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

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) 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 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?

William, Jean & their Families W – brought up with pets, a car and opera music; -- rebellious 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 The two families ’ prejudices against each other: 1. “ ordinary people ” 4; p. 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;  Obedient to his parents  unable to be a romantic hero under the window; p. 12  success and disengagement;  his final romance p. 25  (in contrast to Harvey). pp. 22, 23;

The Mother ’ s Romance Precarious experience through the letters p. 11; Her letters: breaking all the rules of romance: Class difference shown: Antagonizing the youngsters by having them criticize each other ’ s parents; the girl accusing W, with all the practical concerns of money and child birth; Gender inequality shown: William finding his true love. Jean complaining about being burdened with child birth.