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AS and A Level: A Street Car Named Desire

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163 AS and A Level A Street Car Named Desire essays

  • Marked by Teachers essays 9
  • Peer Reviewed essays 6
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  1. Marked by a teacher

    Tennessee Williams wrote in a letter that It (Streetcar) is a tragedy with the classic aim of producing a catharsis of pity and terror and in order to do that, Blanche must finally have the understanding and compass

    5 star(s)

    A very effective essay which addresses the question in detail and shows a balanced appraisal of the key characters.
    *****…

    • Essay length: 1760 words
    • Submitted: 15/10/2011
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Karen Reader 22/02/2012
    • Reviewed by: (?) groat 23/03/2012
  2. Marked by a teacher

    TO WHAT EXTENT CAN A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE BE CALLED A TRAGEDY?

    5 star(s)

    This is a very strong essay - well expressed, perceptive and effectively researched, showing an excellent knowledge of the text. Occasionally there is too much context at the expense of…

    • Essay length: 2052 words
    • Submitted: 17/12/2010
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Roz Shipway 22/02/2012
  3. Marked by a teacher

    To what extent do you think William wants his Audience to perceive Blanche as a victim ?

    4 star(s)

    A very effective essay which addresses the question in detail and shows a balanced appraisal of the key characters.…

    • Essay length: 1216 words
    • Submitted: 19/02/2012
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Karen Reader 22/02/2012
  4. Marked by a teacher

    Compare and contrast Williams treatment of the concept of mental instability in A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie in light of the opinion that Williams presents more hope in his presentation of Laura Wingfield than Blanche Dubois.

    4 star(s)

    This is a very strong essay which make continuous and well selected comparisons and contrasts between the texts and grounds them firmly in relevant contextual details to enhance an understanding…

    • Essay length: 1717 words
    • Submitted: 21/10/2010
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Roz Shipway 22/02/2012
  5. Marked by a teacher

    A Modern Domestic Tragedy Is Tragic Because The Protagonist Is Working Against A Tide Of Unstoppable Changes Discuss This In Relation To A Streetcar Named Desire

    4 star(s)

    This essay shows a good overview of the text and demonstrated evidence of wider research into context and tragedy features. To achieve top standard, the writer should aim to integrate…

    • Essay length: 1486 words
    • Submitted: 15/04/2010
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Karen Reader 22/02/2012
  6. Marked by a teacher

    How does Williams present the character of Blanche in scenes 1-3 of A Streetcar Named Desire

    4 star(s)

    This essay ends very abruptly! Despite a promising start, the analysis, although well illustrated, can become too descriptive at times and doesn't develop its arguments fully enough. With better planning,…

    • Essay length: 1878 words
    • Submitted: 16/01/2006
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Karen Reader 14/05/2012
  7. Marked by a teacher

    How much is Desire a force for destruction in the play 'A Streetcar Named Desire'?

    3 star(s)

    The writer has clearly researched the subject, but could use context more specifically and less vaguely. Similarly, while this is an articulate, expressive essay, waffle should be avoided and the…

    • Essay length: 1815 words
    • Submitted: 13/06/2008
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Karen Reader 22/02/2012
  8. Marked by a teacher

    Explore how Tennessee Williams uses symbols and expressionistic stage devices in the play.

    3 star(s)

    The writer identifies many important moments, but the style of this essay doesn't match the quality of its observations. With more quotation, terminology and contextual information, this could have been…

    • Essay length: 1406 words
    • Submitted: 03/06/2005
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Karen Reader 14/05/2012
  9. Peer reviewed

    To what extent can Blanche Dubois be described as a tragic victim in A Streetcar named Desire

    4 star(s)

    This essay responds well to the task, and with a few tweaks there is potential for a strong essay. There is a clear focus on the play being tragedy, however…

    • Essay length: 1503 words
    • Submitted: 16/01/2012
    • Reviewed by: (?) groat 28/06/2012
  10. Peer reviewed

    With close reference to the language and action of the following passage, discuss Williams presentation of Blanches first appearance in the play.

