How important are illusion and fantasy as themes in A Streetcar Named Desire?
How important are illusion and fantasy as themes in A Streetcar Named Desire? An illusion is fake belief whereas fantasy is imagining fanciful visions. Both these themes are important in the play because they show how they can be mistaken for reality by each character in the play. The themes illusion and fantasy are involved from the start of the play. We learn from when Stanley throws the package of meat down to Stella that he is a dominant character and that his relationship with Stella isn't as happy as it may seem to be. Even in scene 2, Stanley's aggressiveness is shown towards Stella, 'since when do you give me orders?'. However, the most significant example of his brutality is during the Poker Game in scene 3. This is where the themes illusion and fantasy are brought in, because Stella lives in a fantasy world with Stanley. We learn how Stanley keeps Stella under the thumb. However violent Stanley might be, she won't reveal that her relationship has problems to Blanche or anyone, 'it wasn't anything as serious as you seem to take it. In the first place, when men are drinking and playing poker anything can happen.' Stella has psychologically made herself get used to this behaviour from Stanley, 'why, on our wedding - soon as we came in here - he snatched off one of my slippers and rushed about the place, smashing the light bulbs with it.' She has made it seem normal
Discuss the deterioration of Blanche's state of mind in the play A Streetcar Named Desire.
Discuss the deterioration of Blanche's state of mind in the play A Streetcar Named Desire From the start to the end it's hard to say that Blanche's deterioration was not catalysed by her surroundings. One of the issues is whether or not Blanche would have ended up in this mental state without the contributing factors. When you first meet Blanche she seems like a relatively normal lady though there are still some underlying characteristics. We attain that blanche has a drinking problem, as the stage note says, 'She pours a half tumbler of whiskey and tosses it down'. Almost straight after this Blanche says to herself 'I've got to keep hold of myself'. The reason why Blanche left her school was her exhaustion but she gives subtle hints that really she couldn't take it, 'My nerves broke. I was on the verge of lunacy, almost!' Quickly you see the first sign of deterioration when she lectures Stella about Belle Reve, her initial greeting is turned upside down by this, 'Where were you. In bed with your Polak!' Blanche is already starting to lose herself. Stanley and Blanche meet and to start with everyone is quite pleasant, this though will not continue. Stanley offers Blanche a drink and she says, 'No I rarely touch it', Stanley shows a sign of things to come with, 'Some people rarely touch it, but it touches them often.' This is another insight to the dishonesty and misguided
To what extent does Williams portray Blanche as a tragic heroine in Scene 1?
Although there are many different viewpoints on a tragic hero, Aristotle made his views clear that a hero must fall from fortune and power, with a tragic flaw allowing the reader to empathise with the character. It is difficult to determine whether Blanche has these qualities from scene one, however there are clear signs that she is far from a conventional heroine. Williams has Blanche first enter the play in a naïve and shocked manner to display her lack of power and insecurity in society. As Blanche enters New Orleans, it is made clear that 'her appearance is incongruous' as Williams immediately presents her as an outsider to the community. The image Williams creates of her 'carrying a valise' whilst wearing a 'fluffy bodice' is a stark contrast to the urban surroundings and the 'easy intermingling of races'. Williams does this to encourage the audience to question her belonging in society, wondering why the main character has so little in common with the setting of the play. This lack of power makes it clear to the audience that Blanche is not a tragic heroine, with her reversal of fortune being hard to foresee. Therefore Williams uses Blanche's strange entrance to New Orleans to emphasise her lack of heroic qualities. Williams uses Blanche's hypocritical actions about alcohol to remove any pity the audience may have for her addiction. As Blanche first enters Stella's
First Perceptions of Blanche Dubois - “What are your early perceptions of Blanche?” In what ways has Tennessee Williams created this response?
