Summer Reading assignment: Journal #1 A Streetcar Named Desire--Samuel

A Streetcar Named Desire is definitely a one-time read for me. I liked the play, but it was much better the first time due to the element of surprise. As I began to re-read the play, memories of my former opinions came back to me. Blanche was my least favorite character, Stanley was my favorite, and everyone else was just a “someone”. But keep in mind that I was not that far into the play, so I didn’t even suspect that Stanley would hit his wife or rape Blanche. Also, I had no idea that Blanche was so… irritating.
I had originally thought Stanley was a pretty cool character. He is from Poland and at least somewhat educated and clever, considering he knows about the Napoleonic code, knows how to get under Blanche’s skin. He has a job, a soon-to-be family and his own home. But when he hit his wife, I became kind of confused. Here was my favorite character so far, and he was being a complete idiot. Maybe he should have given up beer, because he was drunk once again when he raped Blanch.
Blanch was my least favorite character. At first I really had no opinion of her. But then it was discovered that she was a self-centered, lying whore, literally. That being said, she is the character that made this play what it is. The only reason why it was interesting was because of Blanche and her failing sanity and the tension between her and Stanley. Her personality and attitude had kept me intrigued till the very end, even though she annoying.

Summer Reading assignment: Journal #1 Crime and Punishment-- Briana

As I started reading Crime and punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, I felt somewhat bewildered as I read the first 30 pages or so, the tone and mood were both very unsettling, rather dark. This left me to prolong the process of reading it and really understand what I was reading. When I was introduced to the character by the name of Raskolnikov, I immediately had an eerie feeling run through my body; He seemed to be a very depressed, dubious character. When in the mind of Raskolnikov an intelligent but very neurotic fellow, I felt as if the writings of Dostoevsky had taken me on a rollercoaster, always up and down when it came to the conflicting topic of the “crime” Raskolnikov sought to commit. Yet I was still very unsure of his motives for a while. Feelings of concern heightened, as his loathing for the pawn broker Alyona Ivanovna was revealed! Everything became much clearer to me. Once he had become drunk, I knew what was to come.

He killed Alyona the pawn broker although I’m still a bit baffled as t o why? just because he did not like her? he axed this woman to death! and Lizaveta her innocent sister who if she hadn’t walked in would have survived, but instead was murdered too that night! with no remorse whatsoever! I couldn’t understand how a human being could do that to another, I know personally when i am fighting with someone or hurt them emotionally I feel regretful, I can not even imagine killing someone, Robbing someone of their life. With the Same token you’re taking yours away too. On a lighter note, I would have to say Raskolnikov’s madness or the more “ill” he becomes from the guilt of those two murders is quite entertaining though.

Summer Reading assignment: Journal #3 Crime and Punishment-- Rema

Okay. So…He was arrested. The end. Oh yeah, and he figured out that he was in love with Sonya (or Sonia…whatever). Remind me again, what is the point of this book? I think Ebenezer said it well in saying that Dostoyevsky took the easy way out by the ending the book the way he did. I felt like there were supposed to be more pages (thank GOD there wasn’t)…something more to Raskolnikov’s life. However, there was no more.
Do I feel like time was wasted on this book? I’m not sure (and I hope Ms. Tramantano doesn’t hate me after this).
On one hand, I believe we benefited in reading two different literary genres (A Streetcar Named Desire, and Crime and Punishment), where both of the protagonists had inner conflicts. We’re able to compare and contrast Blanche DeBois and Raskolnikov, and we’re given the chance to try and understand how they each got to their mental state of mind.
On the other hand, I felt like Raskolnikov was a complete idiot, who should have realized he was going to fail from the very start. We were given a hint from the very start that Raskolnikov has a conscious, and he can be compassionate. Remember when he left the money for Katerina? That was our first sign. If he was capable of that- there was no way he was going to live with murdering someone- let alone murdering two people. Simple idiocy at its best is what I’m going to call it.

What I did enjoy, however, was how the actual crime occurred in the very beginning. Why I liked this so much was because we were given plenty of time to debate what forms of punishment Raskolnikov was going to endure. We got to see his psychological state change, gradually, and the torture he goes through in his own mind.

Do I recommend this book?
….
I’m sure you guys can assume for yourselves.
What were YOUR final, and true thoughts about the book? (I’m sure I can go back to some of your blogs and read about that.)
If you enjoyed this book, I would really like to hear your opinions as to why you enjoyed it (what characters your identified with, did you like Raskolnikov as a whole, and did Dostoyevsky succeed in keeping you reeled in?) I would like to be enlightened

Summer Reading assignment: Journal #2 Crime and Punishment-- Rema

To me- murder will always be murder. There is no justification for it; you are taking a life away from another human being- believing yours is more valuable than theirs. This is a controversial topic, so I don’t really want to step into it (this gets into what Fred mentioned earlier in his blog- when it comes down to having the opportunity to kill someone like Osama Bin Laden, or someone harming a friend, or neighbor, would you do it?). Plus, my head still isn’t set on a definite answer when it comes to this topic.
However, I think it’s quite idiotic that Raskolnikov has to convince himself that killing Alyona Ivanova would be a “good deed.” It’s as if he’s trying to sway his conscious into believing he’s doing something that will help others (he believes that if he steals her money, it’ll help others). He’s convincing himself that “thousands of good deeds outweigh one crime.” It’s like a child trying to convince himself/herself that if they steal a couple of dollars (out of a bunch) from their parents to buy something for his/her friends- it’ll be okay because other people will benefit positively from the “bad deed.” Coming up with excuses for committing crimes can become a habit, causing someone to become out of control.

Raskolnikov is also very sloppy in planning the murder. My theory is that he didn’t bother planning thoroughly because, he was afraid of talking himself out of the deed. The more he dwelled on the fact that he was about to commit a huge crime, the closer he’d be to convincing himself that he shouldn’t do it. He was so sloppy that he ended up killing Lizaveta as well, and trying to clean the ax (the weapon—okay, seriously, couldn’t he find something less brutal? That scene was awful) with his clothes. What.An.Idiot.
To top it off, he fell asleep easily when he got home.

If there were any possible way that I could speak to Raskolnikov, I would have two questions for him:
(1) How do you sleep so well after murdering two people?
(2) How’s the world going to benefit from Lizaveta’s murder? Ah, stumped you there, Raskolnikov.

I still don’t like this book. It seems pointless to me. I’m failing to understand the overall message of this book. Is there something I’m supposed to gather, and learn from Raskolnikov’s actions? I mean…I know murder is wrong, as well as stealing. What is Dostoyesky trying to tell the world through Raskolnikov?

