Streetcar Named Desire Context Flashcards
The American Civil War (1861-65)
The confederate states of America was formed, which led to the abolition of slavery, which changed the old South irrevocably as the plantation owners depended on these.
The Old South
Men were expected to be gentlemanly, and women would be married after having a debutante ball. Women would have a baby each year and modern society was Darwinian.
The American Dream
America was seen as a country that accepted people from all races: freedom and opportunity. Ran on meritocracy: hard work not privilege. However, this was an idealised myth which encouraged selfishness.
Post-War America
Women to aspire for better homes, returning to traditional, American family values. Women worked in factories during the war, but when men returned there was an influx of unemployment: no need for factories. Tried to force women back into the home with propaganda.
Madonna-Whore Dichotomy
Madonna: purity, virginity, motherhood.
Whore: seductive, sexually active.
Men could not desire Madonnas, but they could not respect whores.
Stella finds a balance between these whereas Blanche desperately tries to become the Madonna.
Position of Women in Society in the 1940s
Women encouraged to go into the workforce and do jobs men traditionally did, but could not due to the war. In 1945, 37% of the workforce was female. However, men wanted their jobs back when they returned and women were forced to go back into the domestic sphere.
We see the effects of this through Blanche and Eunice, who are not completely submissive.
Attitudes to Homosexuality 1940s
Homosexuality was seen as a mental illness up to 1971, and imprisonment was a large risk. Gay men were seen as effeminate, ‘degenerates.’ Began to be legalised in 1962.
Blanche = ‘DuBoys’ = DoBoys. Williams hated his own sexuality, Blanche was seen as his alter ego due to their shared struggle with desire.
New Orleans
The American Civil war caused New America to thrive, and the ‘myth’ of the Old South was created, began to fall. Uprise of New America/The New South. Boomed: set up military bases, factories employed thousands, etc.
New America vs Old South = Stanley vs Blanche.
Biographical Information - Tennessee Williams
Mother: Edwina, a Southern Belle. His father, Cornelius, married her in 1907. He struggled with addiction and anger. They were unhappy but divorce was rare.
Williams was an outcast among his peers.
His sister, Rose, had a lobotomy.
Blanche is believed to be a representative of Rose, as well as Stella and Stanley representing his parents’ struggling relationship.
Attitudes to mental illness
Mental illness was severely stigmatised and the mentally ill, especially women, were often lobotomised as a result, as well as sent to mental asylums.
Blanche is a representative of a mentally ill women in the 1940s, sent to a psychiatric ward.
Darwinism/Williams’ views of society
Modern America lost the positive aspects of the Old South, such as the culture of art, poetry, etc.
Men did not stand up for women, and flirtation was seen as an invitation (life was Darwinian). Contrasts the Old South.
Survival of the Adaptable: the ones most responsive to change would survive.
Williams believed that we were all animalistic and driven by desire, and we would eventually revert to animal instincts under distinctive pressure.
New South = brutal modernity, presents Darwinian life through the rise of a new social order.
Blanche is not meant to be in a Darwinian society as an embodiment of the Old South, as she is not adaptable. Has no place in this New America.
Williams’ romantic relationships
Williams was a homosexual and hated his own homosexuality.
Blanche is an alter ego of Williams: sexual desire socially unacceptable. She plays with illusions and false appearances which reflects Williams concealing his sexuality by acting heterosexual. DuBois: DuBoys = DoBoys.
Southern Gothic
A subgenre of Gothic Fiction: deeply flawed, eccentric characters.
Decay is a prominent theme, enlists Southern Gothic themes such as the effect of the past on the present.
Also, the line between victim and villain is blurred (applicable to Blanche).
Plastic Theatre
Non-Literary Elements (everything the playwright creates): dialogue and all the other elements of the drama were of equal importance.
All stage arts to generate an experience “greater than mere realism.”
Expressionism
Utilised theatrical elements and scenery with exaggeration and distortion to deliver strong emotions to audiences, creating/representing meanings.
Reveals the inner psychological turmoil through external means like the lighting. (Blanche).
‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ is NOT an expressionistic play, but mixes expressionism with realism.
