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TCP + SND- Theme of 'insecurity' - Coggle Diagram
TCP + SND- Theme of 'insecurity'
The Color Purple
Celie
Celie's lack of confidence and security within herself makes her vulnerable.
Celie becomes more secure, however she hasn't broken free from societal oppression/no social change within her community
Celie's insecurity comes from abuse + silencing, making her see herself as worthless
Epistolary form- insecure voice, lacks the confidence to speak aloud or challenge men directly.
Economic independence (trousers business)- insecurity replaced by self-worth
Patriarchal language becomes internalised, so insecurity is psychological as well as social.
Economic independence through sewing transforms insecurity into self-respect, showing that confidence requires both emotional and material freedom.
Black men
Secure within their own community but in wider society they lack power- why they abuse their power?
History of slavery brews insecurity within the black characters
Mr___ and Harpo overcome gender expectations and become secure in their masculinity without being violent or abuse
Mr___ creates insecurity by insulting and controlling Celie to keep power over her.
Shug
More secure + empowers Celie- shows power of strong female friendship (womanism)
Shug exposes Celie's insecurity through comparison and jealousy, shaped by female beauty standards
Sofia
Secure + strong and racist society shut it down- security/confidence is not welcomed in black people (esp. women) in wider society
A Streetcar Named Desire
Blanche
Blanche's insecurity is exploited- mental demise
Blanche exploits Stanley's insecurity (shown through dialogue)
Blanche's insecurity shown through use of plastic theatre- alcohol/bathing/music
Blanche's insecurity comes from ageing and loss beauty- an insecure fading Southern Belle, making her depend on illusion and male validation- fear of abandonment.
The loss of Belle Reve creates class insecurity, as Blanche clings to aristocratic identity to hide failure.
Sexual history- source of shame, producing moral insecurity in a society that judges female desire.
Light symbolism (paper lantern) shows fear of exposure and fragile self-image.
Final breakdown shows insecurity becoming psychological collapse when illusions are destroyed.
Stanley
Shows the danger of fragile masculininity
Insecure about his ethnicity and a Polish man living in America
By the end of the play, Stanley is the only person who established himself
Insecurity within the women is exploited and overpowered by Stanley
Stanley exploits Blanche's insecurity by exposing her past, using truth as a weapon to assert dominance.
Stella
No power/insecure which causes her to betray her sister (tried to fight back)
Thesis
Both texts show insecurity as caused by patriarchy, but Walker presents it as curable, while Williams presents it as destructive.
Quotes
A Streetcar Named Desire
'[There is something about her uncertain manner]'- BLANCHE
'[speak with feverish vivacity]'- BLANCHE
'I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or vulgar action'- BLANCHE
'[She music is in her mind; she is drinking to escape it]'- BLANCHE
'What have I done to my sister?'- STELLA
'I have always relied on the kindness of strangers'- BLANCHE
"I think I will bathe... my nerves are in knots"- BLANCHE
'[He kneels beside her and his fingers find the opening of her blouse]'- STANLEY
'I am not a Pollack. People from Poland are Poles. They are not Pollacks. But what I am is one hundred percent American.'- STANLEY
'I am the king'- STANLEY
The Color Purple
'And us so happy. Matter of fact, I think this the youngest us ever felt. Amen' (Letter 90)
'Because of the scarification marks on her cheeks Americans would look down on her as a savage and shun her'
'Every time they ast me to do something, Miss Celie, I act like I'm you. I jump right up and just do what they say' (Letter 38)
'He put his thing up gainst my hip and sort of wiggle it around' (Letter 1)
'I make myself wood. I say to myself, Celie you a tree' (Letter 13)'
'I'm pore, I'm black, I may be ugly and can't cook, a voice say to everything listening. But I'm here' (Letter 75)
'They crack her skull, they crack her ribs. They tear he nose loose on one side. They blind her in one eye' (Letter 37)
'Why us suffer. Why us black.' (Letter 89)
Harpo 'loves cooking and cleaning' (Letter 28)