Summer reading assignment Journal #1: Crime and Punishment--Josh

After having read a third of Crime & Punishment, I must say I am very disappointed (and honestly, bored). What I have heard is an amazing book from so many people has really become a disappointment for me, therefore makes it that much more difficult to read and comprehend. The only reason I will continue reading is because I have heard such great things about this novel, and I hope that eventually I can agree. I would like to begin by saying this, “what the heck is wrong with Raskolnikov?” He is an incredibly difficult character to figure out and I have spent the better part of the first third of this book attempting to do so with no luck. From the beginning of the book, I could tell he was a dark, yet intelligent man whom as it turns out, is certainly up to no good. From the early scene where he contemplates killing the pawnbroker, Alyona Ivanova to whom he sells a watch for much less that what it’s worth, I can tell he is somewhat psychotic. The scene inside the bar, where Raskolnikov goes to calm his nerves is a very interesting scene. I was, surprisingly, very interested in Marmeladov’s story, as well as the events following it. While I did not completely understand Marmeladov’s reasons for leaving his home and drinking all his money away, I did somewhat pity him. I felt even more for him after he returned home and his wife promptly harasses him in front of all the other tenants.

One of the most interesting things I have found so far, is how Raskolnikov reacts to the letter he receives from his mother, especially after hearing how Marmeladov’s daughter, Sonya has been prostituting herself to help support her family. In the letter, Raskolnikov’s mother explains how his younger sister, Dunya will be marrying a very rich man who wants to become Dunya’s “savior” because she is very poor. I love Raskolnikov’s reaction here, as he shows immediate distaste for the man his younger sister has agreed to marry because he does not want her to sacrifice her freedom of life in order to help him get a better career. The emotion he displays here is very critical to his character development, and I believe more of this compassion will develop throughout the course of the novel. I do hope this book gets better as I read more, and I hope someone could possibly help explain Raskolnikov’s character to me.

Summer reading assignment Journal #3: A Streetcar Named Desire-- Ebenezer

After reading the ending scenes of Streetcar, I realized that none of my predictions were accurate at all. I was hoping that Mitch could become a supporting individual for Blanche; however that didn’t turn out to be the case. My predictions also involved Blanche arriving to a state of normalcy; unfortunately, that also did not appear true. In fact, scene eleven proves to be the defining part for Mrs. Dubois as she is forcibly escorted by the doctor and matron. Her actions at the end showed me that she was very dependent and was doubtful for a change in personality. This is why I no longer feel pity for her, because I felt that she had lost the will to become better at the end. With regards to the other characters, Stella continues to live with Stanley which is the right decision for now. I feel that their relationship has an opportunity to remain stable, despite Stanley’s brash attitude towards his friends and family.

Even though this play was simple; I can understand why so many people have taken a liking to it. Streetcar was special because the dialogue used in the book was an indicator for readers to know about personal relations and character tendencies. As each character is speaking, I’m slowly getting a glimpse of the character’s motive and reason behind their actions. Some scenes also provided a gateway to the characters past; which helped me clue in on the way they performed in their world. Unlike the ending for Crime and Punishment, this one was actually good in the sense that it was troubling for the way I felt. When Blanche is taken away, I didn’t necessarily know how to feel, which is good for a natural play like this. Overall, I finally understand why this play gets the acclaim it receives.

Summer reading assignment: A Streetcar Named Desire Journal #3-- Anthony

After reading this book a second time, I realized I hadn't asked a certain question the first time around, why did Stanley rape Blanche? At first I thought the answer was clear. She was being a brat so Stanley gave her what he thought she deserved. Then another option popped into my head. On page 130 Stanley says "We've had this date with each other from the beginning!" to Blanche right before he rapes her. It made me wonder is it possible that the rape wasn't a spur of the moment act caused by his drunkenness? Was the rape perhaps something he really did plan on doing from the beginning? The answer to this question can totally change a persons perception of Stanley. If you believe he raped her because he was drunk and all his angry feeling came to a head at that moment, it still leaves room for a compassionate, sensitive side in Stanley to exist. He exhibited this after striking Stella, and feeling bad about it and wanting her back. If however, you choose to believe that Stanley had chosen to rape Blanche ahead of time, and that when the opportunity presented itself he capitalized, then that leaves no room for compassion in him. It means he really is animalistic, and his whole apology to Stella is fake. If in fact you choose this choice, it also means Blanche was right in characterizing Stanley the way she did meaning he really was a caveman.

Now there's no doubt Blanche really was a little insane. What she went through was a bit traumatizing and undoubtedly had some effect on her, however, Stella her own sister, who the entire play was a suck up, chose not to believe her this one time when it counted. The irony here served to add a highly dramatic effect, but also it made me as a reader want there to be another part to the story describing whether Stella ever found out the truth. Now I have a sister, and I know she's lied to me before. I always wonder though whether she's telling the truth or not and I'm sure Stella went through the same thing here. It would pain me if I ever found out that I let my sister down the one time she needed me most, it would almost be better if I didn't find out which is what happened here with Stella. She would never forgive herself for knowingly sentencing her sister to life in the asylum when she wasn't totally crazy. And it would have meant that she'd have to leave Stanley which wasn't a good option since she had just given birth. Unfortunately sacrificing Blanche, even though it wasn't totally necessary, was probably the best option here so that Stella could go on with her kid and be provided with food and shelter and live with Stanley who I think did genuinely love her, even if it was only in a minute way.

Summer reading assignment: A Streetcar Named Desire Journal #3-- Briana

I must admit as a streetcar named Desire came to an end, I was quite shocked to say the least. First off, the Rape scene between Stanley and Blanche had me at an awe, I always knew their was tension between the two and maybe at the same time attraction but to rape; disrespect, abuse, violate her to that extent floored me.
Secondly, I never would have guessed that Stella would take Stanley’s side; it was a very bold move. As for Mitch and Blanche, I was devastated for Mitch. Once Stanley possessed the answers about Blanche and told Mitch the truth, I knew that any potential relationship Mitch and Blanche once had could never last.

Lastly, I may be one of the only people who feels this way, never theless, although everyone makes mistakes, I feel as if the ones Blanche made completely ruined her life. She did lead her husband to suicide many years ago, feelings of anger, disappointment, embarrassment even egotistical, caused her to make vulgar remarks that set him of the edge, And living with that pain alone knowing it was her fault defiantly had some harsh effects on her, but
Stanley raping her was "the straw that broke the camels back". She obviously could not take it anymore and essentially went delusional.

I personally thought this play was amazing! It was a mix of comedy, drama, romance. A classic most defiantly
I only wish the ending was a little more elaborate, in my opinion it all hit me way to fast to digest what was coming at me, besides that. It was great! Highly Recommended!

