Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed Summer and Smoke. It was a nice contrast to The Glass Menagerie. I found this play to be more exciting, but less thought-provoking than The Glass Menagerie. I enjoyed both plays for different reasons.

In a way this play is about Alma's sexual repression and fear of going outside of her comfort zone in contrast to John's indulgence and carelessness. This play is also about the existence of a soul in people and how it guides one in love and life. John and Alma are both trying to find a way to be happy in the world. They both teach each other something very important. John teaches Alma to let loose and stop being afraid of the desires of her body. Alma teaches John to understand that there is more to love and to people than physical desires, and that a soul exists in every human being. Alma teaches John how to love with the soul. They seem to change stances on how life should be lived by the end of the play. Alma learns to give in to her physical desires and stop denying her inner self. John learns to be more responsible. John settles to accept his life as it is and Alma starts to reach for more. I was sad that John and Alma did not end up together, but I understood why they didn't. I believe both people were changed for the better through knowing each other.

Alma and Laura from The Glass Menagerie are similar in that they experience anxiety due to the events of everyday life. They are both so fragile and fearful. Alma uses her white pills to get through life, and Laura distracts herself with her glass figures. I do believe that Alma is in a better place at the end of the play. She seems stronger-ready to face the world. Though she hasn't completely overcome her illness, she is learning to cope with it. I researched and learned that Tennessee Williams based both of the characters in some ways off of his sister. I thought this was interesting.

I enjoyed Mrs. Winemiller. Though her part in this story was small, I think it was important. It added some comic relief and gave some insight as to why Alma is the way she is. Alma had to grow up because of her circumstances. John was forced to grow up when his father died, leaving John in charge of his practice.

I really hate that John and Nellie ended up together simply because Nellie is so young. I do not believe that John loves Nellie. In another world, perhaps John and Alma could have been together. I hope Alma and Archie were able to have a good relationship eventually, and that Alma didn't just use him to fulfill her "dark," physical desires. I think Alma willingly agreed to go to the casino with Archie to prove to herself and to John that she wasn't going to deny her inner self for any longer. I think Alma is finally beginning to understand and accept herself. I think she is through denying her feelings because she lost John for doing so. It was too late for John and Alma by the time they both were ready to be in a healthy relationship.

I really connected with Alma. I felt for her through the entire play. She has some incredible monologues.

I love how descriptive Tennessee Williams' writing is. Some of his lines are so moving and beautiful. I loved the lines about the smoke suffocating Alma's old self. There are so many lines that jumped out at me during this play. I was sure to note them in the previous blogs.

I am so glad I read these plays. I am interested in reading more plays by Williams. Maybe one day I can be in a Tennessee Williams play!

Act 2; Scene 6

• The scene opens at the fountain where the play began.
• Alma takes one of her white pills with water from the fountain. Archie Kramer, a young man, enters. Alma and Archie smile at each other.
• Alma and Archie casually discuss the cool fountain water.
  
• Archie is a traveling salesman for Red Cross shoes.
• Alma and Archie discuss loneliness.
• Alma is very tired from taking her tablet. Alma explains that she is nervous from winning an argument that she wanted to lose. The young man admits that he is nervous about doing well on his first job.
• John and Alma are moved by a sudden feeling of intimacy.
• Archie takes one of Alma's pills to calm himself.
• Alma and Archie have a short conversation in Spanish.. This makes Alma laugh, but not her nervous laugh. Alma experiences a genuine, natural laugh.
• Alma and Archie decide to head off to the Moon Lake Casino together.
• Alma salutes the angel and the play ends.
  
  :)
  

Act 2; Scene 5

• The scene opens with John and Alma in the doctor's office. Maybe some things will get cleared up!
• John and Alma exchange some small talk.
• I love this back and forth:
  John: I've settled with life on fairly acceptable terms. Isn't that all a reasonable person can ask for?
  Alma: He can ask for much more than that. He can ask for the coming true of his most improbable dreams.
  
• Alma is so hopeless and sad. She seems to be sad that she is not dying after all. Death would be more simple in her opinion.
• Alma kisses John unexpectedly! John is passive. He does not seem pleased. Maybe he has moved on to someone else. Hopefully he has not moved on to Nellie!
  
