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Elizabeth Tuttle
Jensen
AP Lit 12/P-3
20 Jan. 2011
A Streetcar Name Desire Literary Criticism
This article, written by Susan Rusinko, is basically a summary of the play A Streetcar
Named Desire. Along with a summary, the article contains analysis about literary elements that
Tennessee Williams uses in his play as well as views from Rusinko about the play and the way it
was written. The author does a good job of explaining who each of the characters are and the
main plot/problems of the story in a brief summary. Rusinko manages to fit many important
details into just a couple of paragraphs. Rusinko also goes into great detail about the symbols
that Williams uses throughout his play. The play's strongest effects can be found in Williams's
use of language and in the many symbols (Rusinko). Rusinko goes in to detail about the symbols
of candles that Williams uses in both A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie. The
candles somehow illuminate what the characters in the story have been through, the trials they've
gone through and overcome. Rusinko also gives specific examples of where this is located
throughout the text. The author does not seem to show any biased opinions or assumptions.
There just seems to be stated facts about the text and summaries. There are not really any biased
statements anywhere throughout the piece of work. But all of the statements that are given, are
supported well. Rusinko does a good job of using evidence from the actual play or scenarios
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from the play to support the argument of the paper. The conclusions made by Rusinko in this
article are that both A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie share similar
characteristics and styles of writing. Williams uses the same symbols in both plays and he also
uses the same situations in both. Both plays have bad scenarios and negative issues. But in the
end the characters overcome their trials.

Argument: In A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams portrays the role of women as a traditional house wife. Williams does this in order to teach women who read the play how they should act and what a women should be doing and the role they should take on as a women.

Evidence: "Blanche soaks in a tub to keep herself dainty"
"Blanche is a gentlewoman-refined, fragile, sensitive. Her sexual
purity, like her jewelry."
"A lady doesn't work."

Thoughts: All of the evidence is from a literary criticism that shows how Williams portrays women in his plays. Blanche is a traditional woman, she is fragile and sensitive. The quote "a lady doesn't work" is how Williams wants women to think of themselves. He believes that a traditional women should stay at home rather than go out and get a job.

http://go.galegroup.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=LitRC&userGroupName=chandler_main&tabID=T001&searchId=R2&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=6&contentSet=GALE|H1420008690&&docId=GALE|H1420008690&docType=GALE&role=LitRC

The Glass Menagerie Literary Criticism
This article basically summarizes the play, The Glass Menagerie. While summarizing the play, the author also includes a lot of character analysis as well as literary elements that Tennessee Williams uses throughout the play. Rusinko, the author of the literary criticism, begins by explaining how Williams introduces the play to the audience. He "suspends the audience of his interplay between reality and illusion" (Rusinko). This is how Williams also portrays the character Tom throughout the play. Williams also uses paradox to explain the way Tom narrates the play, he narrates from an observing perspective as well as first person being part of the story. Williams also uses multiple symbols throughout his play. One symbol that he uses is a photograph in the home, it represents the economic status of the family. Another symbol in the play is candles, which is also used as a symbol in the play A Streetcar Named Desire. The evidence Rusinko uses in this criticism backs up what she is trying to explain, there are concrete examples from the play that are used and there are explanations which follow. The author does a good job of not importing bias beliefs into the criticism, Rusinko is casually talking about the play and the style in which Williams writes. The author is well organized when talking about the play, the events that are talked about seem to be presented in chronological order so the reader can easily follow. At the end of the criticism, Rusinko wraps up the criticism by comparing Williams' style and techniques to another author Bertolt Brecht.