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Summary A Streetcar Named Desire - A Level English Literature and Language $7.30
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Summary A Streetcar Named Desire - A Level English Literature and Language

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Complete revision guide for A Streetcar Named Desire created by an A grade student. This includes scene summaries, context, themes, quote analysis (including terminology), symbolism, dramatic techniques, character analysis and critics.

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Document information

  • August 27, 2022
  • 58
  • 2020/2021
  • Summary

Subjects

  • a streetcar named desire
  • a level
  • english
  • english literature and language

Written for

  • A/AS Level
  • AQA
  • English Literature and Language
  • A Streetcar Named Desire
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Scene Summaries

Scene 1

Stanley and Stella demonstrate their mutual infatuation and aspects of their everyday lives-
exchanging meat and leaving to observe Stanley’s bowling. On this same early May evening, Blanche
DuBois arrives at Elysian Fields (New Orleans) to visit, and stay with her sister, Stella. She is shocked
at the conditions her sister is living in, mainly due to the difference between Stella’s small apartment
and their previous residence in Belle Reve (an old plantation)- Stella, contrastingly, is later shown to
be relatively fulfilled by her life with (son of Polish immigrants,) Stanley. Blanche demonstrates a mild
dependency on alcohol, narcissism, an obsession with light and overall anxious behaviour. Blanche,
almost defensively, confesses to the loss of Belle Reve due to debt- partially due to family deaths
draining the already meagre funds. The men arrive, with Steve retelling a crude joke. We also learn
Mitch’s mother is sick. Stanley is given a more in-depth character description, mainly focusing on his
innate masculinity and sexual drive. Stanley accepts Blanche’s presence with little ceremony- causing
her to be baffled by his lack of refinement. There are strong sexual undertones to the dialogue and
directions. Blanche reveals she was married when she was younger but ‘the boy died.’
Characters:​ Eunice, (Negro Woman, Man, Sailor, Vendor), Stanley, Mitch, Stella, Blanche, Steve
Important:​ Character descriptions, Death Rant, Stanley vs Blanche conflict

· Stella goes to watch Stanley and Mitch bowling
· Blanche arrives at Elysian Fields and waits inside for her sister
· Stella returns and they greet each other
· Blanche talks about losing Belle Reve and the deaths of her family members
· Stanley meets Blanche; there is an awkward tension as it’s clear that they’re very different
types of people
· Blanche reveals her husband died when they were young


Scene 2

The following evening-whilst Blanche is bathing- Stella informs Stanley of the loss of Belle Reve,
causing him to assume Blanche has ‘swindled’ both Stella and, under the Napoleonic Code, himself.
Stanley demands to see the legal documents concerning Belle Reve, which Blanche complies with
until he snatches a bundle of ‘poems a dead boy wrote’- causing her to threaten to burn them. Stanley
justifies his actions on the grounds of his legal rights and his concern for the future of his and Stella’s
baby. Stella returns and she and Blanche leave the apartment to allow Stanley to have his friends
over for a Poker Game
Characters:​ Stella, Stanley, Blanche, Vendor
Important:​ Stella and Stanley’s conflict over swindling, Stanley vs Blanche conflict, Allan’s letters

· Blanche is bathing
· Stanley demands to know what happened to Belle Reve
· Stella attempts to defend Blanche
· Stella leaves and Blanche finishes bathing
· Stanley confronts Blanche, and Blanche attempts to flirt with Stanley
· Stella’s pregnancy is revealed


Scene 3

,The men are still playing when the sisters return at nearly 2:30am. Blanche is interested by the
‘sensitive’ nature of Mitch and proceeds to flirt with him- causing Stanley, already drunk, to eventually
hurl the radio out of the window in a violent fit of rage. When Stella attempts to admonish him, he
beats her- causing her to retreat to the safer female sphere of Eunice’s apartment. Sobered by a cold
shower, Stanley calls in anguish for Stella. She eventually descends to him where they ‘come
together with low, animal moans.’ Blanche is appalled but slightly comforted by Mitch.
Characters:​ Stanley, Steve, Mitch, Pablo, Stella, Blanche, Eunice
Important: ​Mitch and Blanche’s meeting, Stanley’s assault and reconciliation



