1. A Streetcar named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Kelso High School
A Streetcar named Desire
by Tennessee Williams

2. Scene Nine
This scene marks a decisive stage in Blanche’s disintegration. She is drinking heavily and the past symbolised by the insistent polka music is pressing own upon her
This scene is effective melodrama as Mitch’s hostility and Blanche’s half hearted protestations lead up to the ending when he tries to sleep with her

3. Scene Nine
This scene also reveals what was motivating Blanche. Surrounded by the memories of her dead husband and dying members of her family, she felt so afraid of Death’s proximity that she sought the opposite - DESIRE
To Blanche desire symbolises life, youth and everything that is pleasant
Ironically Blanche dies inside as a result of her moral decay
This scene is also the final confrontation between Blanche and Mitch

4. Characterisation : Blanche
Blanche’s strange behaviour at the beginning (drinking and huddled on a chair) coupled with the Polka music symbolises the premonition of a disaster which is about to occur
Blanche’s incessant chatter at the beginning conveys how nervous she is and is perhaps her attempt to postpone their inevitable confrontation. She prefers illusion to reality

5. Characterisation : Blanche
Blanche’s admission that “I don’t want realism” conveys that she wants to live in a make-believe world because it is not so painful. This is why she does not always tell the truth. She only tells what she thinks ought to be the truth and in her mind this is not really lying

6. Characterisation : Blanche
Blanche’s drinking symbolises her inability to cope and her “desire” to blot things out.
Ironically the liquor is called “Southern Comfort”. Blanche has arrived in the southern states looking for comfort but neither the alcohol or her stay with Stanley and Stella are giving her any. Her journey to New Orleans was her quest for a new life

7. Characterisation : Blanche
This scene also offers an insight into Blanche’s character. For the first time we are given insights into her behaviour at Laurel. She admits her lies, but she also tells unequivocally the truth about herself. When her fantasies meet with incomprehension and brutality, she turns for good to her world of make-believe as Blanche says, “I don’t want realism”

8. Characterisation : Mitch
Ironically, he could have accepted her lies about her age, but he cannot accept the truth about her past and the lies she has told to cover this up
Mitch’s refusal to marry Blanche show that she is no longer able to escape her past
Mitch hurrying out of the apartment represents Blanche’s last chance for stability in her life disappearing

9. Imagery : The Paper Lantern
The paper lantern represents the dressing up of reality
Blanche’s fear of the light that Mitch wants conveys her fear and inability to deal with truth and brightness. She does not want Mitch to see her in full light. The darkness creates an illusory world for Blanche where she feels she can hide the truth of her past and the truth of her age
Mitch tearing down the lantern conveys that Stanley has already metaphorically “turned on the light for Mitch”, but now he wants the truth for himself. His tearing down of the lantern symbolises his extermination of the fake persona she has concocted

10. Imagery: The Paper Lantern
It is ironic that this scene shows a reversal of conventional symbols.
For Blanche light is a cruel enemy while darkness is kind
Darkness is kind because not only is her appearance covered up but it hides the ugliness of the real world. This enables Blanche to maintain her illusions. When her illusions go, so do her sanity

11. Language
Blanche’s high flown artificial language coupled with Mitch’s short, contemptuous and ungrammatical replies further symbolises the gulf between them

12. Stagecraft
The Varsouviana music is playing. This conveys Blanche’s loss of control. With Mitch’s arrival the polka music stops. This symbolises that in Blanche’s mind, Mitch would have been able to deal with her problems

13. Stagecraft
The appearance of the Mexican flower seller symbolises the death of Blanche’s relationship with Mitch and all the death that surrounded her at Belle Reve

14. Stagecraft
After Mitch leaves, the Varsouviana is replaced by the melancholy sound of the blue piano which symbolises sadness and loss