DE 202: Exam 3 Study Guide
Why does Blanche avoid bright light? What implications are there in Mitch's act of forcing Blanche under the naked light bulb?
Blanche avoids bright light, but Mitch tries to force her to reveal herself under the bulb. Blanche avoids the bright light throughout the play because she refuses to reveal her true age to Mitch. Mitch hears gossip about Blanche and is curious to see her under the light, both physically and introspectively. Mitch's act of forcing Blanche under the light shows how self-conscious she is about her inner and outer self.
How does education separate Dee not only from her family but also from her sense of self?
Education separates Dee from her family because no one else in her family has been educated. When Dee comes back to her family's town, she greets her mother with "Wa-su-zo Tean-o," which is an African greeting that her mother would not know. This shows the separation between Dee and her family and how her education makes Dee feel superior to her family. Education also separates Dee from herself because all of the things she has learned about are not problems or even relevant at her family house. Dee's great knowledge about civil rights and other ideals are not pertinent to her simple town.
How does Fences offer a sympathetic yet unsentimental view of the protagonist?
Fences offers a sympathetic view of the protagonist because he came from a bad home life. Troy's mother left him and his father at a very young age, and Troy says that, "sometimes I wish I hadn't known my daddy," "All he wanted was for you to learn how to walk so he could start you to working." Even though Troy's father was hard on him, he recognizes that he felt a duty to his family. However, Troy still thought his father was evil. This is shown when his father finds Troy with a girl and he whips Troy so that he can get with the girl, which then leads to Troy whipping his father, and his father beating his son up. This makes the reader feel sympathetic for the protagonist, however, when the reader finds out that Troy stole money and food to survive and ended up killing someone, this leaves an unsentimental view of him. The act of robbing and killing a man shows that Troy is very unsentimental and is not influenced by the sentimental feelings of this man. Even though the play portrays the protagonist as both sympathetic and unsentimental, he is seen as mostly unsentimental and harsh.
Explain the differing views of heritage held by both Mama and Dee.
Mama and Dee in "Everyday Use," both hold differing views of heritage. I agree that Dee appreciates the art of items in the house and would rather put them on display than actually use them in her everyday life. Dee's views are also shown when she goes through her mother's trunk and finds two quilts made by her grandmother and aunt. The narrator wants Dee to take different quilts made by machines because they will "last longer", but Dee thinks that the handmade ones are better and wants them instead. The narrator had been planning to give those quilts to Maggie someday as a wedding gift so she tries to persuade Dee to get other quilts instead, however, Dee finds out and doesn't think that Maggie could appreciate the quilts and would, "probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use." Dee would hang them on the wall like fine art, so therefore the narrator knew she wouldn't want to give them to her. The narrator would want the quilts to be used just as her mother and sister used them. This shows that the narrator and Maggie have a greater appreciation for tradition and heritage than Dee.
What is the symbolic significance of the quilts?
The symbolic significance of the quilts in Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" is that it shows heritage by bringing pieces of clothing from different members of the family together into one blanket. The Johnsons may not have had extra money laying around to go buy fabrics to make quilts but Dee, Maggie, and their mother sure were crafty. The narrator tells readers that in the quilts, "were scraps of dresses Grandma Dee had worn fifty and more years ago" as well as a piece of "Grandpa Ezra's uniform that he wore in the Civil War." Dee seems to understand that the quilts represent heritage, which is probably why she wants them, however, she appears to not recognize that they represent a connection and bond between the three family members. They worked hard together on making the quilts, stitching them together piece by piece, but obviously that does not mean too much to Dee who throws a tantrum when her mother refuses to give her the quilts.
What evidence in the poem suggests an abusive relationship?
There is a very pertinent theme of an abusive relationship between father and son throughout "My Papa's Waltz." This is first seen when Roethke says "At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle." This exemplifies the notion that Roethke's father was taking the metal end of a belt to his son, specifically his head, which certainly crosses the line between punishment and abuse. This is also seen when Roethke says "The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy." This magnifies the theme of abuse by explaining up front that Roethke's dad was a drunk and his actions were heavily influenced by his indulgence. The entire poem is descriptive of an abusive relationship, however; Roethke compares this abuse to a dance in order to bring a certain light to it.
Where do you consider Williams' final view toward illusion and reality to lie? Does he align himself with Stanley's reality and brutal honesty, or with Blanche's illusion and pretense?
Williams' believes that a person's illusions must be dealt with properly, or it will lead to their self-destruction and ruin. This is shown when Blanche's fantasies take a toll on her health and well-being. She loses her self-esteem, develops a nasty drinking problem, and becomes very depressed. Williams' lets his readers know that he aligns himself with Stanley's reality and brutal honesty in the way that he ends the play. Blanche is exposed for the promiscuous person she is, and she is led off to a mental hospital.