Searching for American Identity in the 40
Elizabeth Bishop's poem The Fish and Tennessee Williams's story Portrait of a Madonna both were written in a time of anxiety and fear within America. These both identify with what was happening within American society at the time. Each story portrays a search for identity within a nation of idealistic values on society. Portrait of a Madonna is a story of Southern Belle who loses her sanity due to her upbringing within society. Her strict upbringing has left her totally unprepared for life. Being raised under a strong Christian influence has resulted in leaving her with a shadow of the church haunting her. She is trapped by her Christian idealism and left as an unmarried daughter taking care of her elderly mother. Due to Miss Collins pension checks no longer coming, her church pays for her rent each month. The failure of religion has resulted in her denied pleasures, and she begins to have paranoid rape fantasies. When matters get worse for Miss Collins her landlord, Mr. Abrams, is forced to call the state asylum to take her away. In The Fish an amateur fisher catches a fish that has been caught many other times. The fisher takes sympathy on the old fish because of its incredible aged appearance and its vulnerabili
The 1940's greatly affected the American society with anxiety and fear of the unknown after the country was no longer in war. Americans were vulnerable and battered from the many years of war. Like medals with their ribbonsFrayed and wavering, A five-haired beard of wisdomTrailed from his aching jaw. When the narrator wrote, "battered and vulnerable," I believe that she was relating to the fish. I believe that she does this because she can identify with the fish. America was now a superpower and this brought on the issue of identity. Portrait of a Madonna puts a twist on Miss Collins being cast out of society. Could this story be showing us that her destruction could have been prevented if she had not been placed in a strict role within society? The Fish provides another view of one's struggle for identity at this time in America. The author, Elizabeth Bishop, gives us great detail on this fish's appearance. The description of the fish can be compared to that of a soldier during this time. Literature and film during this time produced many works of dark psychological moods and anti-social criminal schemes. This had a lot to do with WWII and America's search for identity. The poem was written during a time when there was technological advancement because of war. When this poem was written America had just gotten out of war and the country was uneasy.
Common topics in this essay:
Miss Collins,
Elizabeth Bishop,
Portrait Madonna,
Southern Belle,
American Literature,
WWII America's,
miss collins,
portrait madonna,
Elizabeth Bishop's,
search identity,
Tennessee Williams's,
role society,
anxiety fear,
society portrait madonna,
american society,
ridiculous stories,
landlord abrams,
perfect lady,
society portrait,
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Acceptance Essays
