In At Least Two Works That You Have Studied
In at least two works that you have studied, discuss the use of minor characters in either supporting or undermining what appear to be the goals of the protagonist.
Throughout the two plays, Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, the minor characters play an important role in supporting or undermining the goals of the protagonist. In this case, in the Streetcar Named Desire, Mitch is the minor character that supports the goals of the protagonist, Blanche DuBois. However, in The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Bracknell is the minor character that undermines the goals of the protagonist, Jack Worthing.
In the Streetcar Named Desire, the protagonist, Blanche DuBois’ main goal is to make up her own illusionary world to escape the reality. “I don’t want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes magic! I try to give that to people”. Since Blanche is so delusional and needs to escape the reality of her having nobody and being aware of her slowly fading youth, she needs someone that can hide the truth of the reality. Not only does she want it for her self, she wants other people to escape with her, such as Mitch.
To support her escaping of reality, Mitch comes around. In the presence of Mitch, she is able to be happy, as she is now being able to hide her truth. Williams chooses to use a minor character such as Mitch as he is very much like Blanche, in the sense that he is very lonely and wanting to be with someone, regardless of who it is in order to avoid and to keep themselves distracted from their previous emotional pains. “You need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it be you and me, Blanche?” This emphasizes Mitch and Blanche’s neediness to be with someone as long as they are not lonely and are distracted from the happenings of the past.
It is made clear that Mitch is just a source of Blanche’s escape. Him being so vulnerable and in the similar situation as Blanche makes it easier for her to get to him.
Throughout the two plays, Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, the minor characters play an important role in supporting or undermining the goals of the protagonist. In this case, in the Streetcar Named Desire, Mitch is the minor character that supports the goals of the protagonist, Blanche DuBois. However, in The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Bracknell is the minor character that undermines the goals of the protagonist, Jack Worthing.
In the Streetcar Named Desire, the protagonist, Blanche DuBois’ main goal is to make up her own illusionary world to escape the reality. “I don’t want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes magic! I try to give that to people”. Since Blanche is so delusional and needs to escape the reality of her having nobody and being aware of her slowly fading youth, she needs someone that can hide the truth of the reality. Not only does she want it for her self, she wants other people to escape with her, such as Mitch.
To support her escaping of reality, Mitch comes around. In the presence of Mitch, she is able to be happy, as she is now being able to hide her truth. Williams chooses to use a minor character such as Mitch as he is very much like Blanche, in the sense that he is very lonely and wanting to be with someone, regardless of who it is in order to avoid and to keep themselves distracted from their previous emotional pains. “You need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it be you and me, Blanche?” This emphasizes Mitch and Blanche’s neediness to be with someone as long as they are not lonely and are distracted from the happenings of the past.
It is made clear that Mitch is just a source of Blanche’s escape. Him being so vulnerable and in the similar situation as Blanche makes it easier for her to get to him.