SSU Theme Analysis

John Exarhos                 

Professor Brady 

English 102

10 May 2024

SSU Theme Analysis

One big theme that I found to have a big impact in the short story unit was the “Complexity of Human Relationships”. This theme was portrayed in most if not all short stories that we read in class two in particular where “The White Elephant” by  Ernest Hemingway and “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams. In these two stories, Complexity of Human Relationships is shown throughout both stories in different ways. The white elephant short story has many situations of the complexity of human relationships one in particular is how the couple's relationship will be when they go through with the abortion. Another way that the theme Complexity of Human Relationships is shown is in the short story A Streetcar Named Desire where the wife betrays the husband's trust and hides from him.

In the short story the white elephant the couple go on a journey to get an abortion. I feel this story shows the true complexity of human relationships because in the story they are questioning themselves and their choices. For example when they said  “Then what will we do afterward? We’ll be fine afterward. Just like we were before” (Hemingway 2). This example from the story betrays how there is a question about whether their relationship will be the same or if it will change. This also shows that there is panic about what's going to happen to them. This shows how the abortion journey creates doubt and tension in their relationship's future. The complexity of human relationships can be shown in different ways but in this case, it is confusion and doubt of the future of the couple.

Another way that the theme of the Complexity of Human Relationships was shown was in the short story A Streetcar Named Desire. This story had a different type of complexity in a human relationship which was the betrayal of their partner. The character Stella who is the wife of the couple does something against Stanley her husband that he felt was a betrayal. For example when Stanley says  “ Stella! [There 'is a pause] My baby doll's left me! [He breaks into sobs. Then he goes to the phone and dials, still/ shuddering with sobs.] Eunice? I want my baby” ( Williams 3). This example shows how Stella Stanley's wife betrays him by leaving and taking their kid and how he is upset that they are both gone. In this short story, you can see how Stella betrays her husband Stanley which is one example of complexity in a human relationship because there is no trust, and can lead to other issues in the relationship down the road.

These two short stories are the best short stories to back up and show the meaning behind the theme of the Complexity of Human Relationships. The reason I felt that these two stories are the best to explain the theme the best because they show the true definition of the complexity of human relationships where one story talks about the confusion of the status of one relationship and the other talks about one partner betraying the other. These two short stories show great complexity in a human relationship and back up the themes' true meaning.