Summer Reading Assignment Journal #2: A Streetcar Named Desire –Ebenezer

I couldn’t stop laughing at the end of scene four, where Blanche is verbally abusing Stanley while he is at the front door listening. It was humorous because Blanche has not only revealed her true feelings about Stanley, but has done it in a unfavorable way to him. In fact, as she is calling Stanley Kowalski a “survivor of the stone age”, I kept wondering of what Stanley was thinking at the moment (Some words are probably not appropriate in this journal entry). Meanwhile, Stella is caught in the middle of a conflict between filial and marital relations. Should the woman listen to Blanche or respect her husband and scrutinize Blanche’s past? In my opinion, Stella should listen to Blanche and consider what type of relationship she is truly in. With a baby on the way, I hope she can make a conscience decision that will allow her to grow throughout the play.

I don’t see the conflict between Blanche and Stanley getting any better. They are probably going to fight and argue with each other some more. As it happens over time, their personalities should develop from these interactions. Blanche will surely show her true colors about her hazy past, while Stanley will continue to find ways to become a more dominating figure. My prediction over the next four scenes will be based on the previous dialogue between these individuals. Mr. Kowalski will ultimately be fed up with Blanche and will go to extreme measures to get rid of her. As for Mrs. Dubois, she will probably realize which character she wants to remain with.

Summer reading assignment Journal #3: Crime and Punishment--Felice

Punishment is something no one likes to be a part of. Seeing as how you are all teenagers, I’m sure each and every one of you has endured some kind of punishment. However, there are several different kinds of punishment. I’m not just talking about the kind put upon you, where your parents take away your cell phone or television privileges for a week or two. There is also the kind of punishment that you inflict upon yourself. People do things that they regret and often can’t live with. This comes as a result of not fully thinking things through. In this book, I think the punishment is not Raskolnikov getting put in jail in the end, but more having to live with what he had done throughout the entire book. Raskolnikov kept getting sick and fainting whenever the murder was mentioned. He was quite obviously in a state of depression, madness and paranoia. I’m sure if Raskolnikov had known how he would feel after the murders, he would have severely reanalyzed the sit uation. Punishment from someone else is often less painful than the punishment you put upon yourself. When other people punish you, the punishment eventually ends. Sometimes you have to live with your own punishment for the rest of your life.

All in all, the punishment lesson is really all I learned from the book. Although I knew it before, it became apparent to my life and reinforced itself. The rest of the book did not enlighten me to any new lessons. I wish I could say that I enjoyed this book, however, I didn’t like any of the book, at all. The only intriguing part was seeing how Raskolnikov was torturing himself after he murdered the two women, but if Raskolnikov hadn’t committed the crime in the first place, there would have been no need for torture. I still don’t even understand his true intentions for murder. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone, as harsh as that sounds. I’m more than happy to be finished with it, although I probably shouldn’t say that. I know we’ll likely being working on it more when class starts. I’m really excited…

Summer reading assignment: Journal #2 A Streetcar Named Desire-- Briana

As I neared the middle of the play, many doors opened for each character and the drama began to intensify.
Blanche becomes interested in one of Stanley’s poker friends Mitch, who undoubtedly seemed to instantly become very infatuated with her.” I must admit, I think Mitch is a sweet caring individual who respects women unlike Stanley, and someone who would be a good provider and help nurture and love Blanche, Unfortunately the damage is already done with Blanche and it’s a little to late. When I started reading scene five, the part with the young man, my stomach turned. I could not have hit the nail on the head better! I knew she was going to make a move or sexual gesture of some sort! Not because of her reputation for sexual urges or having “numerous” lovers, but the fact that he was an attractive Younger boy. Could it have reminded her of the “boy” she lost long ago? Could feelings of the past arise within her? Could that one kiss “softly and sweetly” bring her back to when she was 16 again and truly “in love”?

I supposed scene six was a very strong scene where we were able to understand more of who Blanche really was. The chemistry between Mitch and Blanche was powerful. It seemed that they both did indeed like each other (him more than her, of course). They were very comfortable with each other and spoke as if they had been married for quite some time. I found them especially comfortable when Blanche was able to confess what had happened to her late husband and the details of how she "broke" him and ironically how he in return "broke" her. After conveying such a story to Mitch it was as if he fell even more in love with her by replying “You need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it be you and me, Blanche?” However Knowing Blanche it’s very hard to believe this relationship is going to turn out happily ever after.

Summer reading assignment: Journal #1 A Streetcar Named Desire--Briana

As I began my journey into reading a streetcar named desire by Tennessee Williams for my very first time, I was quickly drawn to the relationship between two of the main characters, Blanche DuBois, and Stanley Kowalski her Sister Stella’s husband. I found myself questioning if the two of them could possibly share a “love” interest in one another?
And if so, why was Stanley’s demeanor towards Blanche so disrespectful?
But I soon discarded all thoughts of the matter as I read deeper into the play, having realized maybe it’s not a love interest at all. I then thought that Stanley possibly knows more than he's leading on. I realized this when he subtly offers Blanche a shot. When Blanche respectfully turns it down he replies "some people rarely touch it, but it touches them often." Had Stella told him about her drinking problem?
Then it began to hit me! Could it have been that Stanley was the only person who could truly see right through her? (e.g: even when Stanley begins to go through Blanches wardrobe trunk, and finds very glamorous, expensive attires, Stella her sister blinded by her Love for her sister could not bare to hear it by simply denying it to herself by defending her sister)

Although in the first few scenes Blanche acts somewhat stuck up, I have to admit I personally feel remorse for her, as we learn from very early in the book, Blanche loses almost everything that ever meant anything to her (Her husband, Belle Reve, Her job). I doubt she would have done half the things she did if she had known how she would end up. Now sadly her past is all she has to live for, if its not that then it’s the lies she creates, I am a true believer that she doesn’t want to face the present the way it is so she lies to “escape’ from it all, nevertheless digging herself deeper and deeper into being labeled as a perfect candidate for insanity.

Summer reading assignment: Crime and Punishment Journal #2-- Felice

For me, the book hasn’t gotten any better. It is still a slow read. Although there has been an increased amount of dialogue, detail still overwhelms me. The only details I actually felt were necessary were those of the murder. When he first walked into the old woman’s house, I wondered exactly how long it would take Raskolnikov to murder her. I wondered if he would ponder over it and then possibly change his mind. However, the title of the book is CRIME and Punishment, so clearly, the crime was going to be committed. I didn’t expect the crime to happen so quickly, though. It was as if he didn’t even think twice about it. “He could not waste even one more moment. He took the axe all the way out, swung it with both hands, scarcely aware of himself, and almost without effort, almost mechanically, brought the butt-end down on her head.” Is it honestly that simple to kill? Raskolnikov repeatedly hit her with the axe, almost as if it was no big deal; it was as if he had had practice or done it before. What does it take to kill someone? Does it take simply disliking a person? No matter how much I hated a person, I’m not sure I could kill anyone. I don’t know if I would have the willpower. I don’t understand how Raskolnikov could kill so effortlessly.

