This document is an in-depth collection of scene summaries for all the scenes in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. It is perfect for revising the plot of the play.
Significant amount of opening stage directions which affectionately describe in detail the
atmosphere that the setting should convey, a “raffish charm”. Elysian Fields – an allusion to
Greek mythology, the final resting place of the souls of the heroic and the virtuous. Set in the
French Quarter of New Orleans which was a progressive area at the time.
Stanley [bellowing] versus Stella [mildly]. Stanley is loud and carries a ‘red stained package’.
Imagery of a brutish neanderthal. Stereotypical polish man?
Blanche introduced. Described in stage directions as appearing ‘moth’ like. She represents the
old south, the time of plantations and the aristocracy. Clearly values appearance, etiquette,
and propriety. Accustomed to gentility and wealth and so is affronted by her sister’s living
conditions. Instant conflict with Stanley and his values.
Belle Reve, meaning ‘beautiful dream’. The plantation that Blanche and Stella used to live in
symbolising the fall of the old south. When she is alone, Blanche loses some of her careful
composure as she drinks ‘half a tumbler of whiskey’, before replacing the bottle and washing
the tumbler so that others will not notice.
Clearly Blanche loves her younger sister, although she does patronise stella and assume that
she knows best. Blanche is overly concerned with her appearance and, even though it is she
who has turned up unannounced to encroach on Stella’s personal life, she insults the
apartment. Then, she pretends to look for some liquor and feels the need to assure Stella that
she “hasn’t turned into a drunkard”.
Blanche proceeds to insult Stella’s appearance and ridicule her living situation. Point of
tension: Stanley is unaware of Blanche’s arrival and instance on staying with them in the
apartment.
Blanche laments the loss of Belle Reve and her family and resents Stella for moving out and
leaving her. Stanley returns home. Stage directions describe his sexist nature in that he “sizes
women up at a glance, with sexual classifications”. Stanley notices that his whiskey has been
drunk, although Blanche denies it. It is revealed that Blanche’s husband died when she was
“quite young”.
Scene 2
Stanley and Stella talk while Blanche takes a bath. Stella doesn’t want to tell Blanche that she
is pregnant, and Stanley is rightfully concerned with why Stella hasn’t received anything if
Belle Reve has been sold. Stella is more bothered with convincing Stanley to appease Blanche
by complimenting her appearance.
It becomes clear that Stanley is worried about being “swindled” as according to the
“Napoleonic code”, whatever belongs to Stella belongs to him and vice versa. He then
rummages through Blanche’s belongings, claiming that Blanche has spent the money on furs
and jewellery. He appears quite obtuse and obstinate as even after Stella explains that it is
costume jewellery, he claims that he will have it appraised.
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