1. A Streetcar Named Desire Find Williams’ description of the Kowalski apartment and draw your interpretation of the setting.

2. A Streetcar Named Desire An exploration of the plight of impoverished Southern gentry and the rapid cultural changes in a socially turbulent post-war New Orleans through the juxtaposition of characters brought together by circumstance and familial ties. Tennessee Williams March 26, 1914 – February 25, 1983 born Thomas Lanier Williams

3. Setting Your setting should look similar to this. It is difficult to fully appreciate the play unless you have a clear mental image of the setting and characters.

4. Structure through the conflict between Blanche and Stanley and Blanche’s resultant emotional rollercoaster. 1.Blanche arrives, meets Stanley; they take each other’s measure. Blanche optimistic. 2.Conflict over loss of Belle Reve. Blanche submits papers to Stanley. 3.Poker night. Blanche meets Mitch. Blanche hopeful about future. 4.Blanche berates Stella. Stanley defeats Blanche in competition for allegiance of Stella. 5.Blanche plans for future. Kisses newsboy. Blanche hopes Mitch will provide love. 6.Date with Mitch. Blanche wins his love. 7.Prepare for party. Blanche in high spirits. 8.Stanley gives Blanche bus ticket. Blanche horrified. 9.Mitch visits, confronts Blanche, attempts rape. Blanche distraught. 10.Stanley returns. Rapes Blanche. Blanche destroyed 11.Blanche to asylum. Completely divorced from reality.

5. Plastic Theatre A term coined by Williams to describe a distinctive new style Setting, sound, music, visual effects – all staging elements – combine to reflect and enhance the action, theme, characters and language Playwright gives definitive and highly descriptive script instead of the director/actor Metaphors that draw on use of art, light and sound to emphasise symbols and themes employed To heighten awareness of certain events of characterisations Use of props or staging to impress upon audience more abstract ideas.

6. Plastic Theatre What aspects of this ‘plastic theatre’ does Williams utilise? 1.when in the rape scene Williams' stage directions say that the walls of the flat "have become transparent" symbolising the outside, real and sordid world encroaching on Blanche's imaginary world where she must be shielded from reality. 2.when the "lurid reflections" and "inhuman voices" fill Blanche's imagination, however, in order for the audience to fully appreciate Blanche's state of mind, we must also be privy to these noises. 3.Your example 4.Your example 5.Your example

7. Some Symbols of Plastic Theatre Light Bulb The "naked" light bulb symbolizes truth and reality. The light bulb also symbolizes an epiphany. An epiphany is an "a-ha!" moment, the moment when some new idea or concept occurs to a person. Paper Lantern The paper lantern symbolizes something flimsy that is used to disguise reality, create illusion, and hide the truth. However the paper lantern cannot last, it can only temporarily create a romantic glow and keep the truth in shadow. The paper lantern is used by Blanche to disguise her fading beauty and indecent past. White Clothing White symbolizes purity and innocence.

8. Some Symbols of Plastic Theatre Package of Meat The package of meat that Stanley throws at Stella and her eager catching of the meat is a symbol of their sexual relationship. Stanley is the provider (hunter & gatherer) and Stella waits happily at home for his return. The meat represents Stanley's almost barbaric manliness emphasised by his constant removal of clothing. Bathing Blanche's constant bathing shows her need to cleanse herself (metaphorically) of the impurities and disappointments in her past (the Hotel Flamingo, her own sinful behaviour with her young husband). The bathing helps relax Blanches' nerves and allows her mind to imagine that she is in better (and more pampered) circumstances. Bathing also makes Blanche feel young and girlish, laughing, singing, and splashing in the tub like a child. Polka Music The polka music that Blanche hears whenever her young husband is discussed reminds Blanche of the frenzied manner in which she lost her husband. This music haunts Blanche and is one of the realities that she desires to escape.

9. Blanche Du Bois A woman's charm is fifty per cent illusion. Sorrow makes for sincerity, I think. I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action. In some kinds of people some tenderer feelings have had some little beginning! That we have to make grow! And cling to, and hold as our flag! I don’t want realism. I want magic! Whoever you are--I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. Never inside, I didn’t lie in my heart You’re not clean enough to bring in the house with my mother. MITCH

10. Stanley Kowalski I don't go in for that stuff... compliments to women about their looks. I never met a woman that didn't know if she was good-looking or not without being told. He acts like an animal, has an animal's habits! Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one! There's even something -- sub-human -- something not quite to the stage of humanity yet! Yes, something -- ape-like about him, like one of those pictures I've seen in -- anthropological studies! Thousands and thousands of years have passed him right by, and there he is -- Stanley Kowalski -- survivor of the stone age! BLANCHE We’ve had this date with each other from the beginning!

11. Essay planning Outline the key ideas of your essay by first identifying the main points of your thesis statement and topic sentences for three body paragraphs as outlined below: Introduction/Main points of thesis statement: 1. 2. 3. Body 1 topic sentence/statement & evidence: Body 2 topic sentence/statement & evidence: Body 3 topic sentence/statement & evidence:

12. Questions To what extent is A Streetcar Named Desire a tragedy and Blanche Du Bois a tragic heroine? Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: PLAN – 3 main points of thesis Body 1 topic sentence/statement & evidence: Body 2 topic sentence/statement & evidence: Body 3 topic sentence/statement & evidence:

13. Questions How does Tennessee Williams make use of the overarching theme of desire within his play A Streetcar Named Desire? Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: PLAN – 3 main points of thesis Body 1 topic sentence/statement & evidence: Body 2 topic sentence/statement & evidence: Body 3 topic sentence/statement & evidence:

14. Homework Write a five sentence scene summary for each scene. For each scene choose a different character to focus on. Name the character. Choose a quote from the scene that you think best represents the character. Explain why you chose that quote.. In one paragraph describe the character’s role in the scene. Further Revision: http://www.s- cool.co.uk/alevel/english-literature/a-streetcar-named- desire.htmlhttp://www.s- cool.co.uk/alevel/english-literature/a-streetcar-named- desire.html

15. Extension Homework For each scene choose one meaningful quote, and then describe its significance in the play. For each scene choose at least two sightings of one or more of the following symbols: strong light / bare light bulb, paper lantern / shadow, white clothing, package of meat, bathing, music (polka, jazz, Paper Moon), moth / butterflies. Explain the significance of each symbol. Further Revision: http://www.s- cool.co.uk/alevel/english-literature/a-streetcar-named- desire.htmlhttp://www.s- cool.co.uk/alevel/english-literature/a-streetcar-named- desire.html