Summary
Summary Overview and quote banks for themes in a streetcar named desire
extensive list of quotes for different themes and brief overview of its importance in the book
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Streetcar ContextHistorical
The American South
The play represents the decline of the aristocratic families traditionally associated with the South.
The South's wealth was primarily built on its slave-owning past. The defining event of the South was
the Civil War where the Southern Confederate Army was defeated. The South's agricultural base
could not compete with industrialisation. It remained a place of racism with heavy emphasis placed
upon people's history and family ancestry - they were reluctant to give up their old-fashioned ways
and resisted change
Belle Reve would be a remnant of the earlier pre-war age. Many families lost their wealth
during the war.
The Dubois' are from Mississippi which is a classic example of a 'deep south' state (where
Williams was from)
Tennessee Williams was born in the 'Deep South' of America and he later remembered his
southern childhood as idyllic and when he moved, he was teased about his accent and felt like
an outsider
Blanche is obsessed with portraying herself as 'the Southern Belle' (she is an archetype of the
character) which is a stock character created in the period before the civil war which depicted
a young, beautiful woman who was part of the upper socio-economic class of the Deep South.
However her sexual freedom and dependency on men do not fit the behaviour of the
Southern people
Second World War
It led to a greater fluidity between social classes, which sometimes caused conflict with those who
were clinging onto an older social order
During the war when the men were away, many women were encouraged to work in factories and
to take charge of their households
Social
New Orleans
New Orleans known as the 'melting pot' of culture e.g. 27% of its population in Mexican
Mixed class relationships between the upper and working class was not uncommon in the 1940's as
the country had just emerged from the war after battling through the Great Depression, meaning
the divides between classes blurred as everyone worked collectively for the war effort
Throughout the play, Williams emphasizes the unique setting of New Orleans with his
descriptions of its colours, scents music and characters
The Desire Line streetcar ran from 1920 to 1948
The new capitalist America – car sales quadrupled between 1945-1955 – showing the progression of
America
Gender roles
Although the percentage of women working greatly increased during the 40s, the majority either
didn't work or worked in traditional 'female occupations'. A typical housewife was responsible for all
domestic duties
Stanley - Stanley expects Stella to arrange her life around his needs- he says 'since when do
you give me orders?' and 'how about my supper, huh?'
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