The birthday party
Gcse scripted play 1 The birthday party : The play the birthday party by Harold Pinter. This is a dark humoured play set in an English town. It is about a couple who let out a room to a lodger called Stanley. One day two men arrive on a door step looking for rooms. The arrival of these men opens up a can of worms for Stanley, as they come from a mysterious past. Although we never discover the whole picture of what Stanley did, a web of tension is woven around the relationship that Stanley has with these men. Goldberg, the stronger character of the two, masterminds the destruction of Stanley and the play centres Very much around the way in which they do it. 2: The extract We chose this section because it involved the final showdown, which is the most moving part of the play. It is the bit where Goldberg and McCann are scaring him with psychological warfare. The rest of the play really gives reader/ watcher the full background of the play. There is a lot of tension built up as the story progresses. In the scene that we going to perform is a climax until Stanley has a mental breakdown. This is made very humorous as Stanley is not expecting this and starts to feel very uncomforted as the speech is confusing him mentally. 3: the character I began to like McCann because he wasn't really that strong at getting his point across but he was used by Goldberg to put pressure on
How and Why does Williams dramatise the influence of the past on the present?
How and Why does Williams dramatise the influence of the past on the present? 'A Streetcar Named Desire' is a fascinating and intriguing play. The playwright, Tennessee Williams, uses many sound effects and dramatic devices to emphasize the influence of the past on the present in a mesmerizing and interesting way. It is upon the main character, Blanche, that Williams shows this influence. Many of these effects and devices are expressionistic and give us an insight into what Blanche feels at any one time, as they are a physical representation of Blanche's mental regression. Williams also uses a variety of naturalistic effects. These are stage directions which describe the realities of the quarter. The "Blue Piano" music and the cat which screeches in the first scene are both examples of this. On the other hand, expressionistic devices describe Blanche' psychological progression depending on what the context is. The most important example of this in the play is the Varsouviana, which appears regularly throughout the play. At the beginning of the play, Blanche appears unexpectedly at her sister's home, the influence of the past begins to appear. The way she treats Stella reflects her desire to return to the past as she calls her "my baby" and "Stella for Star". It also seems that Blanche is trying to lay claim to Stella by reminding her that she is the younger sister and
A streetcar named desire - Blanche and Stanley.
A streetcar named desire was written by Tennessee Williams in his mid thirties. Williams takes the audience to New Orleans where the relationship of Blanche DuBois, her sister Stella and brother illuminated. In this play Blanche, Stella and Stanley were very important and controversial because they represent a distress society by problems of class differences. This essay will point out the similarities and differences of Blanche and Stanley as well as my own impression about the characters. The first impression that I received from Blanche is that she's a very high class, intelligent, beautiful, and arrogant with aristocratic background lady. The example from the play is when Blanche was very shocked by the place that her sister is living in. Blanche is a very sensitive and emotional woman. This is shown when Stanley asked her about the boy that she has married to, her impression is suddenly changed. She seems to me as the person with inability to face reality. She can't accept the fact that she's thirty; she still seeks put compliments on her appearance from her sister and other people in order to fulfill herself and her self-esteem. To me she also seemed to be a flirting type of person. In this play it's clearly shown that she's trying to attract Mitch and also when she asked Stanley to button her dress. She attempts to make herself appear attractive to new male suitors.
How effective a title do you think "A Streetcar Named Desire" is for this play?
How effective a title do you think "A Streetcar Named Desire" is for this play? The following will be examining how effectual I believe the title "A Streetcar Named Desire" is for this play. "A Streetcar Named Desire" is written by Tennessee Williams. The play portrays different characters' desires of diverse aspects of life. I think the title is very effective because it attracts various readers. This is due to the use of the word "desire". The use of this word demonstrates many different characters' desires that they have in their life. The characters who this includes are: Blanche who wants to fulfil her desires of love, sex and end loneliness. Blanche depends on male sexual admiration for her sense of self-esteem, which means that she has often yielded to passion. She also has a bad drinking problem, which she covers up poorly. Blanche is an insecure, dislocated individual. This can be seen by her drinking problem; Mitch who hopes to marry so that he will have a woman to bring home to his dying mother. In addition end his loneliness and isolation that he has suffered. He appears to be a kind and decent human being. He is also very sensitive than Stanley's other poker friends; Stanley has sexual desires and the use of his power and dominance towards his friends and family. His main amusements are gambling, bowling, sex, and drinking, and he lacks morals and
In A Street Car Named Desire Tennessee Williams uses music and sound to help symbolise certain themes
A Streetcar Named Desire- Music and Sound. In A Street Car Named Desire Tennessee Williams uses music and sound to help symbolise certain themes, help build on characters and create different types of atmosphere. He uses things like the 'blue piano' and the polka music to help do this. Tennessee Williams uses the 'blue piano' to symbolise the life in this play, it shows the general atmosphere of the play. At the end of the opening stage directions we are told this, it says, 'This 'blue piano' expresses the spirit of the life which goes on here.' This is saying as long as the 'blue piano' is playing life still goes on. But when life is disrupted the music from the 'blue piano' changes. This is shown when Blanche first arrives, 'The 'blue piano' gets louder.' This shows that Blanches arrival is going to affect the life of the characters in the play. This also helps to create tension. The 'blue piano' can also be heard along side the trumpets. At the end of scene two they are playing together, this shows that something is building up. This also helps create a sense of tension and suspense because it makes us want to know what it is building up to. Then at the end of scene four the piano, trumpet and rums are all playing together, it is building up to something big. This adds to the sense of tension and suspense. Then at the very end of the final scene, when Blanche
A Streetcar Named Desire - scene by scene analysis.
