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Chapter V Symbols and Techniques CHAPTER V SYMBOLS AND TECHNIQUES Although the main focus of discussion in the present study remains on the themes, the striking parallels are also found with respect to other aspects of drama, such as, symbols and techniques. Therefore it would be legitimate to discuss these aspects in the purview of the study. The aspect of use of symbols will be discussed first. The second half of this chapter will deal with the techniques used by all the four playwrights as well as the parallels between them. Tennessee Williams' plays are fiill of symbols. He makes use of a variety of symbols from mythology, religion, physical and biological sciences. He also alludes to current affairs. Most of the times, the titles of the plays, names of places and characters are highly symbolic. Coming to the names of places, the entrance of Tom's apartment is through a fire escape, the name of the club behind their building is Paradise Dance Hall. He terms all the Americans blind by refemng to their use of Braille alphabet. The devastation in Spain has been symbolized through 'Guernica'. Blue Mountain symbolizes Amanda's glorious past and youth. Apart from these names the title The Glass Menagerie and a unicorn symbolize Laura's life-style and her character respectively. The glass animals stand for her companions in her world of illusion, the unicorn stands for Laura which is unusual like Laura. The glass menagerie also symbolizes transparency, frailty, and dependence on outside source of light to shine brightly. The unicorn stands for something unusual and abnormal. When the horn gets broken accidentally while dancing with Jim, she comments that it has turned normal like other animals. 'Blue Roses', the name used by Jim for her since their school-days also represent something unusual, rare and unique. Mr. Wingfield's photograph where he looks very handsome and is smiling gallantly suggests his carefree and 'happy go lucky' nature. It suggests that this man is far away from worries and anxieties and can go on smiling forever. 507- Amanda's saying grace at the dining table and her insistence on table manners symbolize her Victorian culture and puritan upbringing. There are some more indications of the religious overtones in the play. Jim, the gentleman caller for Laura, visits the Wingfields on a Friday evening which naturally reminds of Good Friday. His very name is close to that of Jesus. He functions like a savior for her. He brings her out of the darkness of her inferiority complex. She shades her shyness and nervousness in his company. However, immediately after this, it is Laura who has to undergo the pain and the agony of sacrificing her hopes, the crucifixion after Jim's revelation of his being already engaged. Amanda's mantra of 'rise and shine' indicates her faith in the myth of the 'American Dream'. She is highly pleased with Jim's way of thinking as he too believes in it. It is clear from his taking the classes in public speaking and radio engineering. Apart from the title of the play A Streetcar Named Desire, there are many other names of the places and persons which are also symbolic. The name of the other public transport bus is 'Cemeteries'. The locality where Stella stays is not a posh locality. But its name is Elysian Fields. It may be true for Stella where she finds the heavenly pleasure with her husband, Stanley. The names of the major characters are also suggestive of their persons. Stella is a 'star' for Stanley, as well as, Blanche, her elder sister. Blanche means a white moth whose life is very transitory. A moth gets attracted towards a flame and gets singed. Moths look bright only with the help of outside source of light. All these features fit appropriately to Blanche. Stanley is associated with the Stone-Age. Stanley's character is rock-like in many senses. He has provide4d a firm support to Stella. He is rough and solid built. He is stone- hearted when his attitude and treatment to Blanche is concerned. He doesn't betray any signs of tenderness to her. He is a 'down-to-earth' personality. His animal like character is seen in his passionate responses to Stella and others. His throwing a packet of raw- -508 meat towards Stella or his act of the radio-set in a fit of anger indicates the traits of a wild animal. Just like Amanda's repeated allusion to 'seventeen gentleman callers on one Sunday evening', to emphasise her popularity, a parallel is found in Blanche's frequent reference to a millionaire, Shep Huntleigh. He is the hero of her world of fantasy. Her resentment for bright light, obsession for paper lanterns, her frequent baths to soothe her nerves are also symbolic of her