Compare the ways the Immigration Experience Process dehumanises people in both texts.

Compare the ways the Immigration Experience Process dehumanises people in both texts.

(The Reluctant Fundamentalist and The Inheritance of loss)

In both of these texts, the authors depict the immigration process as a negative experience for people to go through, specifically people trying to get into the United States. In ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ the Immigration Process is negative towards Changez because of the recent 9/11 attacks. In ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ there is no specific event that makes this process so difficult, it’s simply the fact of a language barrier and different rankings in society which separates the Indian Immigrants from other cultures (specifically those of the United States). As both texts discuss the inequality between immigrants and the indigenous culture therefore raising the point of how dehumanising people can be towards immigrants facing the immigration process.

In ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ Hamid uses the character Changez to describe the immigration experience for Muslims after the 9/11 attack. For Changez, getting back into the USA is a more difficult task because of race. As this novel is first person narrative, we (as readers) know what the character of Changez is thinking when he hears the news of 9/11. “And then I smiled.”This sentence shows that Hamid wants to get across the horror of 9/11 from another’s perspective, looking at it from the point that what happened maybe wasn’t all it seems at first glance. Although no one else knew of this thought during Changez’s immigration process back to the United States, Hamid’s portrayal of the security guards shows that because of Changez’s race, he is being treated like a criminal, bringing him down to that level and treating him in such a way that takes away his equality between other and dehumanises him throughout this process. “I flew to New York uncomfortable in my own face.”Implies that for Muslim people during that time, they were made to feel like they stand out negatively among others therefore taking away their perception of who they are, and planting a ‘terrorist’ stereotype upon them. The image of feeling uncomfortable in your ‘face’ shows that the way people viewed Changes during this time made him disconnect from his face and who he was within his body and mind. In ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ Kiran Desai takes a slightly different approach, while keeping the first person narrative, it’s the language that is preventing them from communicating, because of this lack of understanding they cannot be treated the same as another who would understand the process more clearly. Having basic understanding of English puts the other people in the text ahead of those who don’t. Desai makes quite a clear point in saying that simply, if you do not fit the mould of the United States, then you weren’t seen as equal enough to be able to live there.

Hamid changes the dialogue between Changez and the Immigration Security after the 9/11 attacks, making it short, sharp and emotionless. Taking the emotion away from the dialogue really demonstrates what Hamid is trying to say about the immigration process and how people are treated because of a stereotype. When being interrogated about Changez’s ‘purpose’ for travelling to the US, stating that he ‘lives there’ is not enough to be allowed in. In 'The Inheritance of Loss' Desai made the decision to make the characters unable to understand English in 'The Inheritance of Loss' which creates a barrier for the immigrants trying to make their way to America. By shortening/taking away dialogue between characters you remove any form of connection they could make along with any personality from one culture to the next. If one does not understand the other like in 'The Inheritance of Loss' then there is no way for people t be seen as 'equal' towards one and other. This is a powerful point made by both Desai and Hamid.

By dehumanising these characters both authors have defined the Immigration experience as unfair and dehumanising towards people from different cultures. The difference between both texts is Hamid has given there a reason for such treatment (the 9/11 attack) whether Desai has demonstrated that it can happen for no reason (whether intentional or not). 

Rossetti Article

http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/christina-rossetti-gender-and-power

How does Williams create a sense of tension and drama for the audience in this extract (scene four monologue)?

How does Williams create a sense of tension and drama for the audience in this extract (scene four monologue)? You should analyse language closely and the way it is crafted to create effects. (30 marks)

In Tennesse Williams 'A Streetcar Named Desire' the whole play is a build up of tension between the three main characters (Stanley Blanche and Stella) this all begins on Blanche's arrival at the beginning, then is finished by the timeof her departure at the end. In scene four, the characters Blanche and Stella (sisters) are having an argument where the tension about Blanche's feelings for Stella'shusband Stanley, reaches breaking point. Here Williams has given Blanche a monologue closely keeping around the same theme, the character Stanley's animalistic qualities. 

The first two most apparent points are in the stage directions for Blanche's monologue. Just before the monologue begins there is a directions that say 'Outside, a train approaches.' As a train approaches there is always a buildup of noise, getting louder and louder until it reaches the point where you can't hear youself thing. This symbolises that there is an approaching explosion of tension about to come. By the end of the monologue in the next set of stage directions (before the character Stanley re enters the scene) there is the line 'Another train passes outside' meaning that now the tension is being forced away along with the passing trains. Trains are mentioned a lot throughout the play as way to increase emotion or tension during that specific past of a scene. In this case it marks the beginning and end of Blanche's dramatic monologue. 

Throughout the play we are brought back to the image of raw meat. In the very first scene the Character Stanley (who this monologue is about) throws a blood soaked meat package at Stella. During this monologue the character Blanche refers to what Stanley brings home as "...Raw meat home from the kill in the jungle!" This is describing the character Stanley's actions as animalistic. Raw meat is something you would register with killing, in this monologue Blanche implies (more than once) that Stanley is no above 'killing' (whether it be phsyically or mentally/emotionally) the fact that she references this is almost like a prediction as Stanley does in fact go on to 'destroy' Blanche at the end of the play.  

