Revolutionary Road + Cat Flashcards
How is the tone of revolutionary road established in the first line of the novel?
The words ‘dying’, ‘silent’ and ‘helpless’ establish a semantic field of misery and isolation
What did W.B.Yates state to be the overriding theme of his work?
‘the tragedy that human beings are inescapably alone’
How does Frank describe himself in his ‘mental projection of scenes to unfold’ during chapter 2?
‘reassuring’ and ‘glowing’
How is April presented in Frank’s fantasy?
As a stereotypical 1950’s housewife, meek, self critical and reliant on her husband
What does April’s failure to perform well in the play foreshadow?
Her ‘death’ on stage foreshadows her death in life. She ‘seemed ideally cast for the role’ of a housewife, however her life falls apart because she is forced to ‘work alone’ in the marriage.
What does Yates’ frequent use of flashbacks and dreams for the future represent?
Yates pits the present against the past and future, each vying for narrative dominance. Yates’ blurs the lines between the three, with both past and future having a clear effect on the present.
What does Frank’s statement to April ‘you dont love people when they’re nice’ demonstrate?
Frank believes that the idea of unconditional love is a pass to act however he wants. This is evidence of him buying in to an ideal without considering how it works in reality - he has an unrealistic expectation of April
What does the constant use of bracketed speech marks suggest?
Bracketed speech marks are used to
What significance does the failure of the play have?
The play (and so production company) was a chance for the suburban community to break from the norms of suburban life. The initially negative and critical reactions (April’s disgust, Milly stating that it ‘wouldnt amount to much’) are a microcosm of the reactions of society when people attempt to break the mold, and the failure of the endeavour reflects
What is a central theme of the conflict of April and Frank?
Whether their happiness comes from within or outside of their relationship
How does April play off of Frank’s insecurities?
She questions his masculinity, asking ‘how he can call [himself] a man’
How can April staying in the marriage despite being unhappy be explained?
Due to multiple things: Gender roles meaning that single mothers were looked down upon, the relative stigmatisation of divorce and also her lack of any economic power.
Which other authors from the 50’s and 60’s have examined the theme of suburban discontent?
John Updike and J.D.Salinger
What significance does Franks statement that he is not a ‘dumb, suburban husband’ have?
As the novel progresses it becomes increasingly clear that Frank does conform to this description, giving it an air of ironic foreshadowing
How is the form of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof different to that of Revolutionary Road?
Cat takes place entirely in chronological order, with information about characters and their pasts revealed through dialogue rather than flashbacks. Rev Rd uses a mixture of both, and therefore the narrative has a more disconnected feel - each character absorbed in their own little world of meaning
