A Streetcar Named Desire
Context notes
The writer’s life
● Written in 1947, and set in the same year.
● Tennessee Williams wrote it.
● He had a troubled childhood with a heavy drinker, which influenced
his violent and boisterous construction of Stanley.
● He was bedridden for a period as a child which led him to be
withdrawn and perhaps misunderstood by the children around him.
● Further break downs lead him to leave Washington Uni and enrol
in the Uni of Lowa.
● Whilst this was happening, his sister, who was suffering from
mental illness, went in for brain surgery and was left
institutionalised ever since- this affected him greatly.
How the play links to his own life
● Many of the themes found in Williams's drama were taken from the
playwright's own life.
● For example, Alcoholism, depression, thwarted desire, loneliness,
and insanity were all part of Williams's world.
● He hated how the institution dealt with his sister and people's lack
of remorse, which could have inspired him to create Blanche.
● Williams was gay, and at this time in society, homosexuality was
frowned upon and tormented at his places of work.- this influenced
his construction of Allan and Blanches inability to accept him.
● New Orleans was one of the first to accept homosexuality, so
Williams chose the area to immerse himself in.
Context notes
The writer’s life
● Written in 1947, and set in the same year.
● Tennessee Williams wrote it.
● He had a troubled childhood with a heavy drinker, which influenced
his violent and boisterous construction of Stanley.
● He was bedridden for a period as a child which led him to be
withdrawn and perhaps misunderstood by the children around him.
● Further break downs lead him to leave Washington Uni and enrol
in the Uni of Lowa.
● Whilst this was happening, his sister, who was suffering from
mental illness, went in for brain surgery and was left
institutionalised ever since- this affected him greatly.
How the play links to his own life
● Many of the themes found in Williams's drama were taken from the
playwright's own life.
● For example, Alcoholism, depression, thwarted desire, loneliness,
and insanity were all part of Williams's world.
● He hated how the institution dealt with his sister and people's lack
of remorse, which could have inspired him to create Blanche.
● Williams was gay, and at this time in society, homosexuality was
frowned upon and tormented at his places of work.- this influenced
his construction of Allan and Blanches inability to accept him.
● New Orleans was one of the first to accept homosexuality, so
Williams chose the area to immerse himself in.
