1. Introduction
For this term paper I analyse scene nine of Tennessee William's play A Streetcar Named Desire. The episodic drama was written in 1947 and is set in New Orleans. It is divided into eleven different scenes. The main characters of the play are Blanche DuBois, her sister Stella and her husband Stanley Kowalski. In a supporting part appears Mitch. Blanche is a thirty year old woman from Mississippi. At the beginning of the play she comes to visit her younger sister Stella in New Orleans, because she does not know where else to go. All of her family are dead except Stella. Blanche is helpless and seeks protection, because she has lost her home “Belle Reve”, her inheritance and her employment. Stella and Stan are living in a small apartment in the French Quarter of New Orleans called “Elysian Fields”. Blanche has to take the streetcars called “Desire” and “Cemeteries”. Here the strong symbolism of Williams' writing can already be seen clearly. The names of the streetcars foreshadow the course of the play and its outcome and in general show Blanche's journey in the play, from longing and desire to destruction.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Scene Nine
3. Works Cited
Objectives and Topics
This term paper examines the ninth scene of Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire," analyzing the collision between Blanche DuBois's world of illusion and Stanley Kowalski's world of harsh realism. It explores the symbolic significance of motifs like the polka music, the paper lantern, and the Mexican woman to illustrate Blanche’s psychological fragility and her ultimate downfall.
- The role of symbolism and atmosphere in "plastic theatre"
- The clash between the idealized South and modern reality
- Mitch’s rejection and its impact on Blanche's mental stability
- Blanche’s addiction and her reliance on fantasy to cope with trauma
- Foreshadowing of the play’s tragic conclusion
Excerpt from the Book
2. Scene Nine
Scene nine shows the situation later that evening. Blanche feels not very well, which can be easily noticed by her body language:
Blanche is seated in a tense hunched position[...] The rapid, feverish polka tune, the “Varsouviana,” is heard.
The music is in her mind; she is drinking to escape it and the sense of disaster closing in on her, and she seems to whisper the words of the song.
The audience knows that the polka music is Blanche's motif in the play. It can always be heard when she starts feeling really bad. It is a tune from her past, connected to the death of her husband. The drinking is again a strong symbolism. She is addicted to alcohol, which is a contrast to the sophisticated behaviour she usually shows. It reveals how weak and worn out she really is.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the play's background, introduces the main characters, and establishes the core conflict between Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski within the setting of New Orleans.
2. Scene Nine: This chapter provides a detailed analysis of the ninth scene, focusing on the confrontation between Blanche and Mitch, the symbols of her past, and the shattering of her illusions.
3. Works Cited: This section lists the secondary literature and the primary play text referenced throughout the analysis.
Keywords
A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams, Blanche DuBois, Stanley Kowalski, Scene Nine, Illusion versus Reality, Symbolism, Polka Music, Paper Lantern, Plastic Theatre, Psychological Fragility, Trauma, Southern Gothic, Mitch, Dramatic Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper provides a focused literary analysis of the ninth scene of Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire," examining character dynamics and symbolic elements.
What are the central themes explored in this work?
The core themes include the conflict between illusion and reality, the decline of the Old South, the impact of trauma, and the struggle for survival in a harsh, unfeeling world.
What is the main objective of the analysis?
The objective is to interpret how Blanche’s internal psychological state is externalized through symbols like the polka music and the light, leading to her inevitable destruction.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The author employs a qualitative literary analysis, utilizing close reading of the text and supporting arguments with established academic criticism regarding Williams' work.
What does the main body of the paper address?
It analyzes the interaction between Blanche and Mitch in scene nine, the significance of Blanche's past, her addiction to alcohol, and the symbolic importance of the paper lantern.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Symbolism," "Illusion vs. Reality," "Blanche DuBois," and "Plastic Theatre."
Why is the "Varsouviana" polka music considered a critical motif?
The polka music functions as a haunting reminder of Blanche’s husband's suicide and serves as an auditory marker for her mental instability throughout the play.
How does the author interpret the significance of the paper lantern?
The lantern is interpreted as a vital symbol of Blanche’s attempt to shield her fading beauty and harsh reality from the scrutiny of others, representing her fragile facade.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Marie-Christine Wittmann (Autor:in), 2006, 'A Streetcar Named Desire' by Tennessee Williams, Scene Nine - An Analysis, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/146854