This isn’t about the book’s content, but as I was sitting here typing this, I glanced down at the cover of my book and realized that there are blood stains across it. The blood starts at the bottom and leads up to the top onto what appears to be a court or a place of God (there are two crosses). The blood stains are obviously the “crime” part of the book. Courts or churches usually symbolize justice. Just by glancing at this cover, I can tell that whoever commits crime will be put to justice.

Summer reading assignment: Crime and Punishment journal #3--Anthony

So I've been wondering you know, what makes "classics" like "Crime and Punishment" the "great" novels they are. I asked Rema for her definition of a classic and she said that "A classic is a book that remains popular over a certain period of time. It creates controversy, and dares to question what's viewed as moral, and socially acceptable. A classic usually has something valuable to teach its readers. The author leaves you with something to think about, and ponder over- Which makes a novel a worthy read." Under this definition I can totally see why a novel such as "Crime and Punishment" has been labeled a classic etc... The thing is, to me I don't even see how someone could find this book interesting. I've always thought a classic should be something so revolutionary that after reading it your opinion on the world is changed. That your eyes were opened to something new, and you finished the book thinking to yourself "How did I miss this before" or "What would I do in a situation like that". I couldn't do this with Crime and Punishment it simply did not happen. The reason being that I didn't need this book to show me that you have a conscience, or that in a world where morality no longer played a role in decision making, that things would be messed up. To me most people would label this as a classic because it puzzled them so much because to them it was so well written and to scholars poses itself as a puzzle. But is it perhaps possible that the book is so poorly written so obvious, that it's puzzle isn't really a puzzle at all, but rather a series of contradictions which obscure the main point the author was trying to get across.

It puzzled me from the very beginning as to why Dostoevsky made the character of Raskolnikov so charitable when for the time being he was supposed to be cold and heartless making decisions based on reason rather then compassion. Based on the prologue, Raskolnikov was supposed to commit the murders and then his innate conscious was supposed to drive him towards confession, proving that morality is needed in society for society to be the nice place it is, and even exist. This wasn't how things unfolded though. Raskolnikov was donating money and looking out for strangers in the street during the time when he was supposed to be under the influence of reason only. He showed compassion prior to Dostoevsky's main effort to display where his conscience would take over. To me, this flawed his character in a way that destroyed the rest of the book for me. Now, after the murders the expectation was that Raskolnikov will start to feel guilty etc... driving him into confession. This happened as it was supposed to, but then in the epilogue things got all screwy again when Dostoevsky starts saying that Raskolnikov wasn't guilty whatsoever, and rather he was "ashamed just because he, Raskolnikov... must humble himself and submit to the idiocy of a sentence, if he were anyhow to be at peace." Where did his conscience go? It developed after the murders, and then what magically disappeared again following his confession? That's what Dostoevsky depicts here because Raskolnikov wasn't guilty about the murders, he was upset that he had been caught and that it seemed that only serving out his sentence in jail would free him. This lost me, rather then capitalizing on the conscience Raskolnikov had developed, Dostoevsky throws it away, and reverts Raskolnikov back to his pre- murdering days mindset. For me these two contradictions totally ruined the book. Where as because this is a "classic" I was expecting to learn something new, I instead finished the book thinking that the standards of what makes something a classic have been relaxed. Whether you use Rema's definition of what a classic is here or mine, for me this book fits under neaither. Using Rema's definition, this book didn't leave me with anything to ponder over, because Dostoevsky went and scrambled everything over at the end ruining a chance for me to ask myself whether under the right circumstances a crime is justified, and whether society really does need morals. And under my definition where was the eye opening? There was the chance for it, but then Dostoevsky went and destroyed that possibility by leaving Raskolnikov not haunted by the murders at the end, but haunted at his own failure. If someone thinks I got this wrong, please fill me in on my mistakes and errors I might have made in my analysis.

Summer Reading Assignment : A Streetcar Named Desire Journal # 3--Kristina

When I finished the play, I began to feel bad for Blanche. Even though Blanche lied about why she came to live with Stella, I began to relate to her. I would feel ashamed and embarrassed if I was in Blanches' shoes. Who would want to tell people I found my husband with another man or I was fired from my job because I had an affair with a student. At the end of the play I did not like Stanley at all. Stanley, who once dislkied Blanche, ends up rapping her. Stanley was never a "good man" like Stella made him out to be. I didnt realize that until the end of the play.

I also figured out how desire plays a major theme in the play. Blanche had a desire to be wanted. After finding her husband with another man, Blanche most likley felt that there was something wrong with her so she flirted with men to feel wanted and to boost her confidence. Blanche had an affair with a student because that student made her feel wanted at that moment. Blanche did not care if it was wrong or right but it made her feel good. Stellas desire was to be wanted by her husband and for her life to be perfect. Stella did not want to admit that her husband was a drunk or an aggressive man. Stella did not want to admit that her sister lied to her or that there was something seriously wrong with Blanche. Stella also refused to believe Blanche when she told Stella that Stanley rapped her.

I really liked the play because Williams shows the reader that nothing is perfect and no one lives a perfect life. I also loved the way he shows that everyone has desires of some sort. Even though some events that occured in the play were not everyday events such as Blanche finding her husband with another man, he also includes events that are not as rare such as a drunk husband. Williams shows the hardships of life and how people deal with them. People have choices in life and they can choose to better themselves or to continue living their life the way they are. The play shows that life is not just black and white but there are grays in between. It shows how feelings play an important role on peoples lives. Even if the reader was never in such situations I think that Williams still was able to connect the reader to his play.


On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 2:09 PM, Kristina Vrettos wrote:

Summer Reading Assignment : A Streetcar Named Desire Journal # 2

After reading the middle of the book, Williams starts to reveal Blanches' secrets. As Blanches secrets are being revealed, Blanche is having a little fling with Stanley's friend Mitch. I did get a little confused when Blanche told Stella that she wanted Mitch but then Blanche started flirting with the young man. I think Blanche has something wrong with her. I feel as if she is never satisfied or she is trying to fill a hole inside of her. On page 95 of scene six, Blanche opens up to Mitch about her young husband who died. At this part I felt as if Blanche became vulnerable to Mitch because she endured a life changing event. Even though Blanche is not my favorite person, I felt a little sympathy for her because of the fact she went through a hard situation.
Stanley learns that Blanche was stayed at a hotel in Laurel and was putting on an "act" at the hotel. Blanche was forced to leave the hotel and practically forced to leave Laurel. Another lie that Stanley came upon was of Blanche "resigning" from the teaching job. Blanche did not resign but was let go from her job because of an affair she had with a student. I did not feel that Stanley was trying to be rude or mean towards Blanche but i felt Stella was being naive about the situation. Stella did not want to admit or even believe any of Stanley's stories. I understand why Stella would react the way she did because Blanche is her sister and Stella loves her. This is where i realized that loves is a major theme in this play. The love that Stella has for Blanche and Stanley. The love that Blanche once had for her young husband and the love that Blanche is trying to seek from every other man she is with.

