Literary/Theatrical Context Flashcards
What was Tennessee Williams like as a child? (3 points)
Had a difficult childhood - his parents had an unhappy marriage
He grew reserved and vulnerable after being bullied in school
Was gay - homosexuality was seen as an illness at the time
What was Tennessee’s sister like? (3 points)
Tennessee Williams was very close to his sister, Rose
She suffered from mental illness and underwent a lobotomy that left her institutionalised
Williams felt guilty that he did not intervene before the procedure - used the construct of Blanche to represent his guilt
What was Tennessee’s father like? (3 points)
Tennessee Williams’ father was Cornelius Coffin Williams
Was negligent of his parental duties - often missing from his children’s lives due to having to travel for long periods of time for his job as a salesman
He was a domineering character who was violently abusive towards his family when he was at home - parallels Stanley
What was Tennessee’s mother like? (3 points)
His mother was a Southern Belle - born to a higher class
Tennessee’s mother, Edwina, was of “Southern Aristocratic Descent” - reflected in the play through Blanche and her dependence on the comfort of her past in “Belle Reve”
His mother resented her husband’s alcoholism - felt it did not reflect well on her and her social status
Literary and Critical Context: How did the audience react to the play? (2 points)
Some audiences looked at Stanley as a victim of Blanche’s madness and attack against his masculinity, class and heritage
Rape scene was justified by Blanche being flirty and exhibitionist using this approach - some audiences actively cheered
Literary and Critical Context: How can the play be viewed through a Marxist lens? (3 points)
Stanley as seen as the reigning champion of the working classes
He defeats the old aristocratic ways by removing Blanche, the symbol of the Bourgeois, from their lives
Moves on to live with his wife and son, the symbol of the future
Literary and Critical Context: How can the play be viewed from a Darwinian lens? (3 points)
Stanley, ‘the gaudy seed bearer’ emerges as the survivor at the end - survival of the fittest
Defeats the final remnants of the Bourgeois threat to his life - Blanche
Passes his way of life down to his newborn child
Literary and Critical Context: How can the play be viewed from a feminist lens? (3 points)
The play is a critique of the expectations of patriarchal society - expressed through characters’ psychological unravelling
Blanche tends to show masculine energy - becomes a threat to Stanley, the established patriarch
Women are portrayed as the oppressive patriarchy’s victims - Blanche’s sanity is chipped at since patriarchal norms make her feel like she needs a husband to be accepted by society
How can Stanley be viewed through a feminist lens? (2 points)
Stanley rapes Blanche to assert his masculine power and authority over her through sexual violence
He uses her past decisions against her - they are unacceptable because she is female
Production History: What was the reaction to ASND when it was published? (3 points)
Williams published Streetcar in 1947 - the aftermath of WW2
Became popular due to its taboo themes of:
+ Class tensions
+ Female sexuality
+ Homosexuality
+ Male domination
Many viewed the play as exposing the moral decay of ‘Old South’ values of rigid social hierarchy and aristocracy
The Theatre Production: What was the reasoning behind the play’s structure? (2 points)
Unconventional structure of eleven scenes rather than acts - may have been due to Williams’ talent for writing short, one-act plays
He could not sustain dramatic tension for three acts of conventional length - enhanced by lack of interval
What is ‘plastic theatre’? (2 points)
A term coined by Williams to refer to the use of props, music and sounds, stage directions, and costumes to present poetic truths through symbolism
It is a highly stylized type of theatre - meant to be more symbolic and expressionistic rather than realistic
How is ‘plastic theatre’ used in ASND? (2 points)
E.g. Blanche’s ‘red satin robe’ and ‘paper lantern’
+ The red (licentious, dangerous) robe shows her impurity
+ The lantern - her tendency to hide from the truth behind pretty illusions
Scene 10:
+ The ‘inhuman’ ‘jungle’ ‘cries’ represent Stanley pulling Blanche down to his bestial level
+ Followed by Williams’ use of the Blue Piano to signify masculinity (Stanley) coming out on top
The Theatre Production: How did Williams use set design when staging the play? (4 points)
Movements between Kowalski apartment and street outside are seamless - life of the street seeps into the apartment
Mexican flower vendor from streets - symbol of death adding to Blanche’s mental breakdown
Rape scene occurs as prostitute and drunkard on the street argue - intensifies audience’s sense of harsh reality of life in Elysian Fields
Boundaries between public and private are distorted here - connects to larger theme of society’s control on individuality
The Theatre Production: How did Williams use costumes, props and lighting when staging the play? (4 points)
Costumes and props add to symbols, thematic concerns and characterisation
E.g.
+ Blanche’s paper lantern, tattered faux furs and cheap jewellery reflect her false glamour
+ Denim indicates working classness
Lighting used to contrast light with darkness - shades of light and darkness mirror and enhance the mood of the scene
Also aids with characterisation - particularly with Blanche and her affinity for darkness