Another interesting piece of language in this monologue is the repetition of the word 'God.' The first time Blanche uses the word 'God,' it's an exasperated tone, after describing another action of Stanley's. The second time, she is referring to 'God'in the religious sense, talking about 'God's image,' Blanche is often very concerned without her image throughout the entire play, something this character is often anxious to achieve, but in the end that is all taken away by Stanley. There are often descriptions of the characters wearing white (a color of purity) which brings us to the thought that when Blanche discusses 'God's Image' she is also referring to what she wants to achieve, an image of perfection and purity. By using the word 'God' so closely in this monolgue, you can get the impression that Blanche is trying to make a dramatic point (repeition is often used for effect, especially in a dramatic monologue

Tragedy

In its pure form a character from a high social position (king) falls due to their fatal flaw.

The end result should be death.
What about Streetcar?

Catharsis- release for fear and pity.

Blanche is the flawed hero, with the desperation for attention (her flaw) but instead of dying, he is trapped within herself in a mental hospital. Her freedom (life) taken away.

Scene one notes.

Long stage directions, important. Giving us a clue to some of the themes that are important throughout the play.
Names are important throughout, all named for a reason.

Play moves from May to September, all throughout summer. A long hot summer, gives a hint to the rising tension between the characters, can be related to a sexual tension between Blanche, Stanley and Stella. As it gets hotter, the feelings and emotions rise until they explode the the final scene. Scenes take place in the evening for coolness, dark of the night. Night is place where you can release your desires, normally between a couple. Something that is personal. In this play those desires cannot be released as the characters spend most of their time together, so have to continually push it away.

It is a whole society, no privacy. The stage directions communicate all of the sensations to the audience.

Multi-cultural society, music, color, places.
Soundtrack to the play is an undercurrent of music, dialogue, characters.

Before the main characters come on, you still get a real sense of atmosphere.

Mains characters are instantly introduced with links to money, love, relationships. Lots of movement until Blanche arrives, a more static, quiet movement. Obviously doesn't fit in, apparent throughout the play. Very visible by her attire and expression that she is vulnerable. Her white clothing and pale appearance gives a strong link to a moth, something delicate.

Scene four notes.

Fourth scene runs on from previous scene. The following morning. Keeping the confusion from 'the night before' all the sounds, lighting, dialogue combined together to give the message that life goes on.
Not only for Stanley and Stella but also for Blanche.
Blanche is still holding on in her own way.
What is the tragedy? That she survives? That she keeps going? Is it her own personal one?
Some critics say it's a tragedy of unfulfilled desire.
Key word in scene for 'Desire'

Idea of the moth, 'if only my mind would function' contrast between what the mind would do and the emotions. Still holding on to the dream that she will find 'Shep Huntleigh' and have her happy ending.

Shep Huntleigh, fictional character. We see that is a fantasy land. Giving us the difference between fantasy and reality. Audience doesn't think he exists, but her husband who died does.

Stella: You saw him at his worst last night
Blanche: On the contrary, I saw him at his best! What such a man has to offer is animal force and he gave a wonderful exhibition of that! But the only way to live with such a man is to go to bed with him, and that's your job not mine.

Blanche is giving us a lesson on how to live with a man, when he is like Stanley then that's all you can do, is sleep with him.
Blanche refers to it as a job, not a role. Linking is back to Money.

Climax of scene four, continuing the whole past and present, man and animal context.
'Bestial' a man who will live with emotions explicitly out there. Blanche admires the new American vitality of the men.

She conflicts the stone age idea with the modern idea. To do with acceptance. Stella has accepted her role, while Blanche still hasn't found that within a relationship.

Sound of the trains passing is commented on a lot, sexual symbol.

'Flag' confederate flag of the southern states, still flown.
New way of identifying ourselves, flag is a representation of how we see ourselves. Idea of tenderer feelings, what Tennessee Williams' wants to happen-development of feelings. Feelings are permitted.

Scene Three notes

The poker game.

The poker game is masculinity, male, violent, strong.
Speech that people worry about, Steve is dealing a hand, telling a joke. Williams' is making a point that the men are joking about sex, joking about chasing sex then changing their mind at the sight of food. Priority's. The priority of sex over anything, what is the priority in each situation
Linked to male rivalry.

When Mitch first encounters Blanche, Blanche really plays up the flirtation of the line 'the little boys room is busy.'
Mitch is reliable, represents some kind of stability for Blanche.
Blanche uses the old fashioned word 'gallantry' old fashioned flirting/courting. Old world style.

Vivian Leigh was in Gone with the wind and Streetcar, echo, clash of timing is a defining way of looking at the play. 'New America' something Blanche can't keep up with.

Poker game explodes in violence, clash of masculine egos and values. The way they express things (Stanley's violence, their aggressive relationship) something Blanche can't relate with. Stanley is not an old fashioned romantic.