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Edexcel A-level English Literature: Drama - A Streetcar Named Desire essay plans
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A Streetcar Named Desire Essay PlansALL EVIDENCE HIGHLIGHTED
IN BOOK
How are class differences presented in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire?’ (2023)
2017 essay plan
How is light presented in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’? (2023)
Blanche has lost control of many things in her life but can control her exposure to light (paper
lantern) – symbolic of her trying to control her past as it makes her confident and exemplifies her
sexual nature too
Fluctuation of light reflects her mental state and her own fluctuation (plastic theatre)
Influence on Hollywood/cinematic version -staging/portrayal of light
Ironic how significant light is to Blanche as usually not important – links to her psyche (plastic
theatre)
Trapped psychologically in her delusions – wants to live in myth of what she used to be hence her
obsession over control of light
Romantic aura and Blanche’s way of shading harsh reality is reflective of the glorification of Old
South and hiding its truth e.g. slavery
Her aura represents the Southern Belle dynamic – wants to hide her age and fading beauty – “what
was, is”
Light correlates to her trauma and how she confronts it – scared of light the same way she fears
confronting her past
Hides from shame and lies in the shadows – link to Jung
Scene 1-6 (Blanches uses lanterns to hide light, scene 7-10 (Mitch attempts to uncover her under
light, slight exposure to light/past), scene 11 (immediate exposure to past/light, post-rape scene,
Stanley ripping lantern) – light becomes more and more plastic theatre as the play goes on but
begins conventionally
Form melodrama, tragedy, equated to a moth which is ironic as she is attracted to light which will
eventually leads to her demise
Language patterns concrete/abstract/symbolic references to light (e.g. match, cigarettes, fire,
candles), stage directions of light correlate to her psychological mood – her obsession with light
connects to her romantic/poetic/hyperbolic/figurative language as she wants to romanticise and
hide the evil/create façade/create myth about reality – contradicts Stanley’s use of
harsh/monosyllabic/concrete language as he is the one that ‘destroys’ light (ripping of paper
lantern, smashing bulbs) – he exposes reality and Blanche’s façade
Repeated image of Stanley lighting cigarette = his destructive nature, him lighting Blanche’s cigarette
reflects him destroying her and foreshadows the rape scene, uses ‘light’ to destroy her like light
destroys a moth
Structure trajectory of baby = trajectory of moth to the flame, bifurcated stage picture (Blanche
behind curtain, light exposing her silhouette), jungle cries are a subjective sight
Lack of light = Blanche’s safe space but Stanley violates that by raping her in the dark and
completely destroys her (sex + darkness)
Light is a leitmotif – links to motif of fading beauty, mental illness, alcohol (Stanley holding bottle,
flammable, softens reality the same way Blanche uses darkness to hide from the reality of her past),
seeing/blindness (manipulates what you see)
Stanley uses light to expose/reveal secrets – symbolically the man who destroys light/uses light to
destroy (sex + darkness)
Naturalism – rape, prostitution, underage boys = shame/exposes unhealthy coping mechanisms
(similar to shame of slavery of Old South, it also shames the violence in new modern American
family of the industrial South
How is the uncertain world presented in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’? (2022)
,How is tension between past/present presented in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’? (2022)
Much like those of the post-civil war Old South psychologically trapped in myths and self-delusions
of what could have been, Blanche’s problems in the play are not solely due to the blemishes of
history, but rather her inability to live honestly in the present
Blanche’s unhealthy propensity to live in the past to insist either consciously or unconsciously that
‘what was, is’ places Blanche in direct opposition with the modern cosmopolitan, industrial culture
of her sister’s world where a functioning family and a working ethic is encouraged.
Like an ironic relic from a civilisation ‘Gone with the Wind’, Blanche is psychologically trapped as a
fallen society America would prefer to forget
Blanche’s problem is her unhealthy obsession/attachment to the past yet also refusing to confront
her past traumas (Alan, prostitution) – wants to remember a glamourised version of the past in
order to sustain her present façade
Glorifies the past (belle reve, varsouviana, letters, excessive costumes) Jung:
o Blanche is a woman dependent on men, aware of her waning physical appeal, terrified of
her longing extinction – when the real world catches up with her, she retreats into the all-
out fantasy of madness
o Jung thinks that the animus can only be realised through the presence of a partner or the
opposite sex, Blanche tries to satisfy her suppressed needs by relying on strangers (in
Jungian terms she has unconsciously projected her animus onto strange men and the
kindness of strangers)
o Blanches inner self is in opposition, directly or indirectly, with her exterior persona – her
exaggerated persona can be even seen in her appearance and the way she wears clothes
o Blanche’s clothes are a characterising device and a way of separating her from her
surrounding
Blanche’s extreme tendency to lie about anything in order to make everyone, including herself,
believe her myth of a life e.g. denial, paper lanterns, alcoholism, Huntley, absence from work etc.