· The poker night: Stanley and his friends play poker, and are drinking
· Stella and Blanche returns from an evening out
· Blanche meets Mitch
· Stanley becomes violent with Stella
· Stella and Blanche retreat to the apartment upstairs
· Stella returns to Stanley and they make love


Scene 4

The next morning Stella attempts to explain her relationship with Stanley to Blanche- with her
accepting the sporadic violence as inseparable for the sexual passion they share. Blanche tries to
persuade Stella to leave Stanley- planning a future for the two of them apparently financed by ‘Shep
Huntleigh’ an alleged old admirer, now millionaire. Despite Stella’s assurances that she is ‘not in
anything [she wants] to get out of’, Blanche continues to berate her husband- with Stanley arriving to
overhear part of her hurtful speech. When he is seen, Stella embraces him ‘fiercely’- demonstrating
her loyalties as he grins at Blanche over Stella’s head.
Characters: ​Stella, Blanche, Stanley
Important:​ Demonstration of alliances- foreshadows later plot

· Blanche and Stella discuss the previous night; Blanche is shocked at Stella’s acceptance of
Stanley’s behaviour
· Blanche criticises Stanley
· Stanley is secretly listening to Blanche’s criticism


Scene 5

Above, Steve and Eunice argue violently. Stanley questions whether Blanche knows a ‘Shaw’ or is
acquainted with a disreputable hotel in Laurel known as the ‘Flamingo.’ When he leaves, Blanche
anxiously seeks Stella’s reassurances that nothing unpleasant is known about her. Awaiting Mitch for
their date, Blanche flirts with and kisses the ‘young man’ who calls to collect subscriptions for the
‘Evening Star.’
Characters:​ Stella, Blanche, Steve, Eunice, Young Man, Negro Woman
Important:​ ‘Soft people’ speech, Stanley’s threats, Attempted seduction of newsboy

· Upstairs, Eunice and Steve fight
· Stanley hints at the knowledge of Blanche’s promiscuous past
· Blanche flirts with a young man who collects newspaper subscriptions
· Mitch arrives and they go on their date

,Scene 6

Blanche and Mitch return from an unsuccessful evening out. Blanche flirts with him- using French to
ask him to literally ‘bed her’, complimenting his ‘imposing physique’ and engaging in guessing each
other’s’ weights. Despite this she restates her ‘old-fashioned ideals’ and doesn’t participate in any
promiscuous activity. Blanche complains about Stanley’s hostility whilst Mitch speaks about his dying
mother. Blanche then retells her short-lived marriage when she was young, where she discovered her
husband in bed with another person, likely a man. Her husband later committed suicide when she
voiced her disgust to him- since, her life has been rather dark. Mitch comforts and kisses her.
Characters:​ Blanche, Mitch
Important:​ tale of Allan’s suicide and explanation of polka, desperation and madness

· Blanche and Mitch come back from their date
· They have a conversation that highlights their differences
· Blanche tells the story of how her husband committed suicide after she discovered him in
bed with a man
· Mitch comforts her and they discuss marriage


Scene 7

It is September 15th, Blanche’s birthday- Blanche bathes and sings ‘Paper Moon’ whilst Stella
decorates her cake. Stanley recounts the information he has found about Blanche’s promiscuous
past, such as her servicing local soldiers, working as a prostitute at the Flamingo until the hotel asked
her to leave, and attempting to seduce a 17-year-old student. This amalgamated to cause her to be
effectively driven out of Laurel. Stella is horrified and attempts to defend her sister (e.g. by bringing up
her marriage) but Stanley shows no sympathy. Blanche emerges happy but quickly becomes
frightened- sensing threat.
Characters:​ Stanley, Stella, Blanche
Important:​ Revelation about Blanche’s sordid past

