Tennessee Williams: "a streetcar named desire"

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the clothes and jewellery he thinks she has bought with the house sale money. Blanche comes in after a bath and her flirtatious manner makes him even more suspicious of her. He demands to see the bill of sale, explaining that he is anxious about his rights because Stella is expecting a baby. Looking for the papers relating to the sale of Belle Reve, he finds instead a sheaf of Blanche's love- letters from her dead husband. Scene 3-6 Much later the same evening, the poker game is still in progress when the sisters return. Stanley has been drinking and he resents Blanche's interest in his shy bachelor friend Mitch. There is a violent scene, with Stanley smashing the radio and hitting Stella (Stanley orders the sisters to be quiet and turns off Blanche's radio. She turns it on again and Stanley throws it out of the window. Stella rushes at him, and he hits her. Stanley's friends restrain and calm him.). The hysterical Blanche takes her sister up to Eunice' flat but is later shocked to find that Stella has gone back to Stanley. The next day Stella tells Blanche that she loves her husband and has no intention of leaving him. Stanley overhears Blanche's condemnation of him as an 'ape'. (Stanley's violent behaviour is related to his dominance and powerfulness, a large part of his sexual attraction for his wife. Yet Blanche condemns Stanley as a savage, a "survivor of the Stone Age", bringing home the raw meat. While Blanche conderns Stanley, he approaches unseen and hear it all. He withdraws and returns noisily, calling for Stella. They embrace and Stanley grins triumphantly at Blanche over Stella's head.) Spurred on by resentment Stanley makes enquiries about Blanche. He discovers that she was forced to leave Laurel, her home town, because of her reputation for promiscuity. His hints about her past terrify Blanche, and she tries to explain her behaviour to Stella, who encourages her hopes that she will marry Mitch. But even while waiting for Mitch, Blanche kisses a young subscription collector. Blanche and Mitch return after an unsuccessful evening out. Mitch is painfully aware of his dullness. He comes in, and they converse awkwardly at first. When Mitch asks Blanche her age, she avoids answering by asking why he wants to know. When he says his mother asked, this leads to a more serious discussion, with Mitch talking about his ailing mother, and Blanche of the suicide of her husband after she found him in bed with another man. Moved by her story, Mitch takes her in his arms. Suddenly Blanche is more hopeful. Scene 7-9 It is now September, and Blanche's birthday. Stella has planned a dinner and invited Mitch. She is decorating a cake when Stanley enters triumphantly with details of Blanche's scandalous past: she was promiscuous even while living at Belle Reve, meeting drunken soldiers at night. After the house sale she moved to a cheap, disreputable hotel, but even here the management asked her to leave. She was dismissed from her teaching post for seducing a pupil. Stella refuses to believe these stories (and blames Blanche's disastrous marriage and her husband's suicide) and is appalled to learn that Stanley has told Mitch and therefore ruined Blanche's chances with Mitch by revealing her past. Blanche emerges from the bathroom in high spirits, but soon senses that something is wrong. Mitch does not arrive. Scene Eight opens less than an hour later. The dismal dinner is over, and Blanche tries in vain to ring Mitch. She is growing increasingly frightened. Stella criticises. Stanley' table manners, and he furiously smashes his plate on the floor. He makes it clear that he resents what he sees as the lack of respect that the two women show him. In particular, he resents what he believes is a criticism of his class from two women who see themselves as better than him. He has a birthday present for Blanche- a bus ticket back to Laurel. Stella reproaches him for his cruelty, but stops abruptly when she goes into labour Stanley takes her to the hospital. Blanche has been drinking alone when Mitch arrives, unshaven and drunk. Blanche is relieved to see him, but not for long. He accuses her of having lied to him about her age and her past. He tells her what he now knows about her past. She admits her promiscuity but tries to explain it. Mitch is unsympathetic, says he no longer wants to marry her, but tries to have sex with her. Her wild cries of 'Fire!' frighten him off. Scene 10-11 Alone again, Blanche goes on drinking steadily. Befuddled, and confused by her own fantasies, she dresses up in her tawdry finery while trying to pack her trunk. Stanley arrives, a little drunk, from the hospital: the baby is not expected to arrive before morning. He mocks Blanche' s claims that she is going on a cruise with a rich admirer, Shep Huntleigh, and that Mitch returned penitent. Scared, Blanche breaks a bottle to defend herself, but Stanley easily disarms her and carries her off to the bedroom to rape her. Crazy with terror, Blanche tries to telephone for help, but her inconsistent message is cut short by Stanley' reappearance in his gaudy wedding-night pyjamas. Blanche's terror rouses Stanley to take her by force. In scene eleven, several