    3 star(s)

    This essay has potential, and shows a thorough knowledge of the opening scene of the play. The introduction is okay, with the first three sentences offering an effective opening. However,…

    • Essay length: 743 words
    • Submitted: 27/04/2012
    • Reviewed by: (?) groat 11/07/2012
163 essays
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Staging and symbolism

  1. 1 The stage set for the play tends towards the expressionistic. Boundaries can dissolve and reform, lighting and darkness all serve to accentuate characters’ states.
  2. 2 Some critics suggest that the boundary between home and street is deliberately made uncertain by Williams. Stanley and Stella’s residence is encroached on by the urban life/street community unlike Belle Reve which is isolated and protected in the deep south.
  3. 3 Sound is used to represent symbolically the inner state of Blanche Dubois and align the audience with her experience, demonstrating her growing madness.
  4. 4 This type of staging has been used or referred to by many 20th century American playwrights. Arthur Miller originally wanted to depict the events of Death of a Salesman inside a large head onstage; Albee originally intended the realistic living room (box set) for the characters of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to resemble a womb or cave.
  5. 5 Consider the symbolism of light and the ways in which the play aligns it with ‘truth’ or ‘reality’. Blanche shuns the light not only to preserve her lost youth but also to avoid confronting the reality of her situation.

Adherence to Modern Domestic Tragedy

  1. 1 The dysfunctional family – Consider the ways in which Williams undermines Stanley/Stella/Baby ideal; also the dissipation of Blanche and Stella’s family.
  2. 2 The dominance of the past – This progressively encroaches on the present: Blanche’s past, Belle Reve, etc.
  3. 3 The growing importance of female protagonists – How far does Williams portray the fates of both sisters being in the hands of men? How does the play address this? Do our sympathies lie with the female or male characters?

Adherence to The American Dream and Madness

  1. 1 Like many other 20th century American playwrights (notable Miller and later, Albee) Williams uses the play in order to consider the confrontation between two worlds: the fading relic of the Old South and the rising urban working class.
  2. 2 Other 20th century tragedies, such as Death of a Salesman and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? have also aligned the clinging onto the past as well as the mythologising of it with madness and death.
  3. 3 Blanche’s ‘dream’ is a self-delusion, which ultimately leads to madness. Can this be applied symbolically to the corruption of the pastoral American Dream by the new 20th century dream of industrialism and capitalism?
  4. 4 Madness is presented as both escape and refuge, hinted at by Blanche’s dependence on and dishonesty about her alcoholism.
  5. 5 Some critics believe that Blanche was based on Williams’ sister, Rose, who was lobotomised due to her mental instability. [She has also been referenced, perhaps more autobiographically in The Glass Menagerie]. Williams is reputed to have claimed, controversially, that he based Blanche on himself.

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Conclusion analysis

Good conclusions usually refer back to the question or title and address it directly - for example by using key words from the title.
How well do you think these conclusions address the title or question? Answering these questions should help you find out.

  1. Do they use key words from the title or question?
  2. Do they answer the question directly?
  3. Can you work out the question or title just by reading the conclusion?

  • "Stanley has little option but to destroy Blanche" With close reference to the characters and their motives, to what extent do you agree with this statement?

    "In conclusion I believe that Stanley has little choice but to eliminate Blanche from his life. They are at polar opposites to each other and one could say that Blanche is a threat to his lifestyle as she attempts to bring in new ideals to his world, so Stanley needed to detach her from his life. However it is obvious that Blanche didn't deserve such brutal treatment and her being a threat to Stanley's lifestyle is no reason for him to destroy her life."

  • Compare and contrast Williams treatment of the concept of mental instability in A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie in light of the opinion that Williams presents more hope in his presentation of Laura Wingfield than Blanche Dubois.

    "In conclusion, drawing on the similarities between Blanche, Laura and Williams' sister, it is credible that both characters are representations of Rose. The narrative technique in Glass Menagerie draws the audience to reflect Williams' hope that Laura will escape the darkness of mental instability. On the other hand, the dramatic devices employed by Williams in Streetcar emphasize Blanche's mental instability and her character is portrayed as much more detached from reality. Most importantly, we can see that Williams presents more hope in his presentation of Laura than Blanche due to the contrasting endings of these plays. Laura's fate is left more open in comparison to Blanche's total breakdown and destruction. In this aspect it could be said that Streetcar is a metaphorical representation of mental instability with the intent to raise awareness, whereas Glass Menagerie is a more personal, reflective work, highlighting Williams' regret and hope."

  • To what extent do you think William wants his Audience to perceive Blanche as a victim ?

    "To draw a conclusion, I believe that to some extent within the play Williams wished for his audience to see Blanche as a victim but he also foreshadows the true explanation of why Blanche has become this way. An Explanation of Blanches behaviour could be because within her youth she watched the older generation of her family die out and the loss of Belle Reve and lastly the suicide of her young homosexual husband, could be seen as the reason why Blanche's emotions died and her sense of reality. Desire and death became linked in her life, which then allowed her to lead a loose and increasingly careless life. I believe that Williams wants the audience to see Blanche as a victim but to also understand why she is, allowing her to receive a form of sympathy and bringing the audience to question whether she truly is a victim."

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