· Months later; it is mid-September and Blanche’s birthday
· Stanley reveals Blanche’s past to Stella
· Blanche realises that there is a change in atmosphere


Scene 8

The birthday meal ends in a tense atmosphere due to Mitch’s non-appearance. Stanley erupts in fury
when Stella criticises his manners- destroying a plate, cup and saucers and asserting his identity as
an American, not a Pole. He presents with a bus ticket back to Laurel, causing her to rush out and be
ill. Stella turns on Stanley furiously but goes into labour and asks him to take her to the hospital-
leaving Blanche alone.
Characters:​ Stella, Stanley, Blanche
Important:​ Stanley’s American speech

· Stanley, Stella and Blanche celebrate the latter’s birthday with a meal; Mitch hadn’t arrived
· Stanley becomes violent again, before presenting Blanche with a bus ticket back home as a
supposed birthday gift
· Stella complains at his cruelty, but then goes into labour
· Stanley takes her to the hospital

, Scene 9

Mitch arrives, unshaven and a little drunk- hurt and angry at being deceived. He tears off the paper
lantern and turns the light on. Blanche doesn’t deny her deceit but attempts to excuse her
disreputable past as being a refuge from the grief and guilt caused by Allan’s death. A blind Mexican
flower seller contrapuntally interrupts the dialogue. She asks for Mitch’s protection, but he clumsily
tries to rape her before retreating in confusion when she calls out ‘Fire!’
Characters:​ Blanche, Mitch
Important:​ removal of paper lantern, Blanche’s explanation of promiscuity and deception, attempted
rape

· Both Blanche and Mitch have been drinking
· Mitch visits Blanche and tells her he knows about her past
· Blanche tried to explain but he dismisses her and attempts to rape her
· She shouts “Fire!” and he leaves


Scene 10

Stanley returns from the hospital to find Blanche dressed in a ‘somewhat soiled and crumpled white
satin evening gown’, ‘silver slippers’ and a ‘rhinestone tiara’. She claims to have received a cable from
oil millionaire ‘Shep Huntleigh’ inviting her on a Caribbean cruise. Stanley sees through these lies and
becomes aggressive when Blanche falsely recounts Mitch’s attitudes towards her. She tries to ward
off Stanley’s sexual advances with a broken bottle but he easily disarms her and carries her to the
bed, presumably to rape her.
Characters:​ Blanche, Stanley
Important:​ RAPE

· Blanche is in a drunken state; her mental instability is shown through her actions
· Stanley returns home from the hospital and celebrates the birth of his child
· Stanley uncovers Blanche’s true nature and proceeds to rape her


Scene 11

A few weeks later there is yet another poker game. Stella packs Blanche’s trunk whilst Blanche
bathes. Unbeknown to Blanche they are awaiting the arrival of a doctor and nurse from a State-run
institution for the mentally ill- where Stella has reluctantly agreed to have her sister committed. Stella
has decided that she cannot believe Blanche’s account of Stanley raping her; for her own sake, and
that of her new baby, she must reject her sister and align herself with her husband.
Blanche imagines that she is going on holiday with Shep Huntleigh but is frightened by the
appearance of the nurse. However, once the doctor addresses her courteously, she goes willingly
with him. Stella is left holding her baby as Stanley tries to comfort her and begins to undress her
Characters:​ Stella, Blanche, Stanley, Steve, Pablo, Mitch, Eunice, Doctor, Matron
Important:​ Stella’s betrayal, Blanche’s insanity sequence, Ending
· Stella packs Blanche’s suitcase; she does not believe the story of the rape
· Blanche dresses in preparation for what she believes is a trip with an admirer
· The Doctor and the Matron arrives
· Both Stella and Mitch are distressed
· Blanche is taken away
· It is hinted at that Stanley has sex with Stella in an attempt to comfort her

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