weeks have passed. Once more Stanley and his friends are playing poker. Blanche is heard offstage having a bath, while Stella packs her sister's trunk. Eunice enters and from her conversation with Stella we learn that Stella has arranged for Blanche to be taken to asylum (a mental hospital). Stella explains that she could not believe Blanche's story that Stanley raped her, and still go on living with him. Blanche believes that she is going to holiday with an old admirer. A doctor and a matron from the asylum arrive. Blanche is frightened and tries to escape, but the matron restrains her. The doctor's courteous manner reassures her and she leaves on his arm, saying that she's always depended on the kindness of Strangers. Stella is crying and shouting her name. Eunice places to baby in Stella's arms. The poker players, who stood back when Blanche passed them, return to the poker table except Stanley who comforts his desperate wife in a voluptuous way. At the end of the play the poker game continues exposition Stanley overhears Blanche's contemptuous talk about him Stanley mistrusts Blanche Blanche arrives and describes her des- perate situation Blanche explains her past life to Stella and intends to make Mitch desire her Blanche is shocked by Stanley's behaviour and meets Mitch Blanche tells Mitch about Allan's suicide; Mitch wants to marry her since both feel lonely 2nd day 1st day evening evening SC.1 Sc.2 The Structure of the Play evening/ late at night morning Sc. 3 Sc.4 early in May. 3rd day late after- noon/ late at evening night SC.5 Sc.6 Blanche is stood up by Mitch on her birthday Stanley urges Blanche to return to Laurel 4th day late afternoon evening Sc.7 Sc.8 Mitch rejects Blanche and tries to rape her Blanche is raped by Stanley evening night Sc.9 Sc.10 mid-September Blanche is taken to a mental hospital 5th day night Sc.11 some weeks later tragic ending Old South (Belle Reve) Stella Character constellation Relationships between the Major Characters from deceit/hope to honesty/helplessness from sisterly love/helpfulness to deceit/ distress passionate "love"/adaption/conflict sexual desire/dominance Characters 1. Blanche 3. Stella Blanche uncivilized, dominant and rude - but loves his wife from disgust to antagonism/violence from suspicion to destruction/insanity Stanley deceit/longing for love/honesty/disappointment attraction/wish to marry/disappointment/distress - contradictory traits - sexual desire and longing for love and protection 2. Stanley "friendship"/lack of understanding from good-naturedness to hatred - Stanley's good friend, served in the the same company single, lives with his sick mother has an innate kindness and gentleness New South (French Quarter) ambiguous character -moral values between Stanley and Blanche (from higher social class to her husband´s). 4. Mitch - physically strong but mentally weak unable to understand Blanche's loneliness though he feels lonely himself Mitch aka Harold Mitchell army with him and works. Mitch for - he believes Blanche's southern-belle act and falls in love with her, Blanche likes Mitch and wants to marry him so he will protect her - When Stanley tells him the truth about Blanche's sexual history in Laurel, Mitch becomes disillusioned and bitter, refusing to marry her and trying to race her in the end, he tries to prevent Stanley from forcing Blanche to leave, his attempt proves futile and he remains a broken man dominated by Stanley Blanche Dubois comes from a formerly wealthy southern family that owned a plantation called Belle Reve faintly histerical humor - likes to dress up - insecure/sensitive/anxious/traumatised - she is really sensible addicted to alcohol - raised as a refined lady Blanche does not cope well with life's harsh realities and feels like she needs a man to protect her afraid of being alone - Blanche uses desire and illusion to suppress the reality of death and loss - When Blanche was young she married a man who committed suicide when Blanche rejected him for being homosexual since then, Blanche had affairs with several men including a 17 the trauma caused by the death of her husband year attempt to escape When Blanche arrives at the apartment of her sister Stella and her husband Stanley Kowalski in New Orleans, she's a desperate woman who's lost everything she likes to be around her family → only wants the best for Stella and is very excited to meet her again still she keeps up her southern-belle act to protect herself from the harsh world and to get a man to marry her -hysterical/over dramatic -Blanche's ladylike affections clash with Stanley's rude manners and they come to hate each other - eventually Stanley confronts Blanche and rapes her - as a result, Blanche becomes mentally unstable Outline 2: Lack of Understanding Leading to Blanche's Insanity • no understanding of his social position and behaviour • insults, disgust (no manners) • fear (macho-like behaviour, threats, rape) Stella • reproach: her isolation and helplessness at Belle Reve • lies to find protection • suggests to leave her husband neglection: leaving Blanche alone at Belle Reve • sisterly "love" and "care" • superficial entertainment ("a night out") • cheating Blanche; finally remorse and guilty conscience • hope to find protection • wish to marry Mitch