character. She is afraid to face the stark realities in clear light especially related to her ageing. Moon Lake, moon light and paper moon, sliver slipper of the moon are the recurring symbols observed in most of the Williams' plays. When Blanche's falsity is exposed to Mitch whom she was going to marry, he plainly refuses to marry her. She is utterly distressed to find her last hope fading away. On this background, the hollering by a Mexican blind woman outside, is heard, ''Flores. Flores Para los muertos." She is selling artificial flowers for the dead which suggests the tragic end of Blanche's hopes. Orpheus Descending is also rich in symbols. It is rather packed with symbols than any other play by T. Williams. Its mythical and religious symbolism has already been discussed in Chapter IV. Besides them there are many other symbols, such as, Val's guitar which is obviously a phallic symbol. His snakeskin jacket suggests a variety of things. It suggests rejuvenation or rebirth after shading the old skin. After his purgation and purification Val is supposed to be reborn. It also hints at his wild nature and wanderer's life-style. But his accepting a blue business suit refers to his willingness to be tamed. It also indicates his bonding with Lady in an 'employer-employee' relationship and then love relationship. After Val's tragic end, the snake-skin jacket rightly passes to Carol Cutrere, from one wanderer to another. Jabe Torrance's cancer stands for his malice against Lady and her father. It also symbolizes the cancer of pride, arrogance, hatred and evil throughout the society. Papa Romano's orchard and Lady's confectionary both are symbolic of the Garden of Eden. It symbolises irmocence and virginity which get destroyed by the evil forces. The -509 confectionary suggests resurrection of purity and innocence and also the victory of life over death. Unfortunately, the victory is short lived. Many of William's characters suffer from and die of cancer, besides Jabe Torrance, such as Big Daddy and Flora Goforth etc. In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Margaret is the cat whose desperation has been suggested through the title. She is ready to do anything to win back her man's love. Her heat and vitality has been contrasted with Brick's cool, detached and isolated attitude through the symbol of moon. His alcoholism and his crutch stand for his emotional and physical crippledness. The people who love him try to snatch away his crutch and make him stand on his feet. His real crippling factor is his illusion about his relationship with his friend Skipper. He is not ready to accept the truth despite Skipper's confession about it. His frank discussion on this issue with his dying father brings hope of elimination of this crutch, at least to provide solace to his dear father. The symbols of Baby Doll are mainly related to the decay and degeneration of the old order and the rise of a new healthy promising order. There are also symbols related to discord and harmony between the sexes, represented by the couple, Archie Lee and Baby Doll. Vice and virtue, has been juxtaposed through the characters of Archie Lee and Silva Vacarro. Same is true about refinement and savagery. Ironically, true refinement has been observed not with the proud Southerner, Archie Lee, but with the 'wop', Silva Vacarro who treats Baby Doll and the old Aunt in a true chivalrous manner whereas Archie Lee arm or to slap her in public as a punishment. When it happens in Vacarro's presence, he comes forward to protect her. The unkempt yard, the dilapidated house with the bare interior, the filthy kitchen and sink, the old car and the outdated machinery in the gin stand for disorder, chaos and carelessness. Everything is on the verge of breaking down just Uke Archie Lee's gin and his marriage. It is highly symbolic that the gin resumes fiinctioning smoothly after Vacarro replaces a new saw-cylinder. It applies to Archie Lee's marriage too where he is replaced by Vacarro. -510 Baby Doll's name suggests her child-like innocence, her immaturity and her virgin status. Same is true about her nursery and her sleeping in a crib. Silva Vacarro's clenching Baby Doll's thirst with the spring water and sharing a pecan nut with her cracked in his mouth suggests his leading her towards the path of knowledge, the pecan nut hinting at the 'fruit of knowledge'. Silva Vacarro's game of 'hide and seek' with Baby Doll symbolizes his technique of getting a testimony, keeping the person in the dark. Her making him sleep in the crib like child, patting his head affectionately and singing a lullaby to him indicates both, her affection for him as man and also as a baby.
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