Summer Reading assignment: Crime and Punishment journal #1-- Felice

Like I’m sure many others did, I found the first twenty-seven pages of Crime and Punishment ridiculously hard to get through. It took me about two hours in total, not because I didn’t understand it, but because it was rather dull. Not to offend anyone who may have enjoyed the beginning (Ms. Tramantano) but I’m the kind of person who enjoys a book with a lot of dialogue. The intricate details of Crime and Punishment do not interest me in the slightest.

In all honesty, I find the beginning of the book difficult to blog about. I feel as if I don’t have that much to say. One of the first things that I thought about Raskolnikov was that he was depressed. “He had entirely given up attending to his daily affairs and did not want to attend to them.” Being as how I did two essays this past year on depression, I can rightly inform you that a symptom of depression is loss of interests once enjoyed. I thought that might play out to be a big part of the storyline. Also, I hated not knowing Raskolnikov’s name until page seven. I like being able to associate a face with a name. Not being able to do so made me enjoy the book even less.

I also don’t understand why Raskolnikov wants to kill Alyona Ivanova. What exactly did she do to make him want to kill her? She didn’t seem like a mean person, just a business woman. Did anyone catch the real reason Raskolnikov wanted to kill the pawn broker? Was there a reason to catch? If so, please enlighten me.

Lastly, as others have mentioned, Marmeladov was an unnecessary character in my eyes. We learned more about his life than we did about Raskolnikov’s. I felt like his life’s story was irrelevant to the plot.

Summer Reading Assignment Journal #1: A Streetcar Named Desire –Ebenezer

After reading the first couple scenes of the play, I started to get of feel of the storyline and the subtle messages that Mr. Williams is trying to express. When Blanche is headed to Elysian Fields, she harmlessly asks for the whereabouts of her sister. The point that fascinated me the most was how she retrieved that information: “I’m looking for… Stella Dubois. I mean- Mrs. Stanley Kowalski” Her words are not only intentional but a significant marker of what kind of time the characters live in. Decades ago, women played a lesser role in society, while men took charge of work-life and the family name. Blanche must have assumed that people wouldn’t automatically know who her sister was, because she’s a female. However, she assumed that they may have a fair idea of the male head of the household. Her statement has effectively changed my perception of gender roles in this book. Now I’m expecting the male characters to appear more authoritative and commanding; as the balance of power to should be tipped in their favor.

In addition, I’m starting to take notice in the way Blanche behaves. It is not necessarily her state of mind that interests me, but rather her situation. She is self indulgent person who is sensitive about her image. In addition, she is constantly looking for people to shower her with compliments. I get the feeling that she is alone in life and has suffered a lot throughout her lifetime. Some previous bloggers have mentioned that she has created a hole in her heart; which she aims to fill it with superficial gestures and remarks. Despite the way she acts towards Stanley and Stella, I feel pity towards her and I’m hoping for her to undergo a transformation. Hopefully someone can step up and help her take control of her life. If Blanche manages to change, she will definitely become a dynamic character who will differ among the male, static individuals like Stanley.

Summer Reading Assignment Journal #3: A Streetcar Named Desire-- Angela

As I neared the end of Streetcar I was actually sad, because I enjoyed this book so much more than Crime and Punishment. But as I kept thinking about whether or not Stanley would be just as crazy as Blanche he completely showed me once again that I shouldn’t of doubted him. I found it invigorating the way Stella acted towards Blanche upon hearing about the lies she had been telling. It’s like Stella finally saw the light and pieced things together, I was almost proud of her because I felt so bad for her on how deep her head was buried in Blanches lies and stories.

I also love how in the beginning of scene five page 74, Blanche even called herself a liar!( which reminds me of how both Blanche and Raskolnikov admit their strange and deranged,yet no one seems to do much about it) I think that scene five is when everything started coming out, all the lies, interesting stories and true feelings for each other started to come out. It amazed me how fast everything happened and then ended. After Stanley ratted out Blanche to Stella, I felt like everything happened in the blink of an eye, and soon Blanche was off and leaving the house.




I was was very curious to see how Mitch and Blanche would turn out. I actually had hope for her, I thought well maybe Mitch would bring her some good and she’d want to change. But the way it ended made it seem as if Mitch had no heart, which was the complete opposite of how I thought his character would be. As fast as the relationship ended, so did Blanche's stay at the Kowalski's residence. I was actually sad to see Blanche leave, who knows if she could have changed on her own or not, but I guess sending her with the doctor was the best way to go. I felt that ‘ A Streetcar Named Desire’ had more of an intriguing plot, and way of showing the characters manic behavior. In ‘ Crime and Punishment’ the author seemed to use more scenery and inner thoughts than dialogue and characters relations.

But in the end, I enjoyed both books and liked to see how each deranged character unfolded as their stories continued.

Summer Reading Assignment Journal #2: A Streetcar Named Desire-- Samuel

In scene seven of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, Stanley had done his own investigation on Blanche and the truth was surprising and extremely humorous. The fact that she slept around so much that her house was labeled off-limits to nearby soldiers had me putting down the book and shaking my head in disapproval with a smirk on my face. She was even kicked out of a low-class hotel, the Flamingo and caught sleeping with a student while she was a teacher. I understand having a sex life, but this was past the point-of-no-return. She basically became a tourist attraction that people are warned not to visit which is a little bit too.
I also realized that since Blanche had come to the Kowalski home soon after being kicked out of the Flamingo, which means she must have lost Bella Reeve a while back. In the beginning of the play, I had gotten the feeling that Blanche had lost Bella Reeve and had no choice but to come visit her sister. However, it seems that it is just another scheme of hers to gain her surrounding presence’s attention.
Honestly, Stella should wizen up. I understand that it is her sister, but she has even experienced her dramatic behavior. And if Stanley had people he didn’t even know, from other towns, confirm the stories, then those are pretty serious accusations that Stella brushed off. But she should also realize that the true nature of her husband is slowly being revealed to her. He is probably more animalistic and violent than she has ever known or expected. Blanche could possibly end up being Stella’s savior, if Stella would only leave him.
It seems that as the play continues Blanche’s mental insanity increases. It’s most probably due to her constant confrontation with Stanley. Stanley hasn’t made her life any easier, and by causing her to become emotionally unstable, she has been forced to make herself feel better by lying to herself and the people around her.
I also noticed that it is possible that Stanley and Blanche foil (a literary technique) each other. Stanley lives a settled realistic life. He is very down to earth and his character and personality are very durable, as in not easily rattled b other’s actions. Contrary to Stanley, Blanch has lived a nomadic life ever since Bella Reeve was “lost”. Also, she lives in a fantasy, one she tries to create with lies. In addition, she is a very fragile character which is evident during her birthday scene, when she bursts into tears after Stanley’s birthday surprise.