old student in an • common experience of loneliness • both caring for mortally sick relatives • shocked after telling the truth and Mitch tries to rape her Blanche - the central character of the play Mitch distrust (Blanche's lies) • dislike (her belonging to the class of plantation owners, her vanity, illusions and hysteria) • sees Blanche as an "intruder" endangering his ordinary family life • relief when Blanche is taken to the mental hospital • fascinated by Blanche's charm • sexual desire / "love" • rejection and attempt at raping Stanley her after knowing the truth • remorse when Blanche is taken to the mental hospital Stella Stanley's wife and Blanche's sister understanding, gentle, polite, supporting, caring, balanced, protective, loving - Has, according to her sister, a quiet, reserved manner but hints at an independence of mind when she replies that she never had much of a chance to talk with her sister around Secretive nature - Stella is more practical and adaptable than Blanche, willing to cast her upper class affectations to marry Stanley, a crude working class man - Stella acts as a mediator between Blanche and Stanley, she loves them both she refuses to believe Blanche's story about being raped by Stanley, because if she did, she would not be able to live with her husband any further - instead, Stella betrays her sister helping Stanley get rid of Blanche by sending her to a mental institution Stanley Kowalski - lives with his wife Stella in a small apartment in New Orleans - Proudly working-class man from a Polish immigrant family, proudly aware of his masculinity - lack of Manners, behaves in a rude way / impolite - is a crude, domineering man who is physically imposing and sees himself as the ruler of his family - when Stanley feels this power structure is threatened, he can become violent, throwing things and even beating Stella even so, Stanley has a strong sexual and emotional bond with his wife - prefers going out with his friends, instead of being around his wife - strongly emphasized sexuality When Blanche comes to stay with him and Stella, Stanley clashes with her - cruel with Blanche - Stanley loves down-to-earth ideas, is bluntly honest and often relies on physical intimidation no empathy with others - Stanley hates what he perceives as Blanche's superior attitude toward him and sees her as a threat to his family order - as a result, he uncovers the truth about Blanche's sexual history in Laurel and uses it against her, then rapes her Blanche the poor surroundings and her • shocked by sister's run-down home ● daintily dressed which contrasts with the ordinarily dressed people in the French Quarter • about 30 years old, obviously fading beauty, delicate and fragile like a "moth" unsettled, hysterical humour treats her sister's neighbour Eunice in a superior and (slightly) offensive way • seems to be dependent on alcohol, which she tries to hide •effusive and over-excited embracing of her sister shows strong feelings of excitement when talking • inconsistent and dishonest when expressing her (negative or positive) views of Stella's hore, in fact she is shocked talkative, prevents her sister from saying sth and insinuates that Stella does not like to see her and wants to know she was fired; the answer to her own question can be doubted (cf. 16 20, 16 36 ff.) • sems to be vain and wishes to be flattered impolite to her sister when talking about her figure and haircut: treating her like a naughty child of • worried about the small flat, the lack privacy and Stanley's character and behaviour • prejudiced against immigrants from Poland and Ireland pretends to be able to stay at a hotel and admits that she feels alone • insinuates that Stella wants to reproach her for the loss of the plantation and then repoaches her sister of having left her alone with her fatally sick relatives • dutiful, caring for her mortally sick relatives imaginative, able to describe her traumatic experiences in a graphic and dramatic way • insults Stella and her husband • frightened by Stanley and dishonest to him nearly faints when she is reminded of her dead husband Stella • about twenty-five years old gentle and obviously belonging to a higher social class than Stanley but seems to have adapted to his life way of ● happy to meet Blanche seems to be afraid of her sister's negative view of the flat and its surroundings, tries to correct her opinion kind and helpful, serves Blanche •patient, good-natured and friendly not willing to listen to Blanche when she gets hysterical •feels deeply insulted when Blanche accuses her of following her sexual desires only and calls Stanley a Polack • seems to love Stanley passionately and feels lonely. without him Stanley • about the age of Blanche (30), strongly built belongs to the working class •fond of bowling, gambling and poker. •domineering and impolite decorated officer in World War II • has to do a lot of travelling for his company enjoys pleasures with women, proud of his virility does not accept women as equal to men • appreciates his friends and rough humour ● ● enjoys the pleasures of life such as drinking and good food proud of material good he owns such as a car, a radio, etc. • seems to agree to Blanche's staying with them suspicious when Blanche pretends not to drink