A New Perspective?

How people feel about life is always a matter of expectation and perspective.  Are my expectations realistic or unrealistic, and do I need to find a new perspective on an old idea? A Streetcar Named Desire  written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tennessee Williams is driven by the desires present in 1940’s post-war America. Reality and insanity is brought about by the trauma of truth in all of the three main characters. Williams’ social statement about the power of memetic influence on culture and perception is still relevant today. 


The power of a patriarchal structure and a protagonist that contains elements of both genders is significant as it gives voice to a cross section of American culture; all characters immigrate into the setting of the play from various socioeconomic and cultural
backgrounds. Strong use of metaphor and symbolism fuel the language of Williams’ play, and social relevance equates a sense of reality to relevant issues driving the characters and their actions. The desire for equality, reality, and the ability to be “real” in all aspects of life regardless of gender or sexuality drives the streetcar in Tennessee Williams’ play, and these desires still drive individuals, culture and society today.


 I see a need for a perspective that is aware of the challenges presented in our world today.  Truth can be very traumatic, especially when a person is unwilling to shed  light on unrealistic expectations.  Fear has become a safety net, the ever present catch all to keep individual paralysis the norm.How does fight or flight play into fear in the modern world? In my observations Fear has become the task master creating the illusion of control.


So what is next?  I have spent the past twenty two years making a conscious choice to I turn on the light and illuminate fear and dishonesty.  Mark Twain stated  "the fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."  Back to the question are you afraid to die or just afraid to live?  Looking at life with a new set of glasses, filtering the unrealistic expectations of others makes personal happiness and peace as an achievable inside job.
Tennessee Williams built a microcosm of dysfunction for the audience to see.  Truth can be ugly.  Truth can be elusive, slipping under cover of what keeps us unchanging.  

Straight? What's 'straight'? A line can be straight, or a street. But the heart of a human being?

A Streetcar Named Desire

FEAR’S PARADE

FEAR focused, failed to feel.

Reality ruptured.

Lost in hate, LOVE let go.

Frustrated Faith faltered in fright;

hopeless Heavens heard no light.

Poisoned Thoughts bled page by page;

“Marked by the beast!” screamed the sage.

From heart and soul, pulpit and stage,

FEAR led the parade.

Lisa Whealy