Table of Contents
What is the most important theme in A Streetcar Named Desire?
According to Christopher Innes, Streetcar contains all of Williams’ ‘major themes: the ambiguous nature of sexuality, the betrayal of faith, the corruption of modern America, the over-arching battle of artistic sensitivity against physical materialism’ (Innes in S. McEvoy).
WHAT DOES A Streetcar Named Desire teach us?
Various moral and ethical lessons arise in this play such as: Lying ultimately gets you nowhere, Abuse is never good, Treat people how you want to be treated, Stay true to yourself and Don’t judge a book by its cover. A very important moral lesson that I gained from A Streetcar Named Desire is to always tell the truth.
What techniques are used in A Streetcar Named Desire?
A Streetcar Named Desire is a play driven by characterisation and Williams uses a range of techniques to establish character including dialogue, costume, stage directions, juxtaposition, imagery and symbolism, all of which are discussed in the AO2 Dramatic Methods section of this chapter.
What does the streetcar symbolize in A Streetcar Named Desire?
The Streetcar Symbol Analysis Williams called the streetcar the “ideal metaphor for the human condition.” The play’s title refers not only to a real streetcar line in New Orleans but also symbolically to the power of desire as the driving force behind the characters’ actions.
How old is Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire?
about thirty years old
Blanche DuBois: A sensitive, delicate, moth-like member of the fading Southern aristocracy, about thirty years old, she has just lost her teaching position in Laurel, Mississippi, because of her promiscuity.
What does the blue piano represent in Streetcar?
Imagery and symbolism The blue piano stands for the callous vitality of the Vieux Carré (also known as the French Quarter) of New Orleans, while the Varsouviana polka recalls the tragedy in Blanche’s past.
What themes are in A Streetcar Named Desire?
A Streetcar Named Desire Themes
- Sexual Desire. Many critics believe that Williams invented the idea of desire for the 20th century.
- Fantasy and Delusion.
- Interior and Exterior Appearance.
- Masculinity and Physicality.
- Femininity and Dependence.
Is Streetcar Named Desire a morality play?
When A Streetcar Named Desire was first staged (see Part Five: Historical context), many critics thought it too full of immoral behaviour. However, the very title of the play implies an element of morality play: those who board the ‘streetcar’ of desire are helpless once they have made their choice to ride in it.
Why does Stanley drink?
Drunkenness. Both Stanley and Blanche drink excessively at various points during the play. Stanley’s drinking is social: he drinks with his friends at the bar, during their poker games, and to celebrate the birth of his child.
How many scenes are in A Streetcar Named Desire?
eleven
It is divided into eleven different scenes. The main characters of the play are Blanche DuBois, her sister Stella and her husband Stanley Kowalski.
Why does Blanche bathe so much?
Blanche takes frequent baths throughout the play to “soothe her nerves.” Bathing is an escape from the sweaty apartment: rather than confront her physical body in the light of day, Blanche retreats to the water to attempt to cleanse herself and forget reality.
What is the significance of Blanche’s final line?
Blanche’s final remark indicates her total detachment from reality and her decision to see life only as she wishes to perceive it.