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
Was Stanley Kowalski the reason for Blanche's downfall?
Was Stanley Kowalski the reason for Blanche's downfall? Blanches Downfall could have been because of Stanley Kowalski but also it could have been another reason. Perhaps the most obvious one is her difficulty fitting in with life in New Orleans. From the beginning we see Blanche does not fit in with the people of her new community, nor her physical surroundings in her new home. This is shown at the start of scene one when it is easy to see that she disapproves of her sister living there. "This - can this be - her home?" This is perhaps Blanche being subtle as later when the place is described as having "raffish charm", Blanche does not even recognise that and she describes it as, "Only Poe! Only Edgar Allen Poe! - Could do it justice!" Blanche represents a deep-seated attachment to the past. She has lived her whole life in Laurel, a small southern town; her family had upper-class roots and taught Blanche about some of the finer things in life. Unfortunately she cannot cope with life outside Laurel. Her refusal to come out of the time warp makes her unrealistic and flighty. When Blanche appears, she is described in detail, not only her clothes but also the impression she gives of delicacy and vulnerability. "There is something about her uncertain manner", and the way she drinks as soon as she reaches the apartment shows that she is extremely nervous and uncomfortable. "Her
Using the opening Stage Directions of Scene Three
Using the opening Stage Directions of Scene Three as your starting point, explore the variety of William's dramatic uses of colour and symbolism in the play as a whole. In scene three Tennessee Williams immediately centres the focus, on the poker night while initiating a vivid description of "Van Gogh's of a billiard-parlour at night". William's dramatic uses of rich, "raw colours of children's spectrum" indicates the importance of colour. The reference to "raw colours" reveals the attitude and behaviour of Stanley, Steve, Mitch and Pablo, as reflected that they are wearing "coloured shirts, solid blue, a purple, a red and white check," and "a light green". Moreover, Williams states that these men are "as coarse and direct and powerful as the primary colours." This motif of colour has appeared in scene one, when describing the sky is "a peculiarly tender blue, almost turquoise", a contrast from the harsh "primary colours" as well as a reference made in scene four, "dangles a book of coloured comics" implying a child-like, naïve behaviour. In addition this supports Stanley behaviour as primitive and "ape-like" Blanche often speaks of Stanley as "like an animal" and "sub human". The humorous metaphor, "Stanley Kowalski- survivor of the stone age!" represents Stanley as a very unrefined manhood, a romantic idea of man untouched by civilization and its effeminizing influences,
The Depiction of Patriarchy in "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams
Feminist reading: The play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams was written in the late in the late 1940’s in New Orleans, Louisiana. In literature, the patriarchy is said to oppress all women and most men. This can be seen as true during the journey of characters such as Blanche, Stella, and Mitch. On the other hand, the text also conveys how the patriarchy can empower men, through the representation of the character of Stanley. In the play, Stella can be seen as the usual oppression of the feminine by the representation of the patriarchy in Stanley. It is made obvious throughout the play that Stanley holds some ownership or authority over his wife. This is evident in scene three when Stanley ‘gives a loud whack of his hand on Stella’s thigh’ with Stella replying “That’s not fun, Stanley” which is greeted with laughter by the other men at the poker table. This is a sign of Stanley’s believed sexual ownership over his wife, and an example of how Stella is oppressed within the marriage. Stella’s response also reinforces the idea that the women are the ‘passive’ within the hegemonic idea of what marriage ought to be. Further on in the scene, Stanley’s acts of violence towards Stella escalate. “Drunk – drunk – animal thing, you! … You lay your hands on me and I’ll-.” This portrays Stella’s reaction to the threat of Stanley’s
Examples of compelling and powerful moments in 'A Street Car Named Desire'.
Examples of compelling and powerful moments in 'A Street Car Named Desire' Stanley Kowalski displays his brutality in many ways during the course of the play; he is the character who provides the most tension and uproar amongst the other characters. Stanley Kowalski is a very brutal and barbaric person who always has to feel that no one is better than him. He shows this when he cruelly reminds Stella that he is 'the King' of their home. His brutish and ferocious actions during the play leave the reader with a bad taste in their mouths. Stanley's brutality is shown in several places during the duration of the play. For example, his first array of brutality is evident at the poker night when he gets so angry and throws the radio out the window. Another example of his brutality is displayed when he beats his wife, Stella so hard that she 'cries out'. Lastly, his arrogance and ferocious actions are most apparent when he rapes Blanche, while his wife is in labour in the hospital. Stanley Kowalski's first exhibition of his brutal actions occurs at poker night. Blanche turns on the radio, but Stanley demands her to turn it off. Blanche refuses and so Stanley gets up himself and turns it off him self. When Stanley's friend, Mitch, drops out of the game to talk to Blanche, Stanley gets upset and he even gets more upset when Blanche flicks on the radio. Due to the music being
