Denial In Streetcar Named Desire And Long Days Essay

“Drama has to do with both conflicts and denials”. How have dramatists in your study used either of these or both together, to create plays that provoke OR interest OR disturb the audience?

Conflict and denial both play prominent roles in Williams’ Streetcar named Desire (SND) and O’neil’s Long Days Journey into Night (LDJ) and the two themes are manipulated to disturb the audience or to grab their attention. The constant arguments and conflict between the characters in LDJ circle around the topics of the past, alcohol and addiction make up the plot of the play, which in essence grab the audience’s attention leading them to want to read on. The denial of the problems that are at the root of the conflict also instills a sense of disturbance in the audience. Similarly in SND, the conflict between Blanche and Stanley as well as Blanche’s denials and lies throughout the play have a similar affect on the audience. The writer’s craft, use of stage directions, music as well as recurring motifs also add to the build up of interest as well as disturbance with the constant reference to the polka in SND and the motif of fog in LDJ.  

There is conflict present from the very beginning of SND between Stella and her sister Blanche who had just left her house in Belle Reeve to stay with Stella. Blanche blames her sister for leaving her alone to take care of things herself in Belle Reeve which is emphasized by the short sentences used when she says ‘I let the place go! Where were you! In bed with your –Polack!’. The repeated exclamations also further reiterate her feelings of betrayal and loneliness caused by Stella’s absence in her life when she left their home. ‘Polak’ refers to Stanley and his mention here foreshadows the conflict soon to follow between Blanche and him. At this moment in time, the audience is unaware about what happened in Belle Reeve, which interests them and leads them to read further on.

The tension and conflict between Blanche and Stanley is due to...