Summer Reading Assignment: A Streetcar Named Desire Journal #3- Rema

What bothers me the most is that Blanche acts so innocent, when, in fact, she’s a nymphomaniac (a la “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?”). If she was honest from the very start, I’m sure she’d have fewer problems. Maybe Stanley wouldn’t have been on her case…but then again, the play wouldn’t exist if that were the situation. Poor Mitch considered proposing to her, but all of her lies got in the way. I read a lot of your blogs on this play, and it seems like majority of you are against Blanche from the very start. I feel like it’s unfair to her character, and I’d like to explore deeper into what made Blanche turn into the woman we all have been reading about.

If we put ourselves into her shoes for just a moment- how would you deal with life if you found out your husband had sex with another man? Personally, I believe this was the climax in Blanche's life (not in the play), and I believe this is what changed her. Blanche is a delicate character, and she relies on male attention and admiration for her self-esteem. To simply catch her husband, Allen Grey, having intercourse with another man must have been the biggest blow to her ego. She probably blamed herself for him turning gay. She probably thought he didn’t find her attractive or desirable. This is quite possibly the reason that Blanche had an affair with a younger student, or why she had many lovers- to try and convince herself that she was desirable.

The rape scene was a shock to me. My mind couldn’t fully register just how much Stanley wanted to degrade, and destroy Blanche- and I couldn’t believe he would stoop to that level. It was enough that he destroyed her relationship with Mitch, but to rape her…that was absolutely disgusting. Blanche did not deserve that. Something was wrong with her from the very start- she was mentally ill, with hopes of recovering (although some AA meetings might have been in store for her future, no matter what). Stanley raping her probably ruined her the most, and set her into her insanity further. It’s sad that Stella didn’t believe her, and remained with her husband. It’s a very disappointing ending, yet still highly entertaining.

Summer Reading assignment: Journal #2 A Streetcar Named Desire--Rema

If I had a husband that struck me, beat me, or inflicted any physical (or even emotional) harm to me- let this be an early warning to him: You won’t exist in my life afterwards. I absolutely despise the scene where Stanley beats Stella. Being drunk or angry does not pose as an excuse to beat your pregnant wife. The simple fact that Stella went back to him shortly after he beat her exposes Stella as a weak woman that is far from being independent. For once, I agreed with Blanche: Stella needed to get away from the monster of a husband she had; especially since Stella states that his physical harm to her comes as no surprise.

Ladies of our AP English class, I have a question for you- put yourself in Stella’s shoes. If you loved your husband as much as Stella loved Stanley- would you walk away from him after he hit you? Consider everything- you’re pregnant, and you “love” him, and you’d have nothing (but your sister- who also has nothing) if you were to leave. Would you do it? Alternatively, would you go back to him just as easily as Stella went back to Stanley? Honest responses would be great. Domestic violence is a serious issue, and there are women that go through worse abuse (emotional and physical) than Stella did- and continuously go back to their partners because they feel ‘protected’ with them. Truthfully, I don’t even know what I would do in that situation. I’d be torn- and more than likely go back to him (despite my previous warning to my future husband-to-be).

I loathe Stanley. He is an animal that cannot be tamed. It appears that once his mind is set on something, he’ll never give up (for example: trying to expose Blanche for what she genuinely is). I believe that he is sexist, and all about male supremacy (both qualities in a man that I detest very much). On the other hand, I must admit I have a soft spot for Mitch. He cares for his ill mother very much, and yearns to find a woman for himself. Unfortunately, for him, it had to be Blanche. Blanche charmed him, and made him think of her as a pure woman. Mitch wants to form a relationship with her, but she’s already built the relationship through her conniving, and untruthful ways.

Summer Reading assignment: Journal #2 A Streetcar Named Desire--Angela

As the book transitions into the middle of the play, I noticed I had the wrong impression of Stanley. I had thought earlier that he might also be the mad man in the play, but I soon find I am wrong.I realized as Stanley kept screaming out for his lost wife that he was definitely not who I thought he was. After the scene of stanley hitting Stella, as he is going back and forth from erratic behavior and confusion, he soon starts to want Stella back with him. If he was just as crazy as Blanche he would not have felt the guilt like he does after the scene.
The morning after the blow up Blanche seems to still be on the topic of what happened the night before, even exclaiming that Stella married a madman, which i found amusing. As the scene continues and Blanche talks about a man named Shep Huntleigh, what I found most interesting was how this part really showed how manipulating Blanche can be. I guess I should of known such a thing was coming, after the way she talked to Stella, telling her to fetch cokes for her, and soon after Blanche has her first meltdown. I must admit as I read on about Blanche, she doesn’t really intrigue me much. In fact she actually reminds me of May Boatwright, from Secret Life of Bees in a way. The way she has nervous outbreaks, and needs to be in a hot bath to calm herself, although May had an actual mental disability, I feel their characters are a bit the same, in the way they both act.
I also see a pattern in Blanche, she tends to take bathes alot, as if she is trying to wash away guilt, or regret or even her horrid past. Blanches tendencies to boss people around, and act as an innocent person gets on my nerves, and I completely understand why Stanley would want her out. As I continued to read on during the middle of the book, I start to notice how obsessed Blanche is getting about Mitch, and how i could see why her past relations have failed her. I also noticed a bit of a similarity in Crime and Punishments Raskolnikov and Blanche in "A Street Car Named Desire," they both seem to admit things that they do or have done, and everyone seems to disregard them,make excuses for them.

Summer Reading assignment: Journal #1 A Streetcar Named Desire--Anthony M.

In the first scenes of "Street Car Named Desire" there were quite a few things that seemed a bit fishy especially with regard to Blanche. First off Blanche says on page 19 that Stella shouldn't worry about her being a drunkard, but if you look at what she asked to have as a chaser for her liquor, it was water. Water helps get you drunk faster, especially if it's on an empty stomach. This came off as a bit of a contradiction to me and made me wonder what type of condition Blanche was in especially since she had already snuck a few drinks before Stella even got home. Worst of all though was the sheer rudeness of Blanche considering the situation she's in. First off if anyone were to come into my house and have the audacity to start asking questions like "What are you doing in a place like this?" as Blanche does on page 19, I'd be not upset but put off by them family or not! To top it off on the following page Blanche starts insulting the conditions under which Stella lives. Now when I first read this I thought to myself that Blanche must be like the spoiled one of the two sisters and that something must've happened to drive them apart. But having read this once already, and knowing how traumatized Blanche is from her past experiences in life, this was yet further evidence that she really is somewhat crazy. Her sister volunteered to provide her with shelter and Blanche quite honestly bit the hand that was going to be feeding her by coming in and insulting Stella's way of life.

