Maria Irene Fornes’ Springtime
To understand why people are considered outcasts, one must understand what is acceptable by mainstream standards. Today despite much advancement of social rights, there are still universal ideas that some do not agree with. One of these ideas is that love is only between people of the opposite sex. In today’s society, homosexuality is still a taboo. Hard work resulting in success is another ideal which is not always true.
A socioeconomic theory that many people ignore is that in order for some to prosper then some may fail. The mainstream doesn’t recognize that smart, intelligent, hard workers can economically fail. The idea that parents can provide for their children is accepted by most. This mainstream notion does not take into account that multiple children put parents in positions of despair. Mainstream society believes that in cases of need, the government as well as charity organizations will help those in need. Society doesn’t accept that some “fall through the cracks” or are hurt by the mainstream society.
Springtime shows how the mainstream can hurt those who are outside of it. The main characters Rainbow and Greta are lesbians. Homosexuality is still a taboo in society. They are in a constant struggle to resist the mainstream pressure. This pressure can not be conquered by love, which is the romantic ideal of what love can do. Instead of being proud of their relationship, both women are insecure. Greta is always in a state of worry that Rainbow will succumb to the pressures of being with her when Greta asks ” How do you see things? Do you see things different from the way I see them” (p. 104). The different way of seeing things, which Greta asks about, is what the mainstream believes.
Greta thinks outside of the mainstream but is worried that Rainbow is succumbing to the pressure of being in a lesbian relationship. When Rainbow is convincing herself that she is not cracking to the pressures about their relationship, Greta resounds with “I suppose it doesn’t make any difference to anyone” (p. 103). This response highlights her insecurity because she sounds unsure of herself. Instead of saying “Your right, we love eachother!” or “No, we cannot be pressured” she is still thinking about “anyone” (p. 103). Fornes shows how vulnerable this relationship is. This, however, is no fault of Greta’s whether she wants to be part of the mainstream. Greta and Rainbow still have to live with society’s expectations.
The economic class of Greta and Rainbow in Springtime dictates that they have to work under the powerful. Rainbow is lower class. She cannot simply will herself into a high paying job with benefits because her lover needs health care. Due to the pressure she is forced into the position to steal. Ironically, Rainbow’s action of stealing a gold watch is unlawful but aided by those in power. If it were not so hard for her to make ends meet in society, she wouldn’t have had to steal in the first place. Her tight economic situation forces Rainbow to lie ” You won’t love me anymore if I tell you how” (p. 99). At the beginning the pressure supports a breakdown of communication between the two.
Rainbow is always under the mercy of those in power because of her economic class. This is highlighted by her sexual exploitation by Ray. Ray, the man whose watch Rainbow stole, is making her pose for sexual images. These images are no doubt degrading to her as a woman. Despite her struggle, Rainbow never rises above Ray. In a line, which epitomizes the situation of class struggle for all those on the bottom, Rainbow states ” I tried to get away. He forced me. I resisted and he pushed me in. He said he’d put me in jail” (p. 101). Rainbow was forced to do things that she hated by those in power and that is what destroyed her relationship with Greta. In Rainbow’s letter she states ” I’m sometimes obliged to do things that are dangerous – and to do things that I hate” which is true of many people in lower classes who take action like crime or sexual acts “reputable” people wouldn’t do (p. 108).
