A Streetcar Named Desire The symbolism of the title

Scene One “They told me to take a streetcar named desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at – Elysian Fields!” This is Blanche’s literal route to Stella’s home.

What does it suggest about the path her life has taken until now? “They told me to take a streetcar named desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at – Elysian Fields!” What does it suggest about the path her life has taken until now? Look at the destinations on the streetcar and her eventual stop. What links are there between these and what we eventually learn of her life?

Scene Four Blanche and Stella are arguing about Stella’s reasons for returning to Stanley after he assaulted her. Stella tells Blanche that their passion makes up for his violence. Blanche replies “What you are talking about is brutal desire – the name of that rattletrap streetcar that bangs through the Quarter, up one narrow street and down another.”

If the streetcar is a symbol of desire, what does Blanche’s description of the streetcar suggest about her attitude to desire? How does it differ to Stella’s? What do we learn elsewhere in the play that explains Blanche’s attitude? “What you are talking about is brutal desire – the name of that rattletrap streetcar that bangs through the Quarter, up one narrow street and down another.”

Stella believes Blanche has no right to be critical: “Haven’t you ever ridden on that streetcar?” She is using the symbol to accuse Blanche of hypocrisy – surely she, too, has felt desire.

Blanche makes an admission: “It brought me here. Where I’m not wanted, and where I’m ashamed to be.” What is Blanche admitting? What effect has desire had on her life? How does this affect your attitude towards this argument? Does it show you why Blanche feels she has the right to interfere in her sister’s relationship?

Scene Six The last overt reference to the streetcar in dialogue is when Blanche returns to the house with Mitch after a lacklustre evening out. She is keen for Mitch to commit to their relationship, and when he talks of leaving for a late tram, asks him “Is that streetcar named desire still grinding along the tracks at this hour?”

“Is that streetcar named desire still grinding along the tracks at this hour?” What is she really asking him? How does her word choice further illustrate her attitude to desire? How does it relate to her relationship with Mitch in general?

Desire – Cemeteries – Elysian Fields Link to the outcome Think about how the play ends: Stanley rapes Blanche, and Blanche is committed to a mental asylum. How has her “Streetcar named Desire” taken her along the route described at the beginning? Desire – Cemeteries – Elysian Fields How has her need to be desired led to her downfall?

Overall Think about what a streetcar does – it takes you places Think about where Blanche’s life has taken her, and how the play reveals this Think about how Blanche feels about her journey so far, and how the play reveals this Think about the journey Blanche takes during the play Link these points to the specific references to streetcars

Blanche’s shame : “where I’m ashamed to be” Key Points The link between desire and death in Blanche’s life, similar to the streetcar route to Stella’s house Blanche’s shame : “where I’m ashamed to be” Blanche’s concern that Stella does not take the same route through life: “brutal desire” How this creates tension with Stanley: Stanley knows desire is Blanche’s weakness, and he turns this on her : his rape is a cruel subversion of desire, and leads to her destruction and symbolic death.