Now when Blanche posed the question "Will Stanley like me, or will I just be a visiting in-law, Stella? I couldn't stand that." I had to laugh aloud. The reason being, that even if I have a friend stay overnight or I'm hanging out with them for a few days, or hell even when my own family comes up, after a week I'm done. I'm exhausted from having to entertain them and having to be around all the time and having to take them with me when I go places. It's a burden a real burden after the first couple days. The thing of it is, based on Blanche's past lifestyle it would lead one to believe that she would already know this. Think about it, she had money and a plantation and all sorts of nice clothes. I'm sure she entertained guests and she must've known that eventually it gets annoying. This line itself in hindsight was almost a bit of foreshadowing because any guest in your house whether it be family or friend becomes a burden especially if all they are doing is mooching off of you as Blanche does in the story.

Crime and Punishment Summer Reading Assignment: Journal #3 –Ebenezer

With all the twists and turns that went on during the beginning and middle phases of the C&P, one would expect a similar outcome with the ending scenes in the novel. The plot unfortunately was relatively normal, predictable, and very straight-forward. Honestly speaking, the ending was so bland, that it felt like I was eating a dry piece of lettuce. Dostoevsky could have easily added some flavor to the end stages if he made Raskolnikov flee to the outskirts of Russia. Alternatively, I would have preferred he committed suicide; because at least the readers could look ahead to the reactions from all the other minor characters. Just imagining the emotional outcry from individuals like Sonya and Dmitri Prokofych would undeniably be more appealing. Instead, the author does everything in his power to make the finale as uninteresting as possible. This is accomplished when Raskolnikov admits his crime at the police station, confesses to the judicial courts, and lives the rest of his life in jail. Maybe someone change the storyline so that it deviates from the conventional finish.
This novel however is unquestionably fascinating in a sense that it’s realistic and applicable to science. Throughout the novel, the author was able to pinpoint the exact state of mind of typical murderers and incorporate them into our protagonist. According to James Fallon (Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California), many psychopathic individuals exhibit a high risk gene which can cause abnormal behavior. During the adolescent years, the gene is usually expressed when the individual has experiences some type of traumatic event. Oddly enough Dostoevsky wrote about Raskolnikov’s childhood episode on page 56; where he witnessed Mikolka kill a small horse. Mr. Fallon also points out that psychopathic killers sometimes have preexisting conditions that contribute to their violent behavior. This is strange as well because Dostoevsky made it clear on the first page that Raskolnikov “had been in an irritable and tense state, resembling hypochondria.” Perhaps Dostoevsky’s literary work is more than a source of captivation, but rather a basis of education.
All in all, C&P is a great novel for any season. The aesthetic aspects were limited which allowed me to focus on many concepts within the book. I learned about the struggles of family life and the emotional investments some characters have to one another. In addition, I took note of how powerful friendship can be with scenes between Razumikhin and Raskolnikov. Svidrigailov and Sonechka demonstrated to me that love can be detrimental or pain-staking over time. But the overall concept that I take most from this book is the force of consequence. Looking at all the things that Raskolnikov had to go through .has prompted me to watch my actions vigilantly; so that one day I won’t end up like him.

Summer Reading assignment: Journal #1 A Streetcar Named Desire--Samuel

After reading A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams for the second time, I am firmly convinced that Blanche is the only person responsible for her misfortune, besides the whole rape incident. If we take a look at her past, Blanche had facilitated the death of her husband. If she was so terribly in love with him, why would she reveal that she knew about his secret homosexuality in such a vulgar way? Her exact words were “I saw! I know! You disgust me…” and at a party nevertheless. If I was going to reveal a secret of that caliber, I would not have done it at a dance. Apparently, switching from a lot of fun to extreme despair causes people to do drastic things. I point this out because this seems to be the moment that her insanity stems from, considering she always hears the music and the gun shot from this moment.
From the beginning of the play to the end, Blanche takes on the persona of someone sophisticated and classy, but executes it poorly, which in-turn makes her look like an overzealous drama queen. For instance, Blanche shows off by speaking in French and speaks as if she was a profound philosopher. Her inner philosopher comes out when she mentions to Stanley, “A woman's charm is fifty percent illusion.” I found this to be especially ironic considering that she lies about so much of her life, like being an alcoholic, a virgin, how she lost Bella Reeve, her rich friend that she was going to go on a cruise with and so on.
And to top it off she is a hypocrite. Blanche is surprised to find Stella living in an apartment when she arrives, yet she has nothing herself, except for a suitcase which is filled with a fancy dress and a tiara and other items that are practically useless in her position, and still she criticizes Stella. Then when she tells Stella about loosing Bella Reeve, she tries to play the “guilt card”, claiming that Stella had left her to try to hold the place together alone, yet she barely explains how she lost Bella Reeve while at the same time continuing to put the blame on Stella.
In my opinion, and I’m sure in many others Blanche is a character that is easily disliked do to her qualities that I have previously mentioned. Still, I think her mental status wasn’t severe enough, that she could not have forced herself to live a normal life. All she would have to do was keep the music inside her head, ignore it and not act like a spoiled princess.
I hate to admit it, but I was glad to see Blanche taken to a mental institute. In fact it might serve her well to be under the care of doctors considering that she was destroying her own life. I did feel sympathy for her when she got raped, but during the rest of the play I enjoyed the hatred she faced. Stanley giving Blanche a one-way ticket back to Laurel as a birthday present was my favorite part. I just hope that Stella, the true victim of the play, wises up soon and leaves Stanley and this time for good (but I doubt it will ever happen, since she trusts him more than her own sister. Then again, look who her sister is).

What makes a novel a novel?

One of your classmates asked this poignant question, and I thought it was worthy of discussion.

Let's begin with the basics:

• It’s a work of prose fiction.
• There’s a certain unofficial length, otherwise it’s called a novella, a short story, or even a long short story.
• A “classic novel” is considered such because it earns prominence across many generations of readers.
• You can check out the following link to a neat fact-sheet about novels: http://en73kleen.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/novel.pdf

Now, my question to the class is: What do you consider the characteristics of a great novel to be?

Summer Reading Assignment : A Streetcar Named Desire Journal # 2--Kristina

After reading the middle of the book, Williams starts to reveal Blanches' secrets. As Blanche's secrets are being revealed, Blanche is having a little fling with Stanley's friend Mitch. I did get a little confused when Blanche told Stella that she wanted Mitch but then Blanche started flirting with the young man. I think Blanche has something wrong with her. I feel as if she is never satisfied or she is trying to fill a hole inside of her. On page 95 of scene six, Blanche opens up to Mitch about her young husband who died. At this part I felt as if Blanche became vulnerable to Mitch because she endured a life changing event. Even though Blanche is not my favorite person, I felt a little sympathy for her because of the fact she went through a hard situation.
Stanley learns that Blanche was stayed at a hotel in Laurel and was putting on an "act" at the hotel. Blanche was forced to leave the hotel and practically forced to leave Laurel. Another lie that Stanley came upon was of Blanche "resigning" from he teaching job. Blanche did not resign but was let go from her job because of an affair she had with a student. I did not feel that Stanley was trying to be rude or mean towards Blanche but i felt Stella was being naive about the situation. Stella did not want to admit or even believe any of Stanley's stories. I understand why Stella would react the way she did because Blanche is her sister and Stella loves her. This is where i realized that loves is a major theme in this play. The love that Stella has for Blanche and Stanley. The love that Blanche once had for her young husband and the love that Blanche is trying to seek from every other man she is with.

