Fish_out_of_water_English_Review_Feb_24__1_

Defined in Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949).
Monomyth Structure: three-part structure - separation, initiation, return.
A character leaves their everyday life for a fantasy realm facing supernatural forces.
Return leads to personal transformation.
Trope illustrated in fables like The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse and Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo.

This article contrasts comedic and tragic uses of the fish-out-of-water trope in:
- She Stoops to Conquer (1773)
- A Streetcar Named Desire (1947)
Both genres reveal aspects of the protagonists and their self-discovery in unfamiliar settings.

Represents typical fish-out-of-water journey through comedy.
Theme of Self-Discovery: Marlow encounters the country culture as a stereotypical city slicker.
Plot relies on trickery by characters:
- Marlow’s assumption he would be deceived by a country girl is overturned.
The country vs. city cultures serve as a foundation for comedic chaos.
Class and Gender: Themes explored through the interactions and mistaken identities of characters.

At first glance, Marlow appears foolish due to his prejudices and class snobbery.
His Hubris: Believes he is superior; gets humbled.
Despite comedic elements, deeper psychological truths are implied: discomfort with social interactions.

Marlow's relationship with Kate exemplifies deception in comedy: their marriage symbolizes social bridging.
Kate is savvy and ambitious, subverting traditional gender roles - retains an upper hand in their dynamic.
Goldsmith's techniques draw attention to class tensions in a comedic context.

Structured similarly to Chekhov’s work, focusing on the destruction of old social orders.
Character Arrival: Blanche's incongruity in a working-class setting illustrates her outsider status.
Blanche grapples with her fading genteel status, portrayed as out-of-touch with her environment.

Blanche’s upbringing clashes with Stanley’s modernity and materialism.
Belle Reve: Represents lost aristocracy; contrasts with Stanley’s practical view of the world.
Critics interpret Blanche as emblematic of lost antiquated Southern grandeur, facing inevitable decline.

Blanche experiences an ultimate decline resulting from cultural incompatibility, highlighting her tragic status.
Cultural Conflict: Each character reflects and defends their cultural values in a new environment, leading to dramatic tension.
Marlow learns little from his experience, while Blanche confronts devastating truths about herself.

Both characters undergo cultural clashes; however, marlow's story ends with comedy, while Blanche’s ends in tragedy.
Anagnorisis: Blanche's moments of self-realization highlight the difference in outcomes between the characters from both plays.
The struggles serve as reflections on class, culture, and gender during their respective time periods.

Anagnorisis: Moment of recognition by a character of an important truth about themselves or others.

Articles and critiques referenced throughout provide insights and various interpretations of both plays, relating to themes of the fish-out-of-water motif and character development.
Works cited:
- Billington, M. (2012) Review of She Stoops to Conquer, Guardian
- Churchwell, S. (2022) The Wrath to Come: Gone with the Wind and the Lies America Tells
- Hemming, S. (2012) Review of She Stoops to Conquer, Financial Times
- Smith-Howard, A. and Heintzelman, G. (2005) Critical Companion to Tennessee Williams

Notes prepared by Nicola Onyett, senior examiner for A-level English.