feels that Blanche considers him an unrefined type Major Themes and Motifs - Desire, love and friendship - Loneliness and lack of understanding - Violence and softness - Diseases and death - Gender roles, moral values and religion Imagery and Symbolism - Alcohol: drowning fears and calming nerves - Water (bathing): to wash off sins and guilt - Naked light bulb: realism and naked truth - Chinese paper: to evade reality and replace it by imagination - - Polka music: death and diseases /disaster - The blue piano: depression, loneliness and longing for love - - Belle Reve: illusion - Desire Streetcar named desire brought Blanche to New Orleans to live on her sister's charity. She transferred from the "streetcar named desire" to one called "cemeteries" - desire as a destructive force Sexual desire has ruined Blanche's life her life, driven by Blanche´s journey, first to desire and then to Cemeteries, sums sexual passion and finally ending up in the "living death" of the asylum the streetcar symbolises a particularly destructive power, that of sexual passion to be driven by desire, Wiiliams seems to be saying, is self-destructive, yet the victims are carried along helplessly, unable to escape the desire drives Stella too, who has abandoned herself - and her integrity - to her passion for Stanley force of Stella chooses sexual passion over loyalty to her sister, but staying with Stanley also represents the domestic security that Blanche can never have - It is sexual desire that leads Blanche's young husband into his liaison with another man, which in turn leads to his suicide →this is a major factor in leading Blanche into her life of promiscuity Blanche tells the Young Collector, "You make my mouth water" →→in theory Blanche is talking about the "cherry soda" that the young. mentions, but the sexual innuendo is obvious man →→suggests that Blanche images in a very sensual way what it would be like to get to know him better - Stella talks about her own passion: "but there are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark that sort of make everything else seem - unimportant" Stella asks Blanche, “Haven´t you ever ridden on that streetcar?" Stanley contemplates sex with Blanche: "Come to think it - maybe you! bad to interfere with” of - wouldn't be Truth vs Illusion is a theme mostly playing out through Blanche and Stanley - Blanche has trouble looking at the unvarnished truth because of this she lives in the dimly lit world of half-truths and illusion hiding behind her refined, often manipulative, southern manners, but Stanley is bluntly honest and crude and he despises lying but has no compassion for others - he uses the truth as a weapon to control and destroy Blanche for Stella compassion overrides truth and she believes her sister's behavior is understandable considering the tragic outcome of Blanche's marriage in the end, Stella chooses illusion over truth in order to preserve her marriage Symbolism Light - both dim and harsh light is used to underscore the theme of truth versus illusion -dim light symbolizes Blanche's world of illusion because it helps to disguise the truth about herself -for example she asks Mitch to place a paper lantern over a bulb to dim the glaring light in order to hide her true age - later, Mitch mentions to Blanche that she refuses to be seen in the harsh glare of the sun - he finds this suspicious, I've never had a real good look at you" - Blanche worries that if Mitch knows her real age or the details of her life in Laurel he won't marry her - in contrast harsh lights represents the naked truth especially is seen by Stanley and Mitch when Mitch wants to find out Blanche's age he removes the paper lantern exposing Blanche to the harsh light of the naked light bulb -Blanche finds this action insulting but Mitch sees it as truthful - Blanche believes a woman should be allowed deceit to protect your vanity and a gentleman should understand this need - however for Mitch and Stanley the main goal is to plain and simple the facts expose to show this, author Tennessee Williams has the Kowalski apartment lit with glaring lights soon after Blanche arrives at the apartment, she tells Stella to turn off the overhead (,,I won't be looked at in this merciless glare") - – Blanche carries many unpleasant truths within herself she would prefer - not to see Bathing - Blanche has a passion for taking long baths On a purely practical level, this habit is obviously very irritating to the other occupants of the small apartment and will increase the tension significantly Represents Blanche's yearning to wash away the guilt for her husband's death, and sexual encounters of her many - Blanche's longing for purification, for a cleansing from her sins Characterization divide information of the character in categories outward appearance situation/position - behavior - words/thoughts -feelings/attitudes other's reactions - does the character change/develop throughout the story, if so how? - - - short introduction in which you present the character and their situation - Organize your notes into paragraphs every paragraph should deal with one characteristic feature - present the evidence taken from the text and comment on it - refer to or quote the text Conclusion that sums the results up detailed analysis of your