Summer Reading Assignment Journal #3: A Streetcar Named Desire--Felice

I think that the most memorable part of A Street Car Named Desire is hands down the rape scene. I assure you almost everyone’s third blog about this play will mention the rape in some fashion. Scene ten consists of dialogue between only Stanley and Blanche and ends in rape. The first time I read this play, I was in complete shock. During my second reading, I searched everywhere for even the slightest bit of foreshadowing and yet I found none. The rape itself makes no sense to me. Of course it is known that Stanley has a bit of a temper, but who knew his anger towards Blanche would turn into a sexual encounter. To be honest, throughout the whole play I was waiting for Stanley to hit Blanche, the way he did Stella early in the play. Physical contact, yes. Rape, no. What shocked me the most was that in the beginning, I had thought that Blanche was going to pursue Stanley. I obviously could not have been more wrong. What upsets me most is that Williams never clarifies whether or not Stella knows that Stanley raped Blanche. He leaves this incident very open ended, which leaves the reader with many unanswered questions. It seems to me as if Stella is in the dark about the occurrence, but if so, why would Blanche not tell her? I understand why Stanley wouldn’t tell Stella, but I can’t imagine Blanche not telling her. However, if Stella did know about the rape, why was it being completely ignored? Did Williams “accidentally” leave out a scene?

With all of that being said, I don’t sympathize with Blanche at all, which is something I have n0t addressed at all in my two previous blogs. I feel as if she brought her fate upon herself due to her excessive lying. It’s a life-long lesson that lying only gets you in trouble, one that is taught at a young age. It seems Blanche never got the memo. If she hadn’t lied her way through life, she probably would have been married and living comfortably. Instead, she ended up in a mental institution. Which way of life would you prefer?

Summer Reading Assignment Journal #2: A Streetcar Named Desire--Felice

Before I begin my second blog, I would like to address a comment that was posted on my first blog. “You say that you performed the role of Blanche in 11th grade English, in order to ‘become her and feel her emotions’, I can certainly understand the desire to do so whilst reading any play, but to me Blanche is a character I would want no part of!” Josh said to me. Although it is true that she is a heartless woman with next to no sympathy for anyone else, that is precisely what intrigues me about her. It is very interesting to attempt to look into the mind of someone who is so unlike yourself. For me, reading the part of Blanche answered a lot of questions about why she acted the way she does and also why people I know in real life act the way they do.

For me, this play really seems to be about unconditional love. On page 57, Blanche and Mitch’s conversation is interrupted by Stanley’s drunken rage. Stanley takes his anger out, not only on a radio, but on Stella, as well. In the description it says “She backs out of sight. He advances and disappears. There is the sound of a blow. Stella cries out.” (57) When Stella leaves the house and Stanley calms down, Stanley tries to get Stella to come back home. “Stell-lahhhhh!” he yells. (59) ‘Miraculously’, Stella does come back to him. In reading this, I found Stella to be ridiculously naïve. The first thing I thought after reading that part was that if my husband ever laid a forceful hand on me, there’s no way I would speak to him for days, much less the same night. However, after I finished scene three, I paused to think about love. As cliché as it sounds, love is supposed to be one of those unbreakable bonds. When you’re in love with someone, you see the best in that person and often ignore the worst. Although it is true that Stanley hit Stella, Stella loves him and clearly can’t stand to be away from him. Although I’m sure that I wouldn’t stand for my husband hitting me, many love their husbands so much that as soon as an apology is heard, they are forgiven.

Another thing I found strange at first was the seemingly random conversation between Blanche and Mitch. Mitch was a polite, innocent man still living with his mother. Blanche’s eccentric personality was obviously quite the opposite. I then thought back to a quote Blanche had said earlier in the play. “I know I fib a good deal. After all, a woman’s charm is fifty percent illusion…” (41) I remembered this quote while reading other things Blanche was saying to Mitch, such as “I’m not accustomed to having more than one drink” (54) and “Stella hasn’t been so well lately, and I came down to help her for a while. She’s very run down.” (55) Both of those statements were blatant lies. She seemed to be attempting to charm Mitch by lying about her drinking habits and the reason she had come to visit Stella. However, everyone knows that good relationships are based on honesty and truth. As long as lies exist, a lasting relationship cannot prevail. This seems to be foreshadowing that a relationship between Blanche and Mitch could not happen due to Blanche’s deceitful ways.

Summer Reading Assignment Journal #1: A Streetcar Named Desire--Kristina

When I first began reading the play a Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, i was drawn into the book. Williams way of writing drew me into the book to make me imagine as if i was in the book myself. When the play first opens up Stanley and Stella seem so happy with each other regardless of where they live. On page 15 of scene one, Blanche, Stella's arrogant and self centered sister arrives. Blanche mentions how she took a street-car named Desire and then transferred to one called Cemeteries. I know that the streetcar is a big significance in the play because it is the title of the play. I find it ironic that they have a streetcar named desire but they also have one named cemeteries. I find that ironic because a persons desire would not be associated with a cemetery. What could Desire and Cemeteries possibly have in common or symbolize that is a large significance in the play?

In the first four acts of the play Blanche comes off as a stuck up southern belle. Stanley, Blanches' brother-in-law does not fall for Blanches' act. Blanche brags about all the places she has been, about her teaching career and about Belle Reve; the place where Stella and Blanche grew up. Blanche plays as if she is living better then Stella is but in reality Blanche lost Belle Reve and has no where to go but to her sister house. Williams tries to make Blanche come off as a strong, independent, self centered southern belle who is better then her sister and her brother-in-law. Stanley is not falling for Blanches' act and he knows there is something more to Blanche that she is not revealing. I agree with Stanley but I'm not exactly sure yet. Could she be trying to scheme her sister? Another thing that occurs a lot in the play is when Blanche takes her bath. Whenever Blanche is "terribly upset", she always takes a bath and sits in the bath for a very long time. To me Blanche always seems upset. I definitely think there is something Blanche is hiding from everyone and Stella does not want to admit it but Stanley is very suspicious. In scene two, we learn a little more about Blanche and how she was in love with a boy whom she was supposed to marry but he committed suicide. Maybe that plays a large part of how Blanche acts. Maybe she feels like she needs to come across as a strong woman so she doesn't feel vulnerable.