The Struggle in Tennessee William’s This Property is Condemned
Abandoned. Struggling. These words can be used to describe children who have been so unfortunate as to live in unhealthy homes or traumatic situations. They are often overlooked and forgotten—left to figure things out on their own. Child abuse, including neglect and abandonment, is recognized as a major social problem. Though there are no exact records of the number of incidences involving child abuse and neglect, in 2000 there were nearly 3 million allegations involving around 5 million children (Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia). This sadly common situation of one young girl is highlighted in the Tennessee William’s play This Property is Condemned. A simple conversation …show more content…
During the course of the play, both Tom and Willie mention the white sky and how “it’s white as a clean piece of paper” (Williams 1085). The color white is associated with purity. When Willie mentions how beautiful the white sky is, how it has “been swept off with a broom,” she is talking about her purity and innocence. How beautiful it would be—how much she would like to have it back. Similarly, the conversation between the two about where Willie lives contains a deeper …show more content…
Tom: By yourself?
Willie: Uh-huh. I’m not supposed to be but I am. The property is condemned but there’s nothing wrong with it (Williams 1088).
Willie is not simply talking about the house she lives in—she is talking about herself. She has been condemned by society, but there is nothing wrong with her. All of these symbols point to the fact that Willie just wants a second chance—she would like to live differently. The problem is, this is the only life she has lived. Everything she knows, all of her “social training” came from Alva (Williams 1085). Willie is trapped in a cycle from which she has no idea how to escape. She even goes so far as to say that things will go on as they are until she, like Alva, dies of “lung affection” and someone else takes her beaux (Williams 1090). Just like her eternal game of walking the tracks, Willie is stuck in her way of life—doing her best but still falling—unless she can “break some kind of continuous record” (Williams 1090). Then maybe she will have a
Abandoned. Struggling. These words can be used to describe children who have been so unfortunate as to live in unhealthy homes or traumatic situations. They are often overlooked and forgotten—left to figure things out on their own. Child abuse, including neglect and abandonment, is recognized as a major social problem. Though there are no exact records of the number of incidences involving child abuse and neglect, in 2000 there were nearly 3 million allegations involving around 5 million children (Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia). This sadly common situation of one young girl is highlighted in the Tennessee William’s play This Property is Condemned. A simple conversation …show more content…
During the course of the play, both Tom and Willie mention the white sky and how “it’s white as a clean piece of paper” (Williams 1085). The color white is associated with purity. When Willie mentions how beautiful the white sky is, how it has “been swept off with a broom,” she is talking about her purity and innocence. How beautiful it would be—how much she would like to have it back. Similarly, the conversation between the two about where Willie lives contains a deeper …show more content…
Tom: By yourself?
Willie: Uh-huh. I’m not supposed to be but I am. The property is condemned but there’s nothing wrong with it (Williams 1088).
Willie is not simply talking about the house she lives in—she is talking about herself. She has been condemned by society, but there is nothing wrong with her. All of these symbols point to the fact that Willie just wants a second chance—she would like to live differently. The problem is, this is the only life she has lived. Everything she knows, all of her “social training” came from Alva (Williams 1085). Willie is trapped in a cycle from which she has no idea how to escape. She even goes so far as to say that things will go on as they are until she, like Alva, dies of “lung affection” and someone else takes her beaux (Williams 1090). Just like her eternal game of walking the tracks, Willie is stuck in her way of life—doing her best but still falling—unless she can “break some kind of continuous record” (Williams 1090). Then maybe she will have a