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ASND + hj > ASND (context/ general character analysis) > Flashcards

ASND (context/ general character analysis) Flashcards

1
Q

Williams, an innovative playwright wrote with an innate desire to unveil the ____of a seemingly ____ society

A

‘underbelly’ , idyllic

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2
Q

what was the name of williams’ sister

A

rose

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3
Q

Asnd set in the socially turbulent ___ period in ___ , one of America’s most diverse cities.

A

postwar, New Orleans

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4
Q

Blanche has never reconciled her __ with her own __ (exist as two separate entities)

A

genteel identity, profound desire

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5
Q

where was blanche raised and what is this state classified as

A

Mississippi , a deep south state

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6
Q

what does Belle Reve stand for

A

beautiful dream

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7
Q

what type of society was blanche raised in

A

Blanche was raised in an agrarian society

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8
Q

what is Blanches hamartia

A

Hamartia is her inability to separate reality from fantasy

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9
Q

what does the title of the play indicate

A

As its title indicates, A Streetcar Named Desire explores the destinations to which desire leads

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10
Q

through his play centred on desire what was the message Williams intended to advocate

A

Williams advocates a moderate approach to the indulgence of desires, acknowledges desire requires a healthy outlet and cannot be quelled

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11
Q

who is an example of desire not being healthily expressed

A

Blanche = desires not healthily expressed/ denial

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12
Q

give a reason for why Blanche does not express her desire healthily

A

-Blanche is the victim of a culture that has unhealthily repressed its connection to primal and natural urges (views desire to be deplorable + shameful ) sex essentially demonized for blanche
- she places a divide between her aristocratic sense of self and the overbearing “animal” urges she tends to experience

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13
Q

Blanche is portrayed to live in a __ panic over her ___ beauty

A

perpetual , fading

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14
Q

who is the plays antagonist

A

stanley

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15
Q

why is compromise impossible for B & S

A

The basic differences in Blanche’s and Stanley’s social stations makes compromise impossible

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16
Q

why is the feud between Stanley and Blanche such a focal point in the play

A

The plot of asnd is driven by the duelling personalities of blanche and stanley (he works to unveil the truth and propel her towards her inexorable downfall )

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17
Q

The play chronicles the subsequent crumbling of Blanches ____ and ____

A

self image, sanity

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18
Q

Blanches behaviour can be described as ____

A

lascivious

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19
Q

Blanche views herself to be a ____ belle

A

southern

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20
Q

give a reason for Blanches indiscrete sexual behaviour

A
  • total dependence upon male sexual admiration for a sense of self worth + self esteem did not receive this from her dead husband
  • trying to recreate and make restitution to the husband she feels she killed through lecherous affairs with young males, ( e.g. young man, her student)
  • Subconscious drive to revisit failed marriage attempting to correct it with similar men
  • intense suppressed desire that becomes overbearing + minacious over time
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21
Q

what are some words that accurately describe Stanleys bearing

A

bestial, brutish, truculent, pugnacious, bellicose, realistic, antagonistic, primitive, imperious, animalistic, brazen , outspoken

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22
Q

the ___ influence of desire is felt by all characters of ASND

A

ubiquitous

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23
Q

what violent act finally severs Blanches tenuous hold on reality

A

the unjustifiable rape carried out by Stanley

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24
Q

Stanley has a ___class bond with Stella

A

interclass

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25
Q

stanley is seen to be a victim of disparaging/discriminatory remarks give an example of one

A

“polack”

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26
Q

how do discriminatory remarks work in fuelling Stanley’s anger

A

Stanleys hidden insecurities around his lower status in comparison to his wife are magnified and so his anger is exacerbated causing him to lash out (he feels undermined as the patriarch and “man” of the house)

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27
Q

Blanche is driven mad by a ___ environment which is personified by ___

A

brutish, stanley

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28
Q

Williams’ play is apart of what genre

A

the southern gothic genre

29
Q

what type of theatre does Williams use to expertly develop tension in the play

A

plastic theatre

30
Q

southern gothic literature aims to expose the underbelly of the idyllic this is seen in williams’ play through …

A
  • the impoverished setting ( “brown river” = romanticised image of decay)
  • the abuse diminishing stanley + stella’s relationship
  • Blanches cultural demise from refined southern belle to becoming destitute ( poor )
31
Q

how is the relationship between sex and death in streetcar portrayed

A
  • Stanley rapes Blanche (an act used to regain authority/dominance) brutally murdering the precious sanity that remained in her fragile psyche
  • the death of stella’s morality as she sides with her husband over her sister due to her intense visceral & physical connection with him that borders on the obsessive
  • Blanches insatiable desire leads to the death of her characterisation as a chaste southern belle causing her to become a social pariah due to her indiscrete sexual behaviour
32
Q

the play incorporates ____ poetics

A

Aristotles

33
Q

How does the play use Aristotle’s poetics

A

through Blanches demonstration as a tragic hero ( received a fate worse than she deserved ) & her hamartia that is showcased throughout the play ( her tangled web of lies , potent, overbearing desire )

34
Q

what was williams’ epigraph for ASND

A

a quotation from Hart Cranes poem ‘the broken tower’

