Similarities Between Enduring Love And A Streetcar Named Desire
Comparative Essay
McEwan and Williams focus on what it means to be both powerful and powerless in a variety of contexts. Discuss their exploration of these ideas with reference to both male and females.
I will be comparing and contrasting Tennessee Williams play of 1947 ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ with Ian McEwen’ novel ‘Enduring Love’ of 1997. I aim to focus on the theme of power as presented by both authors. The first, a play, explores how power shifts between men and women such as the way that Blanche’s character loses the power of her status to become dependent on Stanley. The second looks at the power struggle between two men explored through Joe’s obsession created by Jed whilst still highlighting the power struggle of a woman in the way that …show more content…
POINT; Stanley has power over Blanche as he knows about her past. Blanche fears that news will get around.
EVIDENCE; He goes out Blanche rises from her chair. She seems faint; looks about her with an expression of almost panic’.
EXPLAIN; Blanche doesn’t want anyone to find out about her past, but she knows Stanley has therefore he has a power over her and is almost black- mailing her and playing mind games because he makes her feel that he has one over her – creating an inferiority complex
POINT: Jed knows that Joe loves Clarissa, and that she is his weakness
EVIDENCE; ‘ i’ll do whatever you want. Ill be there in two hours. I wont tell anyone. But don’t hurt her. Please don’t hurt her!’
EXPLAIN; Jed uses this knowledge to control Joe through Clarissa as he knows that this way will be a ‘fool-proof’ way to get Joes attention. He is able to manipulate Joe to gain power over him.
Both writers make their characters use their intellectual power to their advantage = for their own feed on Obsession = the way Stanley feeds on Blanches obsession – creating panic attacks – Jed plays with Joes mind in a similar way
PHYSICAL/ SEXUAL
McEwan and Williams focus on what it means to be both powerful and powerless in a variety of contexts. Discuss their exploration of these ideas with reference to both male and females.
I will be comparing and contrasting Tennessee Williams play of 1947 ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ with Ian McEwen’ novel ‘Enduring Love’ of 1997. I aim to focus on the theme of power as presented by both authors. The first, a play, explores how power shifts between men and women such as the way that Blanche’s character loses the power of her status to become dependent on Stanley. The second looks at the power struggle between two men explored through Joe’s obsession created by Jed whilst still highlighting the power struggle of a woman in the way that …show more content…
POINT; Stanley has power over Blanche as he knows about her past. Blanche fears that news will get around.
EVIDENCE; He goes out Blanche rises from her chair. She seems faint; looks about her with an expression of almost panic’.
EXPLAIN; Blanche doesn’t want anyone to find out about her past, but she knows Stanley has therefore he has a power over her and is almost black- mailing her and playing mind games because he makes her feel that he has one over her – creating an inferiority complex
POINT: Jed knows that Joe loves Clarissa, and that she is his weakness
EVIDENCE; ‘ i’ll do whatever you want. Ill be there in two hours. I wont tell anyone. But don’t hurt her. Please don’t hurt her!’
EXPLAIN; Jed uses this knowledge to control Joe through Clarissa as he knows that this way will be a ‘fool-proof’ way to get Joes attention. He is able to manipulate Joe to gain power over him.
Both writers make their characters use their intellectual power to their advantage = for their own feed on Obsession = the way Stanley feeds on Blanches obsession – creating panic attacks – Jed plays with Joes mind in a similar way
PHYSICAL/ SEXUAL