Literature often reflects destruction with little room for redemption. Compare and contrast two of the texts you have studied in light of this comment.

Ian McEwan and Tennessee Williams weave the theme destruction into the novels ‘Atonement’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ by portraying the influence of class and wealth and the injustice it causes. The identity crisis that the main characters, Briony and Blanche face creates a future filled with chaos in the novels thus leaving little room for redemption due to their inability to fix what they have destroyed.

In the texts ‘Atonement’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, the class system in both time periods are a means for the destruction of the characters bound by socio-economic boundaries. In ‘Atonement’, Ian McEwan sets out to portray the overwhelming influence of the upper class on perception, seen in the arrest of Robbie for allegedly raping of Lola. Similarly, in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, Tennessee Williams alienates Blanche from the rest of the characters by having her enforce her aristocratic values upon the New American characters in the play and in doing so, condemns herself to her own destruction. McEwan’s portrayal of class in ‘Atonement’ plays an important role in perception as in the 1930s, the Great Depression period, wealth was a symbol of power and therefore protected the wealthy from scandal, much like it did Paul Marshall. The revelation that Paul Marshall was the rapist serves as a testament to the fact that class was vital before and during wartime England as it ensured Marshall’s reputation was intact whilst Robbie was fated to a life of misery and pain leading to his early death. Through the association of Robbie with words such as “maniac” and “wild” and Marshall with words “artful” and “cigarettes”, McEwan creates the preconception that Robbie is untrustworthy and more prone to commit rape. Brian Finney comments that “McEwan subtly suggests the invidious nature of a class system that permeates even those seeking to reverse its effects” which is true as Robbie sets out to climb the social ladder by attending Cambridge University and speaking “like a toff”. However, his origin as a lower-class man blinds the upper class from his loyalty thus destroying his future. Williams, by portraying Stanley and Blanche through each other’s perspectives, catalyses the tension between these characters. Blanche’s use of “animal…Polack…caveman” to describe Stanley degradingly allows her to intellectually triumph Stanley. Stanley attempts to reciprocate this hostility by insulting her lack of class in Scene Five when he accuses of her being seen in “Hotel Flamingo” and using “cheap perfume”. Despite his efforts to offend her appearance and class, Blanche triumphs and Stanley resorts to his physicality to gain power amongst his friends and wife, eventually raping Blanche to put an end to their conflict. In this text, class acts as a catalyst to intensify the power struggle between Stanley and Blanche and allows Stanley to exploit her promiscuous past and threaten her identity as a Southern Belle which eventually leads to Blanche descending into her fantasy world. The portrayal of class in ‘Atonement’ creates conflict as the upper class Tallis family turns against Robbie whose lower class makes him a target for exploitation. Through Briony we first perceive Robbie as a “maniac” as he is described as “huge and wild against Cecilia…who looked at Briony with terrified eyes”. Robbie’s recollection of events in the library are at a stark contrast as it is of a romantic manner, however the police believe Briony due to her class. Similarly, in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, increasing antagonism between Stanley and Blanche is developed through their appearances, Blanche wearing the red satin robe and appearing stereotypically feminine whilst Stanley is portrayed as a ruffian, constantly aggravating Blanche. John Gassner states that “Blanche’s previous life is nothing but a representation of a decayed society, one that has become extinct because of its refusal to adjust to modern times” which is true as her failed attempts to re-establish her identity as a Southern Belle in New Orleans, resulting in her mental and physical destruction. It can be seen as a commentary on the dying Southern Belle lifestyle and its struggle to survive against the New American lifestyle. As Blanche rejects the New American way of life, she leaves little room for her to redeem herself for the sins she has committed. In the same vein, Briony’s destruction is a consequence of her need to understand and be a part of adulthood, to think that she is in control when she is in fact not. This dangerous trait that Briony has is proven to be toxic in an environment so heavily dependent on class and reputation which leads to the destruction of Robbie and Cecilia’s futures. Hence, from these two texts, class is seen to alienate a certain character and thus cause conflict between the other characters in the texts as they seek to destroy this outsider; Briony’s vendetta against Robbie and Stanley’s struggle against Blanche both are concluded by both minorities being destroyed with little room left for redemption for Briony and Stanley. Although Briony sets out to rewrite her past in fiction, she does not succeed in atoning for her sin and thus her attempts are futile. Stanley however, does not feel the need to atone as the patriarchal society that ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ is set in allows him to continue without regret, although he has lost respect from his friends and wife and his reign over the Kowalski household has come to a destructive end.