Critical Theories Flashcards
Marxism
Marxists argue:
The characters, plot, and themes of the play presents the class struggles of 1940s America.
The play can be viewed as a social drama between the declining DuBois family and assertive, working class Kowalski’s, and that Stella’s passivity in the conflict is an acceptance of the rise of the working class, whilst Blanche is a symbol of the doomed Bourgeoisie that is attempting to resist the realities of the modern world, to which Stanley is defending his home/family against.
Feminism
Feminists argue:
The play reflects the male-dominated social values that marginalize women. Stella is subjugated to Stanley despite his domestic abuse, and Blanche is a seemingly educated woman who is fired from her job and portrayed as hysterical and mentally disturbed. Some feminists may focus on how Williams’ presents women in the play, as a form of oppression: for example, when Blanche is introduced, he focuses on her appearance, yet when Stanley is introduced, he focuses on his male energy.
Others might note the differences between Stanley and Mitch: whilst Stanley enjoys women and sex, he demands their obedience by physically and sexually abusing them - Mitch romanticizes women, but cannot prevent Blanche from being a victim to a male-dominated world. The play is ‘written by the victors’, with Stella choosing to betray Blanche by believing Stanley, despite the fact that Stanley has raped Blanche.
Psychoanalytic
Psychoanalysis is based on the works on Freud, and perceives the characters as expressions of Williams’ psyche, which sees the conflict between characters originate due to individuals, rather than society.
Freud investigated how the unconscious expresses itself in dream symbolism, which in turn drives emotional and sexual desire, which in turn drives the sexual imagery of the play and unconscious impulses amongst characters like Blanche and Stanley.
A Freudian approach would highlight Williams’ obsession with sexual desire and the fear of death, and the ‘collective unconscious’ - which is why Stanley and Blanche are seen as polarized male and female forces that are drawn to each other, but fail to understand one another.
Others might take into account Williams’ homosexuality and guilt, so the play embodies the psychic drives of Eros (sex/love), and Thanatos (death), which is symbolized by the streetcars ‘Cemeteries’ and ‘Desire’, as well as Blanche attempting to subvert death, and her obsession with bathing. A Jungian interpretation may see Blanche as a ‘negative anima’, representing an imagined threat to men, which can be presented through her reference to the ‘Tarantula Arms’ and her implied job as a prostitute.
New Historicism
New Historicism is a literary theory created by Stephen Greenblatt, which focuses on how context of the time can influence literature, and how interpretations are influenced by the society in which the critic lives in.
The play represents 1940s America, the period in which it was written in, so the play does not aim to be a social commentary. However, the characters embrace the values of time:
- Stanley, a member of the urban working class, is deeply patriotic and sees himself as the ‘king’ of his home/family.
- Blanche, a product of the old Southern aristocracy, believes she is innately superior to people like Stanley.
- Stella, a loyal housewife, cleans up after Stanley and does not protest his often crude and violent behaviour.
The fact that there were audiences for the play at all is a product of a period, as there was enough money and leisure to enjoy theatre, and sufficient interest in working-class characters like Stanley and Mitch to warrant writing a play about them.
New Historicism also explains how our own social values influence our understanding of the play; therefore, when Stanley rapes Blanche, we feel more sympathy for Blanche than we do Stanley - when the in the early stages of the play’s production history, some audience members cheered with Stanley raped Blanche.
Structuralism
Structuralism is based on the works of Ferdinand de Saussure, and focuses on the structure of the play and how this relates to other works.
This puts into question how far the play can be described as a tragedy and/or a melodrama, and also explains Williams’ constant use of intertextuality (how it draws on and relates to other texts - e.g. when Blanche references the ballard Ulalume by Edgar Allan Poe). This is also linked to the use of narrative theories, especially in relation to archetypes, such as the ‘Southern Belle’.
Structuralists would also consider the fact that the play is divided into 11 short scenes, and all primarily take place within the Kowalski’s apartment in New Orleans. They would also consider the narrative arc of the play:
- Initiating Incident: [before the play] Blanche is fired from her job as a teacher
- Rising Action consisting of Successes and Reverses
- Crisis - Failed Birthday Party
- Climax - Stanley rapes Blanche
- Falling Action - Blanche is taken away to a mental institution
