A Streetcar Named Desire Flashcards
Tragedy
Tragedies evoke the disillusionment and agony of life. Tragic protagonists are destroyed by their own self-destructive tendencies, or by external forces over which they have no control- nature, rivals, society, war, poverty, illness. Their downfall and death often seem predestined.
Comedy
Comedies reflect the foibles, contradictions, and confusions of man and society. They may be broadly funny and playful, wry and cynical, or satirical and biting. Comic protagonists face many conflicts, but they usually emerge unscathed from them.
Neurasthenic
Portiere
a curtain hanging across a doorway
Neurasthenic
an emotional and psychic disorder that is characterized especially by easy fatigability and often by lack of motivation, feeling of inadequacy, and psychosomatic symptoms
Sotto Voce
under the breath: in an undertone; also: in a private manner
Bohemian
a person (as a write or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others
Courtesan
a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele
Blanche
full discretionary power (as in carte blanche)- to rearrange the truth with no limits
Elysian Fields
The mention of this is an allusion to the underworld of Greek mythology
When we first meet Blanche Dubois, she has traveled to see her sister Stella. She took streetcars named Desire and Cemeteries to arrive at her sister’s apartment. What might these names represent?
The street-car named Desire represents the desire Blanche had for a better life with her sister Stella. This Desire brought her to Cemeteries which represents the destruction and death of Blanche.
Blanche goes into Stella’s apartment to wait for her to come home. What does she do while she is waiting?
While Blanche is waiting for Stella, she sits nervously and tight together, then drinks half a tumbler of whiskey
What does Belle Reve mean? What does it refer to in the play?
Belle Reve means “beautiful dream”. This is thought of as Blanche’s old life and better life. This is no longer reality, but it is a “dream”.
At the end of Scene One, what music “rises up, faint in the distance”?
Polka music is the music that “rises up, faint in the distance”.
Why does Blanche lie to Mitch about being younger than Stella? Why doesn’t she like bright lights?
Blanche thinks that Mitch wants a younger woman, so she tries to appear to be what he wants. The dim lights will not show the real Blanche. They will hide any imperfections and flaws she may have.
How is Stanley different to Blanche?
- Stanley likes to face things as they are with bright lights and cold hard truth. On the other hand Blanche is willing to hide the truth and uses dim lights to cover up things that she does not want others to know.
The play has many stage directions referring to music. What music and songs are present in the first three scenes? How does the music relate to the characters?
- The Blue Piano and polka music play in the first three scenes. The blue piano plays as the characters are vulnerable, frustrated, emotional, and when truth is being revealed. The polka music plays when Blanche reflects upon the past and death (thinking of her husband).
Why is the paper lantern important to Blanche?
Blanche uses the paper lantern to hide her past and any signs of her vulnerability and flaws that she does not want others to see
When Blanche and Stella are discussing Stanley, his entrance to the apartment is washed out by a passing train. What does he hear Blanche say about him?
Stanley overhears Blanche telling Stella that Stanley is not at the standard which they should have. She says that he is ape-like and behaves is sub humanely.
In Scene Five, Blanch discusses astrological signs. What sign does she think Stanley was born under and why?
Blanche believes that Stanley would be born under the sign Aires because he is forceful, dynamic, and likes to bang things around.
Why does Blanche flirt with the newspaper boy?
Blanche flirts with the newspaper boy because she does not like to be alone but she can’t seem to be in a relationship after her husband died. Being with the newspaper boy is feeding into her desire for power over the vulnerability of a 17 year old boy.
What are the main events of scene 1?
- establishing characters and setting
- Blanche’s arrival
- Blanch criticises Stella’s place of living and decision to leave Belle Reve
- Stanley and Blanche’s first (and flirtatious) conversation
- Blanche reveals her young husband died
What are the main events of scene 2?
- Stanley angry about the suspicion surrounding Belle Reve(wondering where the money is), leads to tension between him and Blanche
- Stanley confronts Blanch about the missing papers an she avoids his questions
- suspicion surrounding the love letters
- Stella’s pregnancy revealed
What are the main events of scene 3?
The Poker Night
- Stanley getting increasingly more frustrated with Blanche for making noise
- Relationship between Blanch and Mitch established
- Stanley hits Stella
- Blanche is horrified
- Stanley calls for Stella who has fled to Eunice upstairs an he returns to him
What are the main events of scene 4?
- Blanche confronts Stella for returning to Stanley and suggests she should ‘get out’ from her ‘desperate situation’
- Stanley overhears Blanche’s insults
- Stella chooses Stanley
What are the main events of scene 5?
It is now August
- Stanley asks Blanche if she knows Shaw and after he leaves Blanche turns to Stella for information
- Blanche is concerned about her looks and age
- Blanche kisses a teenage paperboy and reveals she has done so before
What are the main events of scene 6?
- Set after an unsuccessful date between Blanche and Mitch, who has to ask to kiss her
- Blanche implies that her husband was gay and committed suicide after she expressed her disgust
- Mitch comforts her
What are the main events of scene 7?
Blanche’s birthday (September)
- Stanley tells Stella the truth about Blanche (how she slept around after Allan’s death) an that she got mixed up with a seventeen year old boy
What are the main events of scene 8?
Blanche’s birthday party
- Very tense and awkward atmosphere
- Stanley has finally ah enough of all the name calling
- Stanley has bought Blanche a bus ticket to Laurel
- Stella taken to hospital for baby
What are the main events of scene 9?
- Mitch confronts Blanche about her past and tries to come onto her
- Blanche asks Mitch to marry her and he refuses with disgust
What are the main events of scene 10?
- Blanche has been drinking a lot and has dressed up in posh but worn clothes
- Stanley is in a good mood
- Stanley then refuse to take Blanche’s BS and she freaks out
- Implied rape of Blanche whilst she is unconscious
