The Catastrophe of Success Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does a 'national myth' mean?

It's a story passed down through generations

It's true and everyone believes it

It's fake, and everyone knows what it really is (correct)

It's a commonly accepted reality

The Cinderella story is our favorite national myth.

True

Laura/__________; Amanda/ _; Jim/; glass menagerie/ ________________

Cinderella, Wicked Step-Mother, Prince, glass slipper

What is the main difference between TGM and Cinderella?

Cinderella ends 'happily ever after' while TGM does not because it's realistic. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of TW writing the 'Catastrophe of Success'?

To show how to survive the catastrophe of success. Signup and view all the answers

Through the 'Catastrophe of Success', TW tries to prove that the whole idea of success is an ____________.

Illusion Signup and view all the answers

Why is Cinderella considered 'the cornerstone of the film industry'?

It represents themes of women being saved by men and happy endings. Signup and view all the answers

As Americans, we think that people have 'made it' when they achieve what?

Monetary success or fame. Signup and view all the answers

What was TW's life before TGM?

He had to work for everything he had, nothing was given to him. Signup and view all the answers

Why does TW say that 'it was the sort of thing for which human organisms are created'?

He believes we are meant to work and struggle. Signup and view all the answers

What was the letdown after TW achieved 'security'?

He was suddenly very depressed and fame wasn't what he thought it would be. Signup and view all the answers

How does the 'American plan of Olympus' correlate to the 'American Dream' of the 21st century?

Both see financial wealth as a marker of success, alongside happiness and peace. Signup and view all the answers

What importance does the green stain sofa have?

It represents success but is later described as something gross and stagnant. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of room service becoming a corpse?

It symbolizes the loss of enchantment in TW's outlook on success. Signup and view all the answers

What did TW say to prove that he became 'spiritually dislocated'?

He felt indifferent, cynical, and lifeless inside. Signup and view all the answers

Why didn't TW want compliments?

He felt used and believed his friends didn't really care about him. Signup and view all the answers

How did TW's eye operation change his outlook on his friends?

He began to see that his friends were kind and started to readjust his thoughts. Signup and view all the answers

The eye operation did help _ vision, but rather ____ vision.

Physical, emotional Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbolism of the eye operations?

It allowed him to see his life and reality more clearly. Signup and view all the answers

How do painful experiences serve a deeper purpose?

They may bring peace after ending pain. Signup and view all the answers

What did TW do after the operation and why?

He checked out of the hotel and went to Mexico to escape from fame. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'artifice of mirrors'?

TW's public self. Signup and view all the answers

How did Williams escape the 'artifice of mirrors'?

He went to Mexico to find his true self. Signup and view all the answers

Do you agree with Williams that an artist can only find himself in his work?

Yes, because reality is often less intense than the world of their inventions. Signup and view all the answers

Why did hotel service embarrass Williams?

It reminded him of inequities that exist in the world. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of cleaning up our own messes?

It helps us learn lessons and become more grateful. Signup and view all the answers

How was Williams ahead of his time regarding technology?

He saw it complicating our lives rather than simplifying them. Signup and view all the answers

How does TW's camping metaphor resemble the 21st century?

We are often ready but afraid to fail. Signup and view all the answers

How are there aspects of technology that we fear to attempt?

We have access to everything yet are still afraid to try. Signup and view all the answers

Why can you not go back to a life before success?

Once success has happened, it cannot be undone. Signup and view all the answers

Explain his metaphor of the wolf at the door.

The wolf symbolizes luxury and its dangers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit in understanding the danger of the wolf?

Knowing the truth allows us to guard against it. Signup and view all the answers

Compare TW's view on public persona with Emily Dickinson's sentiments.

To be public is to be negative, like a frog. Signup and view all the answers

Do Dickinson and TW agree about fame?

False Signup and view all the answers

How is security a kind of death?

It prevents personal growth and struggle. Signup and view all the answers

What is good according to TW?

Caring about people. Signup and view all the answers

What did William Saroyan say about success?

Do things that matter and live with purity of heart. Signup and view all the answers

What does the final line of the essay mean: 'Time keeps ticking so we have to make an effort to make it count'?

Do things that matter. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Concept of National Myth

National myth refers to a widely accepted but false narrative that people recognize as an illusion.
The Cinderella story symbolizes the "rags to riches" narrative popular in American culture, resonating with tales like Steve Jobs' journey from a garage to Silicon Valley success.

Characters and Comparisons

Characters in "The Glass Menagerie" (TGM) align with Cinderella archetypes: Laura as Cinderella, Amanda as the Wicked Step-Mother, Jim as the Prince, and the glass menagerie as the glass slipper.
A significant difference between TGM and Cinderella is the realistic ending of TGM, which lacks the "happily ever after" narrative.

Purpose of Tennessee Williams' Writing

Williams explores the illusion of success and illustrates how to navigate the harsh reality post-achievement in "The Catastrophe of Success."
The essay critiques the misleading ideals surrounding success, emphasizing its illusory nature.

Cultural Narratives and Success

In the 1930s, cinema frequently featured themes of women rescued by men, blending ideas of wealth and fame as markers of success.
Americans generally measure success through monetary achievements or fame.

Tennessee Williams’ Personal Experience

Williams experienced a life marked by struggle and perseverance, reflecting on the endurance he required to achieve success.
After achieving fame and security, he faced depression, realizing that fame did not fulfill his expectations.

Symbolism in Works

The green-stain sofa evolves from representing success to signifying stagnation and disappointment.
Room service becomes a metaphor for lost enchantment, paralleling Williams' disillusionment with success.

Transformation and Insight

Williams expressed feelings of spiritual dislocation and indifference towards others, feeling emotionally detached.
His eye surgeries symbolized a renewed clarity both physically and emotionally, allowing him to value true friendships.

Nature of Success and Reality

Painful experiences are depicted as transformative, leading to liberation and insights about life’s purpose.
Transitioning from hotel life to solitude in Mexico discerned a quest for authenticity over public persona.

Artistic Identity and Fame

Williams emphasized that an artist often uncovers reality and satisfaction through their craft, contrasting it with a less intense real world.
He rejected the superficiality of fame, critiquing how hotel services heighten social inequities.

Warning Against Complacency

The metaphor of the wolf at the door represents the temptations of luxury, warning against the vanities tied to success.
Recognizing the dangers of succumbing to these temptations can promote self-protection and authenticity.

Reflections on Fame and Personal Growth

Both Tennessee Williams and Emily Dickinson express skepticism about fame; Dickinson shuns it while Williams wrestles with its implications.
Security is portrayed as stagnation, preventing personal growth and the natural struggle that defines life.

Final Thoughts on Living Meaningfully

Williams argues that true success derives from genuine care for others and living with intention.
Emphasizing the urgency of life, his final thoughts call for purposeful living, advocating for contributions that matter in the short time afforded.

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Description

Explore the concepts of national myths and the Cinderella story through these flashcards. Delve into how these narratives shape cultural perceptions and influence success stories in society. Challenge your understanding with thought-provoking questions.