a streetcar named desire Flashcards
Authorial Context
-won Pulitzer prize for Streetcar
-sister had schizophrenia
-he struggled with alcoholism/drugs/homsexuality
-his mother was a Southern Belle
-his relationship with boyfriend Pancho was violent and passionate
-shared mental state with Blanche
Historical context
-first performed in 1947
-Stanley symblolic of new industry
-Blanche symbolic of decaying traditional plantations
Economic context
Wall Street Crash in 1929 - plunged new world into economic depression
nation suffered from unemploment and debt
Cultural context
-New Orleans streetcar line called Desire established in 1920, then replaced by a bus line in 1948
Geographical context
-Wiliams was born in Missisippi - ‘deep south’
-play is set in the French Quarter
Social Context
-Stanley represents American Dream
-Blanche represents Old South where class + race are important
-Race relations not easy in the 1940’s
-Southern Belle - a woman of high status mean tto be treated with respect
-Southern culture was ‘decaying’ according to Williams
Gender roles context
-social status and wealth was inherited from families in the Old South
-head of household had little conattc with outside world
-hard labour carried out by slaves
-role of husband was to provide and protect
-women were expected to care for children and husband
-Southern Belle
What is realism?
portraying an element of life - fourth wall is closed and society is usually scrutinised
What is epic theatre?
Bertolt Brecht - used drama as social and ideological discussion , encouraging audiences to think
What is plastic theatre?
expresionist and realistic plays that aim to address the truth to humans
What are prosodic features?
the way in which lines are spoken and the effects created
What is melodrama?
an exaggerated drama often dealing with sensational topics appealing to emotions of ordinary audience
What is the significance of the ‘blue piano’?
-melancholy jazz tone that gets louder during moments of tension
-symbolises Blanche’s deterioration and the decay of her metal state
What is a Southern Belle?
A woman of high position that is expectd to be regarded with respect - she is deemed as fragile
What are some of the symbolisms of Blanche?
-clothing
-lighting
-name
-bathing
Quotes to show Blanche’s avoidance of light:
‘I can’t stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can stand a rude remark or a vulgar action.’
‘her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light.’
‘daylight never exposed so total a ruin.’
Quotes to show Blanche’s ignorance of class/culture:
‘they’re something like Irish aren’t they?’
Quotes to show Blanche’s insecurity:
‘I was fishing for a compliment stanley’
Social Class context
Williams own mother was a Southern Belle
decay of old Southern values
New Orleans as ‘cultural melting pot’
‘intermingling of races’
Social Class quotes
‘She is daintily dressed in a white suit’
‘Well - if you’ll forgive me - he’s common!’
‘Her appearance is incongruous to this setting’
‘I am not a Polack’
‘And serve ‘em to Her Majesty in the tub?’
‘ape-like’
‘don’t you think your superior attitude is a bit out of place?’
‘they’re something like Irish aren’t they?’
‘our first American ancestors were French Huguenots’
Y’know how indifferent I am to money’
What did critic Elia Kazan say about Stella?
Stella is a refined girl who has found a kind of salvation or realization but at a terrific price
What did critic Felicia Londre say about Blanche?
Blanches is ‘an artist who dramatizes herself’ with ‘Mitch being her enthralled audience’ and ‘designing the lighting effects that will show to her advantage’
What does critic McGlinn say about Stanley and Blanche?
Stanley wishes to destroy Blanche’s composure to make her recognise that she is the same as he is, a sexual animal”
What did critic Oklpocic say about Blanche?
Williams portrays Blanche as the last representative of the Old aristocracy who tries to survive in the modern world by escaping to alcohol, madness and promiscuity
What did critic Samuel Tapp say about Blanche?
BLANCHE DUBOIS IS A VICTIM OF THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE ‘SOUTHERN BELLE’
What is the significance of lighting?
- Blanche insists on dim lighting or lampshades that obscure the harshness of reality, symbolising her desire to hide the truth about her past and her aging
-Visually represented when Mitch, who initially sees Blanche as an idealised woman, notices the light being dimmed when he comes to visit, revealing Blanche’s vulnerability and the contrast between illusion and reality
-The harsh lighting that illuminates Blanche during her breakdown in the final scenes is also a significant use of plastic theatre, symbolising the full revelation of her tragic reality
What is the significance of music?
- Music serves as a recurring motif, symbolising Blanche’s emotional drive behind her desires, particularly her desperate need for love and acceptance.
-The Varsouviana Polka plays at key moments in the play, particularly when Blanche is reminded of her past and the trauma of her husband’s suicide.
-The music represents Blanche’s inner guilt and the haunting memories of her youth, particularly her relationship with her late husband. The sudden and jarring appearance of this music during her breakdowns is a way in which the physical environment on stage directly communicates her psychological distress and repression.
What is the significance of props?
- The props on stage, such as Blanche’s collection of expensive, fragile items, also serve to reflect her emotional state.
-For example, the scene in which Blanche drinks from a glass, only for Stanley to later break it in an act of aggression, highlights the fragility of both the character’s mental state and her attempt to maintain control over her illusionary world
