Sexual Transgression in the Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams



Sexual Transgression in the Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams

Introduction

The very fundamental aim of art be it in any form is to highlight a society and its status. Hence, be it paintings, sketches, music or especially literature, all focuses on the certain events in the society. In fact, literature is one of the most adapted and utilized way of portraying with the help of words, the events, happenings, injustices or the positive aspects of different societies and communities in different eras. Hence, novels, stories, dramas and plays have always been written time after time to address and cater several issues and problems in the society that resulted in several other new cultural values, traditional norms and moral values. Literature has also been able to relate various religious aspects with the numerous worldly matters. Various authors therefore also used religious symbolism in order to relate to the humans and their feelings and perspectives. There have been several books, plays or novels in the past which included all these aspects and factors. However, one of the most-well known and famous of these writings is the play written by Tennessee Williams known by the name The Rose Tattoo. The story encompasses several aspects of the human society in that era. However, sexual transgression and repression are the main aspects around which the plot and the story of the play revolves.

Discussion

The famous play of “The Rose Tattoo” is written by the well known author Tennessee Williams. It was in 1951 that the play was opened on the Broadway where the film adaptation came out in the year 1955. The play revolves around the story of the leading character Serafina Delle Rose, an Italian-American widow living in Louisiana. The story explains of how after the death of her husband, Serafina has withdrawn from all the worldly matters of the world, and then forces her daughter to follow her footsteps. There are several characters in the play. However, the plot or the story focuses on how the events and tragedies in the life of Serafina forced her to isolate herself from a normal life and the affect of this isolation on her very personality and her feminine side.

Many experts regard The Rose Tattoo as the most comedic plays by William. With a mixture of humor and sarcasm, William explains of the desire and feelings of lust that may rise as a result of tragedies, loneliness and isolation in the lives of lonely females. This is the most important fact regarding Serafina and her life events that cannot be neglected. The story of the play do reflects the possible and often inevitable repression of the needs of sexual intimacy in widowed women. However, it is important to note that the play has also provided a solid description of why such needs initially arose in her (Williams, 1998).

Although, the story explains the character of Serafina Delle Rose as a Sicilian passionate widow living with her ...