“ Faces of Madness ” Romantic Love and Class: An American Version in 1950 ’ s

Outline Plot Questions Class and Romance William ’ s Romance William ’ s Romance The Mother ’ s The Mother ’ s Class & Gender Inequality in Romance Class & Gender Inequality Conclusion Next Time

Plot Beginning: William introduced – his name, family, love of music and hatred of policeman; (1-4) Middle: A. Love and Consequences 1. Jean and William in love; (4- 5) exclusivity and poetry writing; 2. Pregnancy and W ’ s & the parents ’ responses (5- 10) – the money issue and “ morality ” 3. W ’ s mother ’ s intervention (9 - ) vs. the two ’ s feeble attempts at communication 4. Aftermath – Jean sent to her aunt ’ s and William to Nassau (an island in the Caribbean) and then back to school

Plot Middle: B Revelation & Search (16-) Harvey vs. Bill; Found: Coralee; Ending: the wedding and Jean

Questions What comes in the way of the two lovers? What role does class play in it? Who are mad in the story? And who are victims of their own ‘ romance ’ ? Can we do a psychoanalytic reading of this story?

Class & Romance: William, Jean & their Families W – spoiled and isolated – brought up with pets, a car and romantic ideas from opera music (2); -- rebellious (3) and thought everything easy (6) W ’ s family ’ s responses – protective and hypocritical; Jean ’ s family ’ s responses – impressed by W (6); practical and moralistic (6-7) The two families ’ prejudices against each other: “ ordinary people ” pp. 4; 10.

William ’ s Romance Believes in the love stories in the opera: p. 2;  His relationship with Jean:  Elements of romance; p. 4  a means to transcend the banal environment;  music as a supplement p. 5;  Changed by and obedient to his parents (p. 8, 15)  unable to be a romantic hero under the window; p. 12  success and disengagement; (15-16)  revelation  madness for love

William ’ s Romance  his final quest for romance  (in contrast to Harvey): Harvey 21 sees W as his meal ticket  W – the far-off look (21--22), lonely, changing the events in his talk 23  Harvey – aims at success 23; get W ‘ girls ’ 23  His final romance p. 25  Coralee – not really Jean, but seemingly rescued by W p.29  Wedding – the “ most touching one ” according to the minister  Harvey ’ s responses 29, 32  Jean ’ s appearance – the one not mad, but completely destroyed

The Mother ’ s Intervention (1): The Unconscious Desire of the Mother? Why does she try to stop the youngsters from loving? (11) Precarious experience of “ romance ” as a heroic mother through the letter writing p. 11; Self-justification: Jean isn ’ t good enough (11) Checking the mails regularly to still have the experience vicariously Does not believe in suicide (or romance)

The Mother ’ s Intervention: class and gender inequality Her letters: breaking all the rules of romance: Class difference shown: Antagonizing the youngsters by having them talk about each other ’ s parents and accusing each other; (9, 14) the girl accusing W, with all the practical concerns of money and child birth; (14)

Conclusion Romance constructed with the help of class, cultural products such as opera; strengthened by the rituals as well as family objection and social constraints (e.g. the policeman); destroyed by families who represent class discrimination and strict morality reborn with illusion and a dumb girl. The woman shoulders the blame and consequences alone.

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