Summary
Summary An A Level Poster on Symbolism in 'A Streetcar Named Desire', and Accompanying Analysis
This poster analysing symbolism in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' is perfect for revising for A level English Literature.
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Music: The Blue Piano is the theme of life. It L&N Tracks: The locomotive becomes a symbol ofsymbolises the “easy intermingling of races” and the rapidly changing world. It is a leitmotif for
culture. Arguably, Williams chooses the Blue Piano to Stanley and reflects his drive and his accepted
emanate the cosmopolitan French Quarter of New place in modern society.
Orleans, which was famously progressive in the 1940’s.
Williams lived in New Orleans and his time there Paper Lantern: Blanche uses a paper lantern to hide
inspired much of his writing. her true appearance as she refuses to stand directly in
(“infatuated fluency of brown fingers… Blue piano”). the light were others would be able to see her clearly.
The polka music, The Varsouviana, is the theme of It forms part of a calculated attempt to appear to be
death. It symbolises Blanches deteriorating mental an attractive prospect to any male suitors. “I can’t
state as she thinks of her dead husband and copes with stand a naked bulb”. Appearance vs reality.
her current situation. Perhaps Williams intended for
the Varsouviana and Blanche’s obsession with death to
Blanche’s Costume jewellery:
serve as a reminder that Blanche's beautiful dream
appearance vs reality. But also
and, by proxy, the dream of the old south is dead.
class difference as Stanley is too
(“all of those deaths”, “death is expensive”, “I shall die
ignorant to realise that the jewels
of eating an unwashed grape”).
Stella’s Pregnancy: A symbol of hope are fake. This lays the
Elysian Fields: An allusion to the final and the of a progressive future, where groundwork for conflict as
resting place of the souls of the the classes are merged. Stanley’s hostility towards
virtuous in Greek Mythology. By “rounded with maternity” Blanche is ultimately rooted in his
having the play begin with Blanche sharp awareness of these class
arriving at an afterlife, Williams differences between them.
conveys that her downfall has Bathing: Blanches desperation
already begun and that there will be for emotional, spiritual and
no redemption. mental cleansing. She retreats
to the bathroom as sanctuary
Whiskey Bottle: Blanche’s and for privacy. Unlike, Blanche,
drinking establishes a reliance Stanley is forced to take shower
on alcoholism as a key theme. to cool his drunken rage
For Blanche, it is a coping following the poker game.
mechanism that “soothes her Potentially, Williams creates
nerves”, but one that offends this parallel to demonstrate
her southern belle sensibilities that Blanche and Stanley are
as she continually hides her two sides of the same coin:
alcoholism. Williams’ own domineering characters who
father was an alcoholic, which weaponize their sexuality.
may have inspired him to
include alcohol as an effective
mechanism as a catalyst for Blue Jeans that Stanley
conflict. “some people rarely wears are emblematic
touch it, but it touches them of his blue collar status
often”, “she pours half a as a manual worker.
tumbler of whiskey and tosses Williams dresses Stanley
it down”. in this way to present
him as an embodiment
Loud shirt: The loud and of the American Dream.
aggressive shirts that the men “roughly dressed in blue
wear symbolise their loud and denim work clothes”.
aggressive, hegemonic
masculinity. Stanley is
Streetcar: overarching
domineering character who
metaphor of a perpetual
embodies end enforces the
loop. Ultimately the play
typical gender norms of the
follows a cyclical
1940’s. “coloured shirts, solid
blues, a purple, a red and Blanche’s red robe: “Blanche comes out of the bathroom structure, with repeating
white check…” in a red satin robe”. Here, Williams may be constructing cycles of violence and a
a biblical allusion to a ‘scarlet woman’, who is notorious reference to “seven card
Belle Reve: The plantation is for having many casual sexual relationships. The colour stud” at the start and
symbolic of the antebellum south symbolises Blanches hamartia: her desire for love end of the play. The
and arguably William’s criticism of although, equally, red may be used as a warning for the characters do not
the old south. In this way, Williams danger that Blanche will soon face. Stanley senses that develop over the course
advocates for civil rights as he uses Blanches provocative behaviour is more fitting of a of the play, and there is
Blanche to show that outdated prostitute than a school teacher. a sense that they will
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