How are family bonds presented in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’? (2021)
How are stage directions used in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’? (2021)
To establish setting – elysian fields and the Kowalski’s apartment
Describe character’s e.g. description of Blanche in the first scene and Stanley in stage directions
Guiding movement and blocking – e.g. rape scene
Emphasises Blanche’s delusion – subjective sounds and sights
Bifurcated stage pictures and contrapuntal sounds
Conveying subtext and symbolism – also foreshadowing e.g. flowers of death??
Enhancing dramatic tension
Blueprint for production – context of American theatre (Some critics classify it as a melodrama due
to its exaggerated emotions and explosive events – more specifically Southern Gothic as it takes
place in the American South with atmosphere of decay and lurid events as well as instances of
violence, insanity, and sex)
Two contrasting styles of straightforward and naturalistic – down to earth characters and poetic and
lyrical characters
Employs the third person omniscient POV so no individual narrates the developments – sometimes
put into Blanche’s head by mentioning of music and voices which creates sympathy
Unconventional blending of realistic elements with an expressionistic style – symbolic and abstract
representation of reality
Williams used a range of theatrical devices such as stage symbols and scenic images that
differentiated him from the realist dramatists of the previous century
Exploration of the boundary between exterior and interior dramatizes the theme of fantasy and
illusion maintain a façade to mask the inner reality
, Episodic structure helps to heighten dramatic tension
How are relationships/marriage presented in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’? (2020)
Link to Stanley’s masculinity and power/dominance in marriage due to gender roles and society of
the time
Marital Struggles: The play showcases the marital struggles between the central couple, Stanley,
and Stella Kowalski. While their relationship initially appears passionate and intense, it is also
characterized by volatility and violence. Stanley's aggressive behaviour and abusive tendencies
create tension within their marriage, leading to frequent arguments and explosive conflicts. This
portrayal underscores the darker side of marriage and exposes the destructive effects of an
unhealthy relationship
explores the traditional gender roles and power dynamics within marriages. Stanley embodies a
dominant and macho persona, asserting control over his wife, Stella. He expects obedience and
displays a possessive attitude towards her. Stella, in turn, often compromises her own desires and
independence to maintain the stability of their marriage. The play highlights the unequal power
balance and the challenges faced by individuals who defy or challenge traditional gender roles
Marriage is presented as an avenue for escape and a means of creating an illusion of stability – seen
through Blanche’s desperateness to marry Mitch (However, her illusions of marriage as a refuge are
shattered as she confronts the harsh reality of her own failed marriage and the troubled
relationships around her. The play suggests that using marriage as a form of escape can ultimately
lead to further disappointment and disillusionment) and Stella’s compromise in her marriage
sexual desire and its impact on marriages. The passionate and sexual relationship between Stanley
and Stella is contrasted with Blanche's struggle to maintain her sexual allure (melodrama and
archetypal temptress destroying domestic sphere) and preserve her romantic illusions. The play also
explores the theme of betrayal within marriages, as Blanche's past indiscretions and her husband's
suicide are revealed, exposing the consequences of infidelity and the erosion of trust within marital
relationships
How does Williams present the play’s opening in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’? (2020)
Explore to which extent Williams presents ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ as a tragedy? (2019)
How are gender roles/masculinity presented in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’? (2019)
Contrasting characters of Blanche and Stanley – exemplifies both their femininity and masculinity
Dominance, aggression, struggle for power
Stanley representative of traditional ‘raw’ masculinity – hegemonic masculinity usually
characterised by a heterosexual, white, strong male (encouraging male domination which justifies
the subordination of women and non-hegemonic males like Mitch, misogynistic ideologies,
effeminate nature of Alan (victim of heteronormativity))
Williams’ portrayal of the vulnerable Blanche as a symbolic foil to the brutish Stanley – her tragic
deterioration acts as a social commentary on the treatment of women who owned their sexuality
(her promiscuous nature) and rebelled against the patriarchal social norms of the time
Cultural clash between Blanche and Stanley wholly symbolic of the ostentatious values of the Old,
aristocratic South vs the societal evolution that saw the awakening of the industrial working-class
New South where masculinity became a key driver of the American social landscape
Stanley is the embodiment of passionate manhood – emphasises his role as a breadwinner, by the
late 1940s men were seen as providers, protectors, and possessors
To truly comprehend the overarching dominance of the hegemonic male characters we must focus
on the rigid gender norms of the South – social and sexual hypocrisy of post-World War 2 America
Napoleonic code and the possession of a wife’s belongings by their husband – stella is
economically dependent on Stanley leaving her constrained and trapped
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