• John argues that he and Alma were not as close as she recalls.
• "...she died last summer-suffocated from something on fire inside her." What a fantastic line. Alma has given up her pride in the hopes of gaining John.
  
• John starts to believe Alma about the existence of a soul. Alma has changed John for the better.
• Alma gives a powerful monologue about how she has always loved John. I like seeing this strong side of Alma.
• John realizes that he didn't want the physical Alma like he has thought.
  
• Alma and John have switches their ways of thinking. "The tables have turned with a vengeance!"
  
• Alma begins to feel faint. Nellie comes in. John and Nellie are to be married. Alma seems to have known this because of the card with John and Nellie's name on it. It is clear that Alma is upset about this, but she doesn't want to show it.
• John restrains Nellie.
• Nellie tells Alma she wants her to sing at her wedding. John and Nellie kiss and kiss and kiss and kiss. YUCK. :(
• I can't believe they ended up together. She is so young! I hope Alma finds someone for herself to ease the heartache of losing John. I just knew John and Alma wouldn't end up together.
  

Act 2; Scene 4

• OH NO! Mrs. Bassett is back. I hate Mrs. Bassett. Maybe she'll be nice for once.
• The scene opens at the fountain in the park. Alma enters.
• Mrs. Bassett tells Alma it is good to see her out again after her illness. She tells Alma that their little group broke up after she dropped. Vernon finally read his verse play. Mrs. Basset says that it was "Maliciously, spitefully and vindictively torn to pieces, the way children tear the wings off butterflies." What a line! The group may reorganize.
• Nellie enters and Mrs. Bassett leaves. Nellie updates Alma on her life and mentions John. When Nellie asks Alma about the rumors she has heard about her, Alma replies by saying, "Naturally, I had to stop teaching while I was ill, and as for retiring from the world...it's more a case of the world retiring from me." What a heartbreaking line.
  
• Nellie tells Alma that she knows someone whose feelings Alma has hurt badly. This person regards Alma as an angel, but Alma refuses to see him. Though it is never said, I can only assume Nellie is talking about John.
• Nellie gives Alma a beautiful handkerchief for Christmas. The card says it is from Nellie AND John. John helped Nellie wrap the presents and spoke very highly of Alma and her influence on him.
  
• It is finally blatantly mentioned-John's father did die.
  
• John credits Alma to helping him pull himself together.
  
• While Nellie is telling Alma this, she walks away to drink from the fountain. She tells Nellie that despite what John says, the only angel in Glorious Hill is the one on the fountain.
  
• Alma starts to leave, and Nellie tells her she hasn't told her the best news yet. Alma leaves without hearing the news.
  
• ALMA! The news was probably about John. Why didn't she listen?!?! Things might have panned out so differently!
• I'm sure Alma is having a hard time dealing with the guilt and grief from the doctor's death. I know it would be hard for her to face John, but there has to be a part of her that wants to! I'm sure they'll talk again in the next scene. I sure hope so!
  

Act 2; Scene 3

• I love Williams' stage directions. Although they get a tad wordy at times, the descriptions are always very helpful in visualizing the scene. I love that he says that Mrs. Winemiller's smile suggests a "musical comedy pirate." It is so specific and odd!
  
• The relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Winemiller is so sad and funny. I don't know how he stays with her!
  
• Winemiller criticizes Alma for for her recently sad disposition when there is nothing particularly wrong with her. Alma responds by saying she has done everyone she is expected to do and doesn't know what else he could want from her.
• Alma hasn't been sleeping well. She leaves very late at night and walks.
  
• Winemiller tells Alma that John has finished his father's work, stamped out the fever, and gotten all the glory.
  
• Alma is struck with something and has a sudden outburst.
• When Winemiller tries to call for a doctor, Alma tells him not to because she wants to die!
  
• Alma is led off and John and Nellie Ewell enter. Nellie looks much more grown up now.
  
• It is clear that Nellie wants John. She is being extremely flirtatious. She confesses that she has taken a peppermint drop because she hopes to be kissed.
• JOHN KISSES HER! She returns the kiss with fervor.
  
• John urges Nellie to leave before they get into trouble. She does.
  
• I can't believe they kissed. UGH. Everything John does makes me dislike him a little more. He behaves like such a pig sometimes. He should have never kissed someone so young. I'm just glad he stopped at kissing.
• I'm almost certain John and Alma won't end up together now.
  
