A Streetcar Named Desire

Question 1

what are the three unities called? and can you also give a short description of them?

Answer 1

1. the unity of time
   description: the Unity of time demands that the action of the play should take place within 24 hours and the the place required a single setting throughout the entire play
2. the Unity of action
   description: the entirety of the play should centre around the main characters with no sub plots and should have a satisfied ending

Question 2

how does the play utilise the unity of time?

Answer 2

the entire action takes place in the Kowalski’s apartment or just on the perimeter, this is an example of the unity of time

Question 3

how does the play utilise the unity of action?

Answer 3

the play is souly based around the 4 main characters with only two subplots still including the main characters

Question 4

what atmosphere is created with the entire play taking place within the Kowalski apartment

Answer 4

a tense, claustrophobic feel

Question 5

tragedy

Answer 5

• the tragic heroine of the play is Blanche Dubois

- the significance of other characters lies in the way their behaviour will effect Blanche

Question 6

Blanche, Stella and Stanley

Answer 6

• Stella offers Blanche kindness and hospitality but only as far as her all-absorbing passion for her husband allows
• guilt struck, stella sacrifices her sister to save her marriage

Question 7

Blanche and Stanley

Answer 7

• Stanley resents Blanche as an intruder in a close, passionate sexual relationship
• Blanche reminds him of his wife’s superior background, representing values he cannot and will not appreciate
• Stanley sees Blanche as an enemy and sets out to drive her away

Question 8

the relationship between Stanley and Blanche

Answer 8

the antagonism between Stanley and Blanche is of a sexual nature, and the act of violence through which Stanley Blanche is to him a triumph of his sexuality whereas for blanche it is the ultimate breaking up of her dream world, which then wrecks her sanity

Question 9

how is the focus on blanche connected to the unity of action

Answer 9

Williams focuses the play on the slow mental decline of Blanche

Question 10

historical context of the play

Answer 10

many critics, when the play was first staged. Believed that it was too full of immoral behaviour

Question 11

KEY INTERPRETATION

Answer 11

The image of the streetcar as the driving force of passion conveys the helplessness of its riders, but stresses also the element of choice; they have made the decision to board it

Question 12

Genre of guilt

Answer 12

Stella is very aware of her actions but is still swayed by others, further proving the submissive role she plays this is shown with the quote “oh g=, god, what have u done to my sister?”