Mrs Van Buren Character Traits

The only white woman in the play, Mrs. Van Buren is the character who embodies the decadence and absurdity of upper class.

Mrs. Van Buren is an idle dreamer, who feels bored of her situation but does not confront problems or even try to recognize them. Apparently tired of social gatherings such as the annual Gardenia Ball, where she has to “smile, be polite”, she dreams of getting her room and living alone. However, she consider it impossible and “would rather not be a divorcee” because “it would prove disastrous.” Instead, not knowing “what else to do”, she spends money on accouterment in order to fight boredom. In another scene, she complains about her husband and opera but she seems to have no will to change the attitude of her husband.
Van Buren is the person of an egoistic, even narcissistic nature. Attractive and confident, she seems satisfied with her appearance but has a poor sociability. She confesses that Esther is the only person who has been in her boudoir lately, which shows that she lives isolated, although she has enough social status and material resources to socialize with upper-class people. More importantly, her affection to Esther is in a paternalistic manner, showing that she does not treat Esther as an equal partner of love. Mrs. Van Buren does not consider the emotions, financial and other needs and difficulties of Esther; she does not let Esther come through the front door and does not pay her for months. Enraptured by herself, she unilaterally expresses her feelings and thoughts because she is in a dominant position and has the idea that she can do everything she wants to Esther. In other words, her affection to Esther is grounded on the hierarchical advantage, which is reflected in her inconsiderate touching and kissing. Her love does not properly target Esther but herself enjoying the superiority. It may be that she unwittingly reproduces the injustice she experienced in the relationship with her