• :(
  

Act 2; Scene 2

• The scene opens in the office interior where Winemiller is saying a prayer, or in John's words, "worn-out magic."
• John is hesitant to go in and see his father. He doesn't think his father would want to see him. John probably feels guilty about what happened. Alma should feel a little guilty too. She selfishly called in the doctor to discourage John from being with Rosa, mostly because she wants John for herself. If Alma hadn't have done so, the doctor would not have been shot by Gonzales. If John had not been fooling around with Rosa in the first place, none of this would have happened.
• Alma blames the catastrophe on John's weakness. Alma says, "Sometimes it takes a tragedy like this to make a weak person strong." This angers John, and he does off into a bitter tirade about religious people spewing their worn-out magic. I see why John got so upset. No one wants to hear that their suffering or someone else's suffering is for some sort of logical reason or that they are destined to grow from it. It is like hearing that "everything happens for a reason" after you lose someone you love. Though that may or may not be true, at the time, you are too upset to be caught up in deriving meaning from a tragic accident. John is not in the mood to be lecture on the good that will come out of his father being shot, and possibly dying. Alma seems to understand John's anger, and doesn't retaliate.
  
• John tries to show Alma the anatomy chart. John tells Alma she is weak for being too afraid and ignorant to learn about what her insides are actually like. John has this incredible monologue where he explains the parts of the body to Alma. He explains that the brain is hungry for truth, the belly is hungry for food, and the sex is hungry for love. John claims to have fed all three while Alma has fed none. Alma argues that John has it wrong and that his anatomy chart is missing something very important-a soul. Alma confesses that she loved John with her soul. John confesses that he never would have made love to Alma that night at the casino because he is more afraid of her soul than she is of his body. He admits that he doesn't feel decent enough to touch her. I'm really glad John admits to this. It makes him seem more human and less beastly. He does care after all.
• John and Alma's conversation is interrupted by Winemiller. He tells Alma that the doctor wants her to sing for him. Alma goes and John eventually follows. He can finally face his father.
  
• I really like this scene! So many wonderful moments occurred for Alma and John. The confessions were exciting and realistic. I have a fear that the doctor will die. I am also afraid that Alma and John will not end up together as I would like. I don't believe Tennessee Williams likes happy endings-after all, how realistic are they? Tragic situations are hardly ever tied up with a bow at the end. Some way or another, everyone loses something.
  

Act 2; Scene 1

• The star effect sounds pretty. I'd love to see that.
• I like the pretty, colorful lemonade.
  
• Roger is excitedly showing a less enthusiastic Alma pictures of his mother's trip to the Orient. Roger is so pathetic in this scene, trying to capture Alma's interest. It is clear Alma's mind is somewhere else entirely.
• Mrs. Bassett is back. >:( I don't like her. She tells Alma that John and Rosa are to be married the next day! OH NO!
• Apparently John has lost two or three thousand dollars at the Casino that he can't pay back except by marrying Rosa.
  
• I like that Alma is nervously playing with the puzzle pieces. She says, "The pieces don't fit." I think that line goes well with what Alma is probably feelings about the entire situation.
  
• I get the feelings Mrs. Bassett enjoys upsetting Alma.
  
• Alma calls Dr. Buchanan to try and get him to stop John from marrying Rosa.
• Rosa and John are talking about their plans and dancing. Rosa tells John that she wants him because she doesn't want to end up with some dark little friend of Papa's after all she went through in her childhood, living in one room with a dirt floor.
• Gonzales, Rosa's father, is now part of the scene. He is probably drunk. He explains to John that he gets anything his daughter wants either through money or threats with his gun.
  
• John goes to see Alma. I like his line: "Eternity and Miss Alma have such cool hands!" How clever.
  
• Dr. Buchanan comes in and tries to get the Rosa and her father out of his house. Mr. Gonzalas shoots Dr. Buchanan with is revolver.
  
• I like that the scene ends with the gun shot, then the stopping of the flamenco music, then the ominous music, then the spotlight on Rosa's tragic face, and then a blackout.
• I hope Dr. Buchanan does not die. This story has quickly become dark.
  

