ASND (context/ general character analysis) Flashcards
Williams, an innovative playwright wrote with an innate desire to unveil the ____of a seemingly ____ society
‘underbelly’ , idyllic
what was the name of williams’ sister
rose
Asnd set in the socially turbulent ___ period in ___ , one of America’s most diverse cities.
postwar, New Orleans
Blanche has never reconciled her __ with her own __ (exist as two separate entities)
genteel identity, profound desire
where was blanche raised and what is this state classified as
Mississippi , a deep south state
what does Belle Reve stand for
beautiful dream
what type of society was blanche raised in
Blanche was raised in an agrarian society
what is Blanches hamartia
Hamartia is her inability to separate reality from fantasy
what does the title of the play indicate
As its title indicates, A Streetcar Named Desire explores the destinations to which desire leads
through his play centred on desire what was the message Williams intended to advocate
Williams advocates a moderate approach to the indulgence of desires, acknowledges desire requires a healthy outlet and cannot be quelled
who is an example of desire not being healthily expressed
Blanche = desires not healthily expressed/ denial
give a reason for why Blanche does not express her desire healthily
-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
Blanche is portrayed to live in a __ panic over her ___ beauty
perpetual , fading
who is the plays antagonist
stanley
why is compromise impossible for B & S
The basic differences in Blanche’s and Stanley’s social stations makes compromise impossible
why is the feud between Stanley and Blanche such a focal point in the play
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 )
The play chronicles the subsequent crumbling of Blanches ____ and ____
self image, sanity
Blanches behaviour can be described as ____
lascivious
Blanche views herself to be a ____ belle
southern
give a reason for Blanches indiscrete sexual behaviour
- 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
what are some words that accurately describe Stanleys bearing
bestial, brutish, truculent, pugnacious, bellicose, realistic, antagonistic, primitive, imperious, animalistic, brazen , outspoken
the ___ influence of desire is felt by all characters of ASND
ubiquitous
what violent act finally severs Blanches tenuous hold on reality
the unjustifiable rape carried out by Stanley
Stanley has a ___class bond with Stella
interclass
stanley is seen to be a victim of disparaging/discriminatory remarks give an example of one
“polack”
how do discriminatory remarks work in fuelling Stanley’s anger
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)
Blanche is driven mad by a ___ environment which is personified by ___
brutish, stanley
Williams’ play is apart of what genre
the southern gothic genre
what type of theatre does Williams use to expertly develop tension in the play
plastic theatre
southern gothic literature aims to expose the underbelly of the idyllic this is seen in williams’ play through …
- 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 )
how is the relationship between sex and death in streetcar portrayed
- 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
the play incorporates ____ poetics
Aristotles
How does the play use Aristotle’s poetics
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 )
what was williams’ epigraph for ASND
a quotation from Hart Cranes poem ‘the broken tower’
the structure of streetcar reflects the ____ symbol
ouroboros
Williams’ stage directions can be described as what
elaborate, evocative, clear, articulate, eloquent, exquisite
why are williams’ stage directions so descriptive
to fully envelop the audience into the scene
a tragic heros actions “_________” according to A.C Bradley
“bind them hand and foot”
Blanche can be described as ____ and ____ in the opening of the play
hysterical & overwrought
williams borrows qualities from his ___ for his characters, for example …
family, his abusive father who mirrors Stanley & Blanches vulnerability/delicacy that reflects his sister rose
Williams’ tone is ___ & ____ as he does not hesitate to display profoundly personal themes
unafraid & truthful
Williams constructed characters that were exceedingly ____ so the audience can navigate their own perception of each character
individualistic
New Orleans was a _________ city as it was very _____ and _____
cosmopolitan , diverse & multicultural
what is an example of plastic theatre in the play
the piano waltz (played when Blanche recollects on her memories with her late husband)
how does Blanche’s attire contrast Stanleys
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
Williams uses Stanley as a _____ for his father
conduit
the motif of bathing can be symbolic of self _____
catharsis
Stella is a ____ ____ with _____ _____
natural nurturer , maternal characteristics
what are some words that accurately describe Stella
malleable, pragmatic (when faced with Blanches frenetic hysteria), composed , grounded, tolerant, altruistic, delicate, sensual, subservient
Stanley and Blanche are from two opposing worlds and so Stella is the ____ between these apparent opposites
bridge
how does Stella seem to become a tangible symbol of victory for Stanley and Blanche
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)
Stella is placed between Blanche & Stanley throughout the play, Blanche represents her ____ and Stanley her _____
past, future
Stanley represents the new _______ America, he views himself to be a social _____ which leads onto his hatred for Blanche
heterogenous , leveller
how can we see Stanleys fierce animosity towards Blanche
-his investigations of her past
-his birthday gift to her
- his callous attempt to sabotage her relationship with Mitch (her lifeline/ refuge)
Stanleys chief amusements are _____ , _____ , ______ and ______
gambling, bowling, sex and drinking
Stanley lacks ideals and imagination he possibly characterises ____ the _____ to Blanche who is a fantasist
realism, antithesis
why is Mitch differentiated from his bride and brutish friends
by virtue of his kindness Mitch is differentiated from the others
what are some words to accurately describe Mitch
gentlemanly, chivalrous, uncoordinated , courteous , tender, inelegant, awkward, insecure
Mitchs unrefined tastes don’t _____ with Blanches refined tastes
correlate
why are Mitch and Blanche drawn together
-their mutual need for companionship + support , Blanche attempts to rejuvenate her shattered life & Mitch fears loneliness
when discovering Blanches sordid sexual past what does Mitch do
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
what are some themes of ASND
fantasy vs reality
femininity & dependence
sexual desire
interior & exterior appearance
how is the theme of fantasy prevalent in ASND
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
how is the theme of femininity and dependence prevalent in ASND
- 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
how is the theme of sexual desire prevalent in ASND
- 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
Williams wrote to “____” himself
“purge”
what is the southern gothic genre characterised by
contrast
mixing elements of dark romance
horror
the supernatural
dark humour
often Williams’ plays show a world shaped by ____ & ____
fascism & bigotry
Williams’ purpose in ASND is perhaps to explore not only the “______” but also “______”
“the broken world” , “the delicacy of feeling”
