Context Flashcards
How long after the civil war was A streetcar named Desire written?
100 years
What was the civil war?
Between northern and southern states about the abolishment of slavery.
What can New Orleans be described as?
Champion of diversity
influx of immigrants
What was there a shift of in New Orleans?
Industrial economy
Who represents the intolerance towards the different?
Dubois
Who represents the liberal south?
Elysian Fields
How does the play, play into southern literature?
With names like William Faulker and Eudora Welty
What type of play can it be considered?
A tragedy play
What type of theatre does this play include?
Expressionist theatre
What is expressionist theatre?
A theatrical movement that emphasises intense emotions, abstract concepts and physical performance.
What developed the American dream during this time?
WW2 developed American heroism for the working class.
What was post world war’s ideas of gender in America?
Championed masculinity
Enforced ideas of traditional families
How does Williams present gender in A streetcar named Desire?
Establishes conventional gender types
Twists some notions of masculinity and femininity
How is blanche presented?
Masculine with sexuality and arrogance
How are Mitch and Gray presented?
Effeminate with their sensitivity
How was 1940’s America with racism?
America was not free of racial prejudice and discrimination.
How does Williams present racism with European immigrants?
Kowalski and Dubois conflict
How does Williams show the prejudice second generation europeans faced?
Through blanche’s racism and xenophobia.
What does Stanley receive prejudice for?
Class status
What was happening in the post Harlem renaissance era?
Segregation was prevalent but being contested.
What was America founded on?
Puritan and christian principles
How is Puritan and christian principles evident in a streetcar named desire?
Prejudice against homosexuality and sexual immorality.
What was happening in the twentieth century?
Reverting back to christian values.
How does Williams critique conventional notions of morality?
Through double standards of sexuality.
