Some critics believe that A Streetcar Named Desire is a failure as a tragedy as it's so ambiguous - audience don't know who to side with. Discuss this view of the play.

Some critics believe that A Streetcar Named Desire is a failure as a tragedy as it's so ambiguous - audience don't know who to side with. Discuss this view of the play. In many ways Streetcar takes a very untraditional approach to its tragic aspects and follows the more modern domestic tragedies however it does still follow many of the aspects of a classical tragedy according to Aristotle. Aristotle's aspects begins with the hero starting in a high position, whilst Blanche is not in a high position she does act as if she is by looking down on Stella's home. But aspects such as the unity of time, place and action as well as the redemption of the hero are almost completely ignored. This doesn't make it a failure however as particularly with the redemption of the hero these things often turn the play into more of a tragedy; it begins to feel a little more real and relatable this makes life itself seem more like a tragedy and you resign yourself to the idea that the story has no end to it because the tragedy of life will never end. One of Aristotle's aspects that we see quite greatly throughout the play is that of the hubris and the hamartia which is the fatal flaw that causes their downfall. Blanche has many flaws but her hamartia is her delusions, she tells Mitch how she 'doesn't want realism' and how she'll even 'tell [people] what ought to be truth.' It's this that causes

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How does Williams develop our understanding of Stanley in this scene? As well as looking at his speech & actions, also consider the relationship he has with both Stella and Blanche.

How does Williams develop our understanding of Stanley in this scene? As well as looking at his speech & actions, also consider the relationship he has with both Stella and Blanche Scene 2 Williams shows Stanley as loud, sexist, aggressive and an over-powering animalistic character. Stanley's actions are largely motivated by his wish to protect his wife and unborn baby; this is a natural reaction for which he should not be judged on. Stanley sees Blanche as a threat, an invasion of his territory, something that needs to be dealt with. Stanley is continuously described as brutish by Blanche; a fact that he never protests. In my opinion Blanche is as much if not more to blame for her eventual downfall at the hands of Stanley. From very early on Stanley establishes himself as a symbol of the old World. From the beginning we see that Blanche does not fit in with the people of her new community, also she is unable to fit in with her physical surroundings in her new home. We can see that she did not fit in with the people of the community by comparing the manner in which women in the story handle their social life with men. Much of Blanche's attitude shows how she is unwilling to accept the new world and so also unwilling to accept Stanley. Blanche understands, as if by instinct, the threat that Stanley represents. She knows that he has no need for the polite evasions that are

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How important are illusions and fantasy as themes in 'A Streetcar Named Desire?'

How important are illusions and fantasy as themes in 'A Streetcar Named Desire?' 'A Streetcar Named Desire', by Tennessee Williams, explores many important themes and issues in the book. The main theme Williams investigates and explores to the audience, is illusion and fantasy. Each character in the book contributes to creating, adding to and destructing fantasies and illusions, and I feel it is a very important theme in the book, as it represents and symbolises other issues Williams explores with the audience. The play 'A Streetcar Named Desire' revolves around the character Blanche Dubois; therefore, the main theme of the drama concerns her directly. In Blanche, the audience is shown the tragedy of an individual, caught between two worlds - the world of her past and the world of her present, unwilling to let go of the past and unable, because of her character, to come to any sort of terms with her present. The final result at the end of the play is the deterioration of her mind and character and her self-destruction. Blanche dwells in illusion; fantasy is her primary means of self-defence against her weaknesses and shortcomings. The story begins with Blanche going to New Orleans to stay with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley. Straight away, we are introduced to Blanche's illusions and the battle between the illusions and the characters begins. We are introduced to

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Assess the view that Tennessee Williams use of symbolism in "A Street Car Named Desire" enhances the audiences understanding of the characters and themes in the play.

Assess the view that Tennessee Williams' use of symbolism in A Street Car Named Desire enhances the audience' understanding of the characters and themes in the play. Symbolism plays a large role in A Streetcar Named Desire, although it may be a discreet one. The tragic elements of the story are illustrated through many symbols and add meaning to the story and foreshadow upcoming events. Many scenes have stood out, such as the famous poker scene and the characters language and imagery have helped to develop the story for the audience's understanding. The main protagonist in the play is Blanche Dubois, a fading southern belle, as the story follows her visit to her sister in New Orleans and brings chaos and turmoil into lives of many other characters in her sister's life, such as her husband Stanley and his friends. The male dominance in the play is strongly influenced by the presence of Stanley Kowalski. The headstrong character is a modern man; he has a tight hold over his wife Stella. As he throws a package of meat for her to catch she is more then reluctant and delighted to catch which symbols her infatuation and his sexual dominance and power over her is obvious. Stanley shows animalistic characteristics in his animal-like behaviour that he produces, he eats like an animal at the table and refers to himself as a 'king' in his own home. Male dependency is a definitive key

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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'Communication is - awful hand between people ... '. Consider the relevance of Brick's observation to the characterisation of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof".

'Communication is - awful hand between people ... '. Consider the relevance of Brick's observation to the characterisation of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Communication is a key aspect in the dynamics of the characters in the play "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". This contact and interaction with the characters displays to the reader the nature of the person and the feelings they have towards each other. Communication is very important in this play to help us, as readers, understand the characters and the relationships they hold between them. The two main characters, Brick and Maggie, their relationship is important in displaying how a marriage has gone terribly wrong. Unlike Gooper and Mae, the communication between these two has virtually disappeared and they are just live in a celibate marriage; 'They're impossible conditions.' There marriage is not seen as a 'normal' one where they show love and affection it is often likened to a cage 'We occupy the same cage.' This strong metaphor evidently portrays just how their marriage has broken down and that the love had clearly gone. Maggie is often described as a cat as she is exposed as being hysterical and a very dissatisfied wife and a woman. Her husband Brick frustrates Maggie as he refuses to recognise her desire and passion towards him; Brick has this name by no coincidence alone, he is very 'detached' and when Maggie or anyone talks

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Analyse how Tennessee Williams uses language and dramatic techniques to explore attitudes to identity in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Make close reference

Analyse how Tennessee Williams uses language and dramatic techniques to explore attitudes to identity in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Make close reference to an extract in the play. Go on to show your understanding of the significance of attitudes to identity in the play as a whole. Williams' play 'A Streetcar Named Desire' has a full variety of attitudes to identity which are demonstrated through the various characters. Attitudes to identity are important in the play as it gives us a background to the character's lives and who they think they are, also how others perceive them. Mitch's character, for example, can be seen to represent various attitudes to identity; he could be seen as being unsure about who he is, he could be seen as having a masculine life with Stanley and his friends, but then he also has to tend to his mother where he is perhaps seen as not such a masculine man. He is also caught between Blanche, Stanley and his mother; as he can't be the same to all three. Attitudes to identity are shown clearly in scene eight; this is just after Blanche's birthday when Stanley has told Mitch everything he knows about Blanche's past. This is an important scene in presenting the character's attitudes. We are given further insight into the relationship that Stanley and Stella share and also that of Stella and Blanche; showing us how Stella is sometimes torn between her

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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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

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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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

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"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

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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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

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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