A summary of A Streetcar Named Desire
Scene Time of day Title Summary Music heard by audience Ideas / quotations
(pp.)
I, 1 Early Meat-Man Meets Blanche arrives in New Blue piano ● In the opening, Williams creates a busy, urban atmosphere, at once
(3 –15) evening in the Moth Orleans, looking lost. She and (coming from a nearby decaying, licentious (conversation b/w Eunice and N. woman
May Stella seem pleased to see each bar, may be audible reference to physical pleasure) and beautiful.
other, but Stella quickly tires of throughout), inextricably ● (p.3) Irreverent coupling of sex and religion, reference to St Barnabas,
her nervous energy, her linked with the death of converted to Christianity, N.Testament
disapproval of Stella’s home, Blanche’s husband, Allan ● ‘red hot! spicy tamale adds to steamy atmosphere
and her need for compliments. Grey ● detailed cinematic descriptive stage directions. French Quarter poor,
She upsets Stella, who runs rundown, but poetic and beautiful described. Sensory exploration;
crying to the bathroom. While strong colours blue/turqouise sky, appropriate for spring/summer,
she is off stage, Stanley returns. dirty brown river, smell of coffee and bananas, atmospheric jazz pian
The contrast between them a strong leitmotif in the play. River and railroad track suggest
and their backgrounds is transportation, important idea and commerce a world only briefly
obvious. Stanley realises that glimpsed in what is primarily a domestic play. Elysian Fields is an
Blanche is lying about drinking. appropriate name for the street, the resting place for the blessed
Through a mixture of physical Greek mythology. Ironic heaven that Blanche will be denied, death is a
presence, eye contact, prominent theme. Comment NO is racially tolerant appear jar his own
innuendo, tag questions, terms labelling of the ‘Negro Woman’, term would not have been considered
of address and mockery, he pejorative in 1947
fully dominates the ● (p.4) ‘clip joint’ Four Deuces disreputable bar and brothel, ironic, men
conversation, which ends with Polka: In Blanche’s mind, go, but women would be scorned (Blanche at the Flamingo)
Blanche feeling sick. faintly when asked about ● ‘Roughly dressed in blue denim work clothes’ Mitch and Stanley
her husband working class men
● Stella’s gentleness contrasted with Stanley’s brutality, Stanley is
primitive, a caveman bringing home the kill for his woman to cook.
Stella’s objection to his crude behaviour is soon replaced by a sense of
exhilaration.
● ‘sandwich’ simple ingredients, plain lives led
● (p.4-5)Blanche here to stay, out of place, overdressed in white to
suggest innocence and vulnerability she tries to cultivate
● Streetcars Desire and Cemeteries, interlinked theme desire and death,
symbolic value
● ‘Stella DuBois. I mean - Mrs. Stanley Kowalski’ unwilling to accept,
difficulty of adjustment is compounded with her horror at the
building
