Blog Post 3 topic 3

The dictionary definition of insanity limits “insanity” to the confinements of mental illness when some actions/events may be perceived as insane and not related to mental illness. To an observer certain actions could be insane because of differences in their cultural and societal upbringing. Some cultures found it normal to whip and beat people who they thought deserved too, now this action would seem insane. Each culture has deemed a normal that one may not agree with, depending on that normal, it justifies insanity.      

Blanche was raised as a southern belle, who was accustomed to a high social living. She lived in a nice home and had valuable assets, although her family lost Belle Reve her norms stayed with her. When she went to Stella’s home she was appalled that her sister was living in such conditions, “I thought you would never come back to the horrible place,” they grew up in a nice home, therefore this place is not up to their customs. Blanche wants to get her sister out of this place because she believes her sister deserves better. Therefore, the way she talks about the place and belittles people is because of her social standing. Blanche’s response to the way her sister is living and to whom she is with is rationale because Stella has downgraded. Women of their status are not to be with men that are “savage” like, rather with men who are gentlemen and of good social standing. Blanche is not used to seeing her sister being beaten or seeing her live in such small quarters. For Blanche, this is not ordinary, therefore her reaction to wanting to keep Stella safe is rationale. Blanche does not want to accept the reality of having lost all her money, so she pretends to still be part of the world she once belonged too.

Blanche is a romantic because of the way she was brought up, she grew up in a fantasy world, a world of love and desire. When Blanche found her husband with a man who they both knew, it broke her. Blanche was in love with her husband and she believed he loved her back, so when her husband turns out to have been lying, it crushes her fantasy. Blanche cannot comprehend what is happening so her actions seem to be insane. Blanche’s need to have love and be in love, leads her to sleep with other men. This might seem as her going off the wagon, but this is Blanche’s way of grieving or her way of trying to find love. Blanche wants affection because she wants to be taken care of and have someone to live her fantasy with. Because of this, Blanche has a relationship with one of her students. One may see this as insane because she is his teacher, however for Blanche, it was someone she could share her affection with, he gave her the time and “love” she desired. Blanche lies about having a boyfriend because she wants to seem like she is living in a perfect world. Blanche does not want to admit that she is alone because that means being realistic. Realism damages her because Blanche has completely lost it all and her way of protecting herself is by lying about what she has been doing. Her living in a fantasy world is her way of dealing with her ungrateful events.

             

Blanches upbringing has caused her to seem insane because she is not willing to conform with the realities of life. Blanche does not agree with Stella’s choice of living and makes a big deal of it because she is not accustomed to the ways of lower status people. Because of this she seems insane in people eyes, because she acts as a person of higher status, although she has lost everything and is living in Stella’s home. Blanch, sleeping with a lot of men is not insane considering her poor luck in love. Blanche’s desire to find affection leads her to take drastic measure.