35
Q

the structure of streetcar reflects the ____ symbol

A

ouroboros

36
Q

Williams’ stage directions can be described as what

A

elaborate, evocative, clear, articulate, eloquent, exquisite

37
Q

why are williams’ stage directions so descriptive

A

to fully envelop the audience into the scene

38
Q

a tragic heros actions “_________” according to A.C Bradley

A

“bind them hand and foot”

39
Q

Blanche can be described as ____ and ____ in the opening of the play

A

hysterical & overwrought

40
Q

williams borrows qualities from his ___ for his characters, for example …

A

family, his abusive father who mirrors Stanley & Blanches vulnerability/delicacy that reflects his sister rose

41
Q

Williams’ tone is ___ & ____ as he does not hesitate to display profoundly personal themes

A

unafraid & truthful

42
Q

Williams constructed characters that were exceedingly ____ so the audience can navigate their own perception of each character

A

individualistic

43
Q

New Orleans was a _________ city as it was very _____ and _____

A

cosmopolitan , diverse & multicultural

44
Q

what is an example of plastic theatre in the play

A

the piano waltz (played when Blanche recollects on her memories with her late husband)

45
Q

how does Blanche’s attire contrast Stanleys

A

Stanleys attire is more relaxed throughout the play donning bowling shirts & “blue denim work clothes” in order to reflect the new heterogeneous America post ww2

46
Q

Williams uses Stanley as a _____ for his father

A

conduit

47
Q

the motif of bathing can be symbolic of self _____

A

catharsis

48
Q

Stella is a ____ ____ with _____ _____

A

natural nurturer , maternal characteristics

49
Q

what are some words that accurately describe Stella

A

malleable, pragmatic (when faced with Blanches frenetic hysteria), composed , grounded, tolerant, altruistic, delicate, sensual, subservient

50
Q

Stanley and Blanche are from two opposing worlds and so Stella is the ____ between these apparent opposites

A

bridge

51
Q

how does Stella seem to become a tangible symbol of victory for Stanley and Blanche

A

both Stanley and Blanche strive to have Stella turn on the other crafting the fierce animosity between the two and illuminating the glaring contrast between their two worlds (of which Stella is a mixture of)

52
Q

Stella is placed between Blanche & Stanley throughout the play, Blanche represents her ____ and Stanley her _____

A

past, future

53
Q

Stanley represents the new _______ America, he views himself to be a social _____ which leads onto his hatred for Blanche

A

heterogenous , leveller

54
Q

how can we see Stanleys fierce animosity towards Blanche

A

-his investigations of her past
-his birthday gift to her
- his callous attempt to sabotage her relationship with Mitch (her lifeline/ refuge)

55
Q

Stanleys chief amusements are _____ , _____ , ______ and ______

A

gambling, bowling, sex and drinking

56
Q

Stanley lacks ideals and imagination he possibly characterises ____ the _____ to Blanche who is a fantasist

A

realism, antithesis

57
Q

why is Mitch differentiated from his bride and brutish friends

A

by virtue of his kindness Mitch is differentiated from the others

58
Q

what are some words to accurately describe Mitch

A

gentlemanly, chivalrous, uncoordinated , courteous , tender, inelegant, awkward, insecure

59
Q

Mitchs unrefined tastes don’t _____ with Blanches refined tastes

A

correlate

60
Q

why are Mitch and Blanche drawn together

A

-their mutual need for companionship + support , Blanche attempts to rejuvenate her shattered life & Mitch fears loneliness

61
Q

when discovering Blanches sordid sexual past what does Mitch do

A

discards his gentlemanly act and remoulds his personality to emulate Stanleys claiming Blanche “owes” him sex even though he states she is not fit to be his wife

62
Q

what are some themes of ASND

A

fantasy vs reality
femininity & dependence
sexual desire
interior & exterior appearance

63
Q

how is the theme of fantasy prevalent in ASND

A

Blanche our female protagonist has centred herself around hallucinations and illusions as a mechanism of self defence in order to shield herself against the cruel reality of the world

64
Q

how is the theme of femininity and dependence prevalent in ASND

A
  • Blanche and Stella both dependent on men no sense of individuality and self worth, B dependent on male sexual admiration & S dependent on Stanley to be the ‘breadwinner’
  • Blanche and Stella demonstrate two different types of femininity, B has sexual encounters with numerous individuals but her sisters carnal appetite is solely focused on one individual
  • both see relationships with men as the only route for happiness and fulfilment
65
Q

how is the theme of sexual desire prevalent in ASND

A
  • desire is ubiquitous in the play , but Blanches desire causes others to view her as deplorable & disgraceful , but this same desire is seen as conferring strength in Stanley
  • menacing desire between Stanley & Stella causes her to become blind to his cruelty
66
Q

Williams wrote to “____” himself

A

“purge”

67
Q

what is the southern gothic genre characterised by

A

contrast
mixing elements of dark romance
horror
the supernatural
dark humour

68
Q

often Williams’ plays show a world shaped by ____ & ____

A

fascism & bigotry

69
Q

Williams’ purpose in ASND is perhaps to explore not only the “______” but also “______”

A

“the broken world” , “the delicacy of feeling”

ASND + hj (13 decks)

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