having given up on her.  She also has fluctuations with her relationship with Stanley: She seems relatively content at the beginning of the play, attempts to leave him in the middle for a brief period, returns to him, and ends the play purposefully ignoring his rotten behavior so that she can attempt to be happy with him.

·       Stanley: Stanley does not change much throughout the play.  He is violent and head strong at the beginning, and violent and headstrong at the end.

·       Mitch:  At the start of the play, Mitch is very polite and respectful to Blanche, believing her to be a pure woman.  By the end of the play, he has become disrespectful after learning of her past, but also depressed at her mental state