Explore how Tennessee Williams uses symbols and expressionistic stage devices in the play.
Explore how Tennessee Williams uses symbols and expressionistic stage devices in the play. The play is rich in symbols, which serve as foreshadowing; hinting of things to come. These hints can be recognized from the beginning of the drama. The most obvious symbol used in A Streetcar Named Desire is its title and the actual reference, in the play, to the streetcars named Desire and Cemeteries. They are the means by which Blanche was brought to the home of Stanley and Stella and, as the play unfolds, we realize the names of the streetcars have a greater significance. Blanche's instructions were to "take a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries." When Blanche first arrives she is possessed by a desire for love and understanding, but always in the background lurks the fear of death and destruction. If the one cannot be obtained, a transfer to the other will be the inevitable alternative. Blanche indicates this in her speech to Mitch in scene nine: "Death - I used to sit here and she used to sit over there and death was as close as you are ... We didn't dare even admit we had ever heard of it. The opposite is desire." A subtle use of this symbol makes scene six very poignant: Mitch and Blanche have just returned from the amusement park and she asks how he will get home - she says, "Is that streetcar named Desire still grinding along the tracks at this
A Steercar Named Desire - Blanche's Psychological Breakdown.
A Steercar Named Desire - Blanche's Psychological Breakdown In Tennesse Williams' play, "A Streetcar Named Desire" the readers are introduced to a character named Blanche DuBois. In the plot, Blanche is Stella's younger sister who has come to visit Stella and her husband Stanley in New Orleans. After their first meeting Stanley develops a strong dislike for Blanche and everything associated with her. Among the things Stanley dislikes about Blanche are her "spoiled-girl" manners and her indirect and quizzical way of conversing. Stanley also believes that Blanche has conned him and his wife out of the family mansion. In his opinion, she is a good-for-nothing "leech" that has attached itself to his household, and is just living off him. Blanche's lifelong habit of avoiding unpleasant realities leads to her breakdown as seen in her irrational response to death, her dependency, and her inability to defend herself from Stanley's attacks. Blanche's situation with her husband is the key to her later behavior. She married rather early at the age of sixteen to whom a boy she believed was a perfect gentleman. He was sensitive, understanding, and civilized much like herself coming from an aristocratic background. She was truly in love with Allen whom she considered perfect in every way. Unfortunately for her he was a homosexual. As she caught him one evening in their house with an
"Some critics suggest that Williams takes no sides in the conflict between Blanche & Stanley." Do you agree?
Melissa Graham English Literature "Some critics suggest that Williams takes no sides in the conflict between Blanche & Stanley." Do you agree? I feel that this statement is partially untrue; at certain points through the play William's chooses a side to tell the story from rather than a favourite character. Blanche's initial character was to represent that of William's and Stanley's, the bad aspects of life that abuse the weak. Although saying this about Stanley he does show some true good qualities and genuine emotions within the play and at the same time Blanche shows the whit and knowledge to rise above Stanley. Throughout 'A Streetcar Named Desire' Williams can switch from one character to another in who he is favouring, and who has the power in the scene can change almost instantly with either force from Stanley or a quick witted line from Blanche. He portrays faults in both Stanley and Blanche and we see from the very beginning of the play that they have many differences, starting from their backgrounds and upbringing. The only thing that ties them together and the one reason they are introduced is Stella, Stanley's wife and Blanche's sister. The awkward first meeting shows the power struggle immediately from the first scene, although both characters are civil towards each other, even though it may be difficult for Stanley. "[Drawing
A Streetcar Named Desire: Contextualising
A Streetcar Named Desire: Contextualising Tennessee Williams uses 'A Streetcar Named Desire' to relate to his own personal life, echoes of his own life are present in the plot and sub-plot of the play. The play is set during the era in which it was written therefore it must have been easy for Williams to relate characters to real life people. Also because this play is meant to be as real to life as possible within the confines of the story means that everyone who goes to watch the play will be able to relate to the characters depicted in some way or other. This would attract the audience because they would have something in common and would be interested to see how they would react and be able to comprehend their actions and what they are experiencing. At the time of writing the play the Second World War had recently ended, this had affected almost everybody in the speaking world and everybody could relate to it, at this time there was a lot of concern for family and friends as they realised how easy it is to lose your loved ones, this may be the reason the Williams past and family are evident in the play and other works of his during the time. The time at which the play was written was very successful for Williams' career, he had won many awards for his work and he had received a large number of good reviews for his works at the time. This may explain Williams new found
Form and Structure of ‘ A Streetcar Named Desire’.