First Perceptions of Blanche Dubois "What are your early perceptions of Blanche?" In what ways has Tennessee Williams created this response? The delineation of Blanche Dubois as seen in the first chapter of Tennessee Williams 'A Streetcar Named Desire' is one of astonishment and acceptance. She has obviously had to travel some distance to reach her destination and I think that this has taken its toll on Blanche and affects her patience later on in the scene, and which may also explain her growing hysteria. The first time the Blanche is depicted by the stage directions, the reader (or view of the play) obviously notices that she does not fit in with the poor, run down area of New Orleans that she had entered: "Her expression is one of shocked disbelief... looking as if she were arriving at a summer tea or cocktail party in the garden district...Her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light. There is something about her uncertain manner, as well as her white clothes, that suggests a moth" From this description, we can infer that, like a moth that is attracted to the light or flame, which will undoubtedly burn it, she too could be attracted to something that could hurt her in some way. The white that she is wearing also suggests purity and innocence, possibly reflecting her arrival to the alien world. Throughout the first scene, Blanche is constantly interacting with the
A Street Car Named Desire The Kowalskis and Du Bois have different notions
"The Kowalski's and Du Bois' have different notions" With close analysis of scene 3 examine to what extent you agree. Throughout the entirety of Williams' play it is painfully apparent that the Kowalski and Du Bois families are very different. The almost 'opposing' lifestyles of Stanley Kowalski and Blanche Du Bois are so incredibly dissimilar they are set to clash from scene one however it is arguably not until scene three that we see the true extent of their differences. It would also be unjust not to mention that the two, although opposing, can be very similar in the play, yet the rationale behind their similar actions can be seen as very different indeed. Both Blanche and Stanley strive for control and need to be loved but their class divide and contrasting values can make this would be similarity seem poles apart. The most obvious way that Blanche and Stanley can been seen as different is in that way that they conduct themselves. Stanley is very brash and blunt refusing to change the way that he wants to act to suit a situation. Blanche on the other hand is far more 'old fashioned', she presents herself in a very respectful and ladylike way and therefore expects to be treated with courtesy. These traits are first clearly revealed in scene three as Blanche, after first receiving welcomed flattery from Stella asking "How do I look?", enters the room in which
How much sympathy do we feel for Blanche in the opening scenes of the play and why is this?
Kat Budd How much sympathy do we feel for Blanche in the opening scenes of the play and why is this? In what way do the stage directions contribute to our understanding of her character? Blanche's first appearance in the play is in the first scene, at the train station. The stage directions imply that she is daintily dressed, in "a white suit with a fluffy bodice". She appears very fragile and delicate, though not necessarily vulnerable. Even though we have only known the character of Blanche for a very short time, we already feel that there is something suspicious about her nature and behaviour. The line "her delicate beauty must avoid strong light" suggests something shadowy about her past, and the direct comparison with a moth makes her sound fluttery and instable. Blanche's speech near the beginning of the play does not make the reader feel empathy or sympathy for her, though perhaps pity. Her desperation to attract men is revealed in her trying conversation with the other characters. In the first scene, when Blanche in talking to Eunice, the stage direction "with faintly hysterical humour", gives her the deceitful air of trying to appear naïve and innocent as she describes where she is going. Even in the first scene she already seems an irritating type of person, though her constant effort to be liked and attractive means the audience does feel some pity for her.
Discuss the role of Mitch in 'street car named desire' Tennessee Williams first introduces Mitch's character in the poker scene as one of the players with the other three
Discuss the role of Mitch in 'street car named desire' Tennessee Williams first introduces Mitch's character in the poker scene as one of the players with the other three guys including Stanley. Mitch's character is portrayed differently to the other male characters in the book for example all the players speak coarsely, enjoying primitive, direct humour, mixing it with the cards, chips, and whiskey except Mitch because he 'keeps wondering' how his mother is .He is first distinguished from the other three males when he shows his concern for his mother. 'I gotta a sick mother .she don't go to sleep until I come in at night.' But other players tease him saying 'then why don't you stay home with her' and the bad-tempered Stanley tells him 'go home'. Briefly in scene three Mitch's gentlemanly behaviour stands out from the other male characters. Mitch appears to be a kind, decent human being who we later learn in Scene Six hopes to marry as his mother 'worries because' he is not 'settled' as 'she won't live long'. Blanche describes him as having 'a great capacity for devotion' because of the love for his mother. Tennessee Williams shows Mitch's emotions through his actions when he is talking about his mother dying soon 'his voice is horse and he clears his throat twice, shuffling nervously around with his hands .....'This description clearly shows his love and concern for his
