Explore the uses Williams makes of setting, dialogue, stage direction and effects in scene 6

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Explore the uses Williams makes of setting, dialogue, stage direction and effects in scene 6

Tennessee Williams is well known for his use of extensive stage directions to set the mood for a scene, and in A Streetcar Named Desire this is particularly obvious in scene six. As most playwrights do, Tennessee Williams introduces the scene with a short description of the area and surroundings of the characters and their positions.

His description of the characters goes beyond simple descriptions, suggesting aspects of their personality as well as their moods. For example, he describes Blanche as having ‘the utter exhaustion which only a neurasthenic personality can know’, this adds to the audiences view of Blanche as it adds to the idea that Blanche’s psyche is slowly deteriorating.

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Williams suggests this from an early stage within the play; on Blanche’s arrival in New Orleans she is described as ‘daintily dressed’ and that ‘her delicate beauty must avoid strong light’, suggesting that she is fragile and easily broken, perhaps on the verge of falling apart. Her instability is suggested through her erratic actions and mood swings, in particular is her use of French when she speaks to Mitch. This could be Williams’ way of telling us that she either feels or is misunderstood, and to show the difference between her flair and intellect compared with Mitch. She voices her ...

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