Form and Structure of ' A Streetcar Named Desire' According to a 18th century French dramatists definition of 'A well made play', a tragedy should sequentially follow these points - 1.) Exposition (introduction of characters and situations) 2.) Conflict (a huge problem is bought to the surface) 3.) Complications (the problem develops) 4.) Climax (the most dramatic, and tension filled part of the play) 5.) Dénouement (the resolution) From studying 'A Streetcar Named Desire' it is possible to recognise that this play follows the plot formation points from the definition above. The exposition, occurs right at the beginning, when the main characters Stanley, Stella, Mitch are introduced, before they leave for the 'Four Deuces' (the local bowling alley). Following that, Blanche lands herself in front of Stella and Stanley's apartment engaging in polite conversation with Eunice (the lady who lives with her husband Steve directly above Stella and Stanley) and the Negro woman as to where she can find her sister Stella. It is not then until the Poker night in scene three when Stanley's friends Steve - Eunice's husband from upstairs and Pablo) are introduced The conflict relates to when Blanche arrives unexpectedly, there is obvious tension between Stanley and Blanche, as he is very wary of any ulterior motives she might have. This leads to tensions between Stanley and
How is Blanche Dubois rendered a sympathetic character? 'A Streetcar named Desire'
How is Blanche Dubois rendered a sympathetic character? The three-act play 'A Streetcar named Desire' develops character and theme. The social and historical content reveal the character symbolically along with the narrative technique and idiolect. The text is written more like a novel then a drama, and has to be read to be fully appreciated. Blanches fear of light is put to use both literally and figuratively emphasising her need to escape reality. Her introduction describes her as a moth. The comparison of Blanche to this creature creates the idea of Blanche bringing about self-destruction, like the moth that is attracted to the light that destroys it. The light is a source of realism, a quality Blanche rejects for her fantasy world. "I wont be looked at in this merciless glare!" Blanche prefers things to be kept in the dark, where they can be kept secret to make life bearable. Blanche tries to escape her past as she does reality, but the unjust society and her own guilt prevent this and trap her in the past, replaying over and over in her mind. "There now, the shot! It always stops after that!" Blanche has authorial narrative, she realises the symbolism of the candle and the train illustrating her tragic background and uses it to dramatise her story in order to deceive Mitch. "Never for one moment...kitchen candle." Alan deceived Blanche and now Blanche is
Do Tennessee Williams and F Scott Fitzgerald celebrate or condemn the American Way?
Do Tennessee Williams and F Scott Fitzgerald celebrate or condemn the American Way? According to the Americans, the American Way is an ideal way of living. It is free of the persecution and prejudice that the Pilgrim Fathers fled from in the seventeenth century. They escaped to America absconding religious persecution. They were Puritans, and so believed themselves to be "God's chosen people". This became a self-fulfilling prophecy, which lead them to aspire to build an ideal society, which would become an aspiration to other nations. The American Way meant that members of the American society would live in a meritocracy, were people work hard, competitively, honestly and in a spirit of Christian decency. " Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the Golden Door." This is the poem imprinted on the Statue of Liberty in America. It approves of the American Way and believes that it will undoubtedly lead to success. In the eighteenth century, a sense of self-reliance was introduced. Benjamin Franklin's famous quote "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy and wise" inspired members of the society to work hard in the industrialised society in order to achieve successes. This re-highlights the meritocracy in the American
"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?
Will Higgins "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? I feel that I am in strong agreement with this statement. Blanche interfered with Stanley's lifestyle, and he had little choice but to remove her from his world The most obvious difference between Blanche and Stanley is one of social background. Whereas Blanche comes from an old Southern family and was raised to see herself as socially elite, Stanley comes from an immigrant family and is a proud member of the working class. They meet one another in the socially turbulent postwar period in New Orleans, one of America's most diverse cities, and the facts point towards a turbulent relationship will occur between the two. Each represents values that are antagonistic to the other's chance at success in the modern world. Blanche invades Stanley's territory and is a threat to his lifestyle. He has little option but to destroy her. Within the play, Stella's loyalty serves as a symbol of that societal success. Throughout the play Blanche tries to deter Stella from Stanley, "There's even something - sub-human - something not quite to the stage of humanity yet!", "He's common!" and "There's something downright - bestial - about him!" These are some examples of this. Blanche attempts to convince Stella to leave
The Attitude to and Treatment of Women in A Streetcar Named Desire.
The Attitude to and Treatment of Women in A Streetcar Named Desire. In A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams has a great deal to say about the rôle of, the function of and the attitude towards women, which tend to reflect not only the thoughts of people in Williams' society, but modern attitudes as well. Blanche and Stella are highly detailed characters, and one can sort Williams' development of them into six categories: their clothes and appearances; their personalities, including their flaws and weaknesses; the language used by the two women and how it differs from that of other characters; the treatment of the two women by the men in the play; their treatment of each other; and finally the conflicts that each of the women gets involved in. The last three categories may be examined as one, since the treatment of the women and their conflicts are almost the same thing. To start with, the most obvious way in which the women are portrayed is their appearance. This is perhaps the most important and effective method, at least early on, of establishing the personalities of characters in a play. Williams certainly seems to believe this: the stage directions for Blanche's entrance are explicit, and several fitting adjectives and adverbs are used: "delicate", "fluffy", and "daintily" are examples. With her pearl earrings, and her gloves, her whole person conjures the image
Scene VI in Tennessee Williams A Streetcar named Desire is very important to the view that the audience have of Blanche DuBois.
Scene 6 Prep Scene VI in Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar named Desire is very important to the view that the audience have of Blanche DuBois. The scene shows the side of her character that may detract from the sympathy that the audience have for her but also an incredibly touching account of the death of her husband which creates a great deal of pity from the audience. Williams utilises the light and polka music to create a degree of sympathy but also the dramatic manner in which Blanche expresses her feelings can portray to the audience what she has been through and create an air of sympathy for her. The main item in scene VI that creates sympathy for Blanche is the account of the death of her husband. At the beginning of the description, the audience will know that Blanche will have difficulty expressing what she is trying to say due to the fact that she cannot make eye contact with Mitch whom she is talking to; "[She crosses to the window and sits on the sill, looking out.]" This creates a more reflective atmosphere in the scene and immediately changes the way the audience sees Blanche as opposed to earlier in the play where sympathy for her is limited due to the spoilt manner in which she behaves, especially towards Stella; "Run to the drug store and get me a lemon coke with plenty of chipped ice in it!" This perhaps catches the audience's attention to make them take