Act 1; Scene 7

• I can't believe John took Alma to the Moon Lake Casino! I had hoped he would choose a classier location. I shouldn't have expected any more out of him, I suppose. Nevertheless, I hope their date goes well.
• Alma wants to take a white tablet to calm her, but John won't let her.
  
• Apparently John drove like a demon on the way there. Looks like he plans to just be him self completely, even if he knows it will upset Alma. How inconsiderate of him!
• John expects Alma to watch a cock-fight! Disgusting. I don't like him very much at the moment.
• John tells Alma he hopes to move South America when he quits being a doctor to indulge his senses.
• Alma's monologue about the Gothic cathedral is beautiful. I like the Oscar Wilde quote at the end ("All of us are in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars").
  
• Alma gives some insight into her past relationships. She admits to having 3 serious relationships that her heart was just not in. She explained that a silence grew between her and each of the three men. John suggests that Alma might be cold, but I don't think he really means it.
  
• John kisses Alma! :) I love a good kiss.
  
• Alma tells John that she won't forget that she is a lady, and John questions the importance of her acting in such a way. Alma explains that she thinks a man and woman should respect each other, and John argues that there is more between a man and a woman that respect, such as intimate relations.
  
• I love these lines from Alma...
  "There are some women who turn a possibly beautiful thing into something no better than the coupling of beasts!-but love is what you bring to it."
  "Some people bring just their bodies. But there are some people, there are some women, John, who can bring their hearts to it, also-who can bring their souls to it!"
• I think Alma makes a good point in suggesting that sex be a product of love and soul, rather than just lust.
• John scoffs at Alma's idea of humans having souls. He jokes about finding the beautiful soul of an anatomy chart.
  
• John asks Miss Alma to go to a room about the Casino with him! She refuses and tries to get a taxi home. When John tries to help her get a taxi, she shouts, "You're not a gentleman!"
• I really hoped the date wouldn't fail! :( I know Alma likes John because he is exciting, unlike Roger who is simply "nice," but she doesn't like how irresponsible and rude he can be. She isn't comfortable with the way he acts around her sometimes. She would like him to respect her. Even though he doesn't always act like it, I do believe that John respects Alma. I think he just likes to push her buttons.
  

Act 1; Scene 6

• The scene opens with Alma rushing around, getting ready for her date with John.
  
• Alma remains mysterious to her parents about who she is going out with.
• Eventually she admits to her caller being John Buchanan.
  
• Alma doubts that John will actually show up.
  
• Alma does not allow her father to receive John when he comes. Mr. Winemiller tells Alma he will stare at John until he leaves.
  
• Alma fools her father and says she is going down to the drugstore to get ice cream for her mother. She uses this excuse to escape the house to go to John.
  
• This scene was short and simple-a nice introduction to what's to come. I wonder where John will take Alma. I hope everything goes well. She certainly seems excited! I really like this play.
  

Act 1; Scene 5

• The scene opens with John and Rosa in the doctor's office. Rose is helping John to bandage his arm. Alma comes in, and John tells Rosa to wait outside.
• John refuses to let Alma see his father when she asks. John has been cut in a fight with Rosa.
  
• John tries to convince Alma that she isn't all that sick. I think her sickness is more mental than anything. I think she works herself up and makes herself feel ill. She gets upset easily.
  
• John gives her some tablets in water to calm her. John tries to make her feel better. He distracts her with interesting facts about the universe.
• Rose keeps calling from outside the door.
• John has Alma unbutton her blouse, so he can check her heart. At first she is hesitant, but she eventually cooperates. John tells Alma that her heart is saying, "Miss Alma is lonesome!" I thought that was cute.
  
• When Alma asks why John likes her he says, "Because you have a lot of feeling in your heart, and that's a rare thing. It makes you too easily hurt." I like that line.
  
• Alma tells him he hurt her by leaving the meeting.
• John tells Alma he will call on her Saturday night at eight o'clock. Alma take the tablets and leaves. Alma leaves and John and Rosa kiss.
• I hope the date goes well with John and Alma. I don't like Rosa.
• John can be so sweet, and he's so honest. I think he'd be good for Alma and she, in turn, would be good for him. He would loosen her up a little and help her to calm down and enjoy life. She would reign him in a little and keep him from being so wild and reckless. They would balance each other out. They seem like they would work out so well, but something tells me they won't. Another unhappy ending? :( I'll see!