A Streetcar Named Desire - scene by scene analysis.

Authors Avatar

                                                                                                                                                    Megan Watkins

A Streetcar Named Desire

Scene One

The play begins with a description of Elysian Fields which is in New Orleans and is where they play is set. We are first introduced to the other occupants of the street and then Stanley Kowalski. He arrives accompanied by his friend Mitch and greets his wife Stella by bellowing at her. Stella is about twenty-five years old and a gentle woman, who has clearly come from a completely different background to her husband. Shortly after, Blanche DuBois Stella’s older sister arrives. She is dressed as if she was attending a cocktail party and has an uncertain manner. She appears rather shocked by her surroundings, which she takes no time in mentioning to Stella. Blanche waits for her sister to arrive and in the mean time she helps herself to some alcohol. The two sisters greet each other with an awkward embrace and Blanche asks to look at Stella but prevents Stella doing the same in return, not until Blanche had bathed and rested. Blanche has another drink and fails to mention she has already helped herself. Stella talks of her husband Stanley and how dependent she is on him. She comments on how she can’t stand it when he is away and Blanche seems to disapprove of their relationship. This may be because Stanley is referred to as a “Polack” and the two sisters have come from a Southern upper class family. Blanche arrives at her sister’s with bad news; Belle Reve, the home the sisters grew up in, has been lost. Blanche takes no time in mentioning the fact that she stayed at Belle Reve and cared for their dying relatives. She anxiously explains to Stella that the burden was left on Blanche’s shoulders and it becomes clear the she is resentful. This brings Stella to tears, just as Stanley arrives home. Stanley and Blanche greet each other and they have an awkward conversation. Blanche seems to be unnerved by Stanley’s questions but she manages to answer them. Stanley notices the fact that his liquor has gone down and Blanche states how she rarely touches it. Blanche ends the conversation by explaining how she once had a husband when she was very young, but the boy had died.  

Scene Two

It is six o’clock the following evening and Blanche is bathing. Stella tells Stanley that she is taking Blanche out for the evening as Stanley is hosting a poker game. This irritates Stanley, as Stella will not be there to cook his food. Stella asks Stanley to be nice to Blanche as she has been through such an ordeal. We also learn that Stella is expecting a baby but she does not want blanche to know yet. She also tells his about the loss of Belle Reve and Stanley seems immediately suspicious. Stella asks Stanley to tell Blanche how nice she looks, as this is important to Blanche, but Stanley is more interested in Belle Reve. He wants to see papers, which cannot be provided, and he then goes on to talk of the Napoleonic Code. This means that anything Stella may own he is half entitled to, as he is her husband. Stanley then marches to the bedroom and pulls open Blanche’s trunk. He grabs Blanche’s clothes and begins to question Stella on why she doesn’t have such finery. Stella states that they are inexpensive and Stanley threatens to have someone come and value the clothes. He then does the same thing with Blanche’s jewellery and then partly closes the trunk. He states that the Kowalskis and the DuBois' have different notions, and Stella is quick to agree.  Blanche emerges from the bathroom and tries to make small talk with Stanley and asks him how she looks. She notices the fact that Stanley has been through her trunks and he states he was helping her unpack. He questions her

“expensive” clothes and Blanche begins fishing for compliments. Stanley mentions the Napoleonic Code and Blanche states that she does not have the paperwork for Belle Reve. Stanley grabs love letters than Blanche received from her late husband and she says she will burn them now Stanley had touched them. Stanley tells Blanche about Stella’s pregnancy and the guests begun to arrive for the poker party. Blanche tells Stella of how she flirted with Stanley during their conversation and the two leave for their night out.

Join now!

Scene Three

Two a.m. the same night, Stanley, Pablo, Steve and Mitch play poker. Stanley is aggressive as he is drunk and Mitch says he needs to go home, as his mother is sick.

 Stella and Blanche return home to find the poker game still in progress and on her way to the bathroom, Blanche meets Mitch. There seems to be an immediate attraction between the two and later Blanche asks Stella about Mitch. Blanche stands directly in the light while she is changing so the men can see her through the drapes. Stanley gets annoyed with the sisters ...

This is a preview of the whole essay