A Streetcar Named Desire
Author: Tennessee Williams
- real name: Thomas Lanier Williams
- born in 1914 and grew up in Columbus, Mississippi
- college: he started to write novels
- 1944: “The Glass Menagerie”
- Pulitzer - Award for “A Streetcar Named Desire”
- A shy and sensitive man
- Mother: from a prayer – family
- Father: businessman
- Sister Rose: psychical ill
- Writing was a way to flee out of reality
Items relevant:
- name of the play
- place (New Orleans)
- immigrants from all parts of Europe
- Nepoleonic Code
- Aristocratic plantation owners
- Vivacious atmosphere
Beginning of the drama:
Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten
The drama shows Blanche’s development:
- each scene shows a different step / aspect of her inner conflict (climax in scene 11)
- Elia Kazan: “Blanche is playing eleven different roles”
Comments: 1) The audience see the development of one role (blanche
2) Eleven different roles because of eleven situations Blanche is in; She has o fit to each situation to survive.
3) Blanche doesn’t change her character
4) At the beginning of the drama she is playing (e.g. a lady) and then
Scene 2
Stanley does not want Blanche in his house / flat
- he (worker) thinks Blanche (defined type) stands between Stella and him Stella’s function:
- she tries to control the situation between Blanche and Stanley
- tries to intervene between them
- BUT: no possible co-existence possible
Scene 3 (Poker Night)
1. How does Stanley behave in his scene?
2. Trace Blanche’s behaviour in this scene.
3. Has Blanche risen to an equal partner in the confrontation with Stanley?
4. Where is the sympathy of the author?
5. What meaning does Mitch have?
To 1.
- impolite to Blanche
- unpleasant behaviour, rough, aggressive, impatient, violent, intemperate
- shouts (for his female), vulgar language
- gives orders, dominating
- drunk, no self-control
- treats his poker-friends as if they are underprivileged
- no understanding of Mitch’s problem with his mother
- physical attraction between Stanley & Stella
To 2.
- outward appearance: important to her, lady-like behaviour
- feels superior to Stanley and his friends
- coquettish
- good high-brow English (she pretends to be a lady)
- interested in Mitch, wants to be attractive
- tells lies
- she wants to be a southern belle
To 3.
- she has not risen to an equal partner
- he gives himself another higher level
- Blanche is for him only a woman without rights
- He is the “man in the house”; he thinks he has the power to say Blanche (or Mitch) what to do or say
To 4.
Frequently asked questions
What is "A Streetcar Named Desire" about?
This document provides a language preview of "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams. It includes information about the author, relevant themes and settings, and an analysis of character development and key scenes.
Who was Tennessee Williams?
Tennessee Williams (real name Thomas Lanier Williams) was born in 1914 in Columbus, Mississippi. He began writing novels in college and is known for plays like "The Glass Menagerie" and "A Streetcar Named Desire," which won a Pulitzer Prize. He is described as a shy and sensitive man, whose writing served as an escape from reality.
What are some key themes and settings mentioned in the preview?
The preview highlights the play's setting in New Orleans, noting the presence of immigrants from Europe, the Napoleonic Code, aristocratic plantation owners, and a vibrant atmosphere. It also hints at themes of inner conflict and social class differences.
How does the preview describe Blanche's character development?
The preview suggests that each scene in the play reveals a different aspect of Blanche's inner conflict, culminating in scene 11. It references a quote from Elia Kazan, who stated "Blanche is playing eleven different roles".
What happens in scene 2 according to the preview?
The preview indicates that Stanley does not want Blanche in his house/flat. He believes that Blanche stands between him and Stella. Stella tries to mediate the situation between Blanche and Stanley, but there can be no possible co-existence.
What happens in scene 3 (Poker Night)?
The preview asks several questions regarding scene 3 (Poker Night) including how Stanley behaves in this scene, how Blanche behaves, whether Blanche is an equal partner to Stanley in the confrontation, where the author's sympathy lies, and what meaning Mitch has. It offers some bullet point responses regarding both Stanley and Blanche's behaviors.
How is Stanley portrayed in scene 3 (Poker Night)?
The preview indicates Stanley is impolite to Blanche, exhibits rough, aggressive, and impatient behavior. He also uses vulgar language, gives orders, and is generally dominating and drunk. He lacks understanding of Mitch's problem with his mother and there is physical attraction between Stanley and Stella.
How is Blanche portrayed in scene 3 (Poker Night)?
The preview indicates that outward appearance is important to Blanche. She acts like a lady, feels superior to Stanley and his friends, is coquettish, speaks high-brow English, is interested in Mitch, and tells lies. She wants to be a Southern belle.
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- Barbara Späker (Autor:in), 2001, Williams, Tennessee - A Streetcar Named Desire, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/105291
