‘Primarily, this play presents a clash between two cultures, not two individuals.’
Examine this view of A Streetcar Named Desire [25 marks]
Intro -“I have only one major theme for my work, which is the destructive power of society on the
sensitive non-conformist”
-Blanche & Stanley being the main clash
-agree with statement its clash between culture of Old American South & New America
Paragraph 1 -Entrance of Blanche as a character vs the new culture
the arrival of an intruder
“suggest a moth” metaphor (plastic theatre)
“Belle Reve” symbolism
American Civil war (South wanted slaves/lost) White southerners vs Black southerners
Stan
“Look at the feathers and furs” paradox between two cultures
Paragraph 2 -culture clash can be further seen multicultural heritage of New Orleans
Stanley polish vs Blanche old south
Varsouviana polka
“Varsouviana rises audibly” how is this used in the play, Polish heritage
but there is a clear clash between characters as it is a fight over Stella
“Stella cries out. Blanche screams” how this clashes
BUT rape scene is more of a political statement (Kazan doesn’t show the rape scene)
Paragraph 3 – Napoleonic code is a reflection of combat between characters
“Especially now that she has a baby.” Dramatic irony of Stella not knowing Blanche knows
Used a direct attack
HOWEVER Napoleonic code reflects time of civil war
“Blanche’s desperate laughter” reflects the fight she endures mentally
Conc
, Examine the view that A Streetcar Named Desire fails because the relationship between Stella and
Stanley is ‘inconceivable’ [25 marks]
Intro – ‘not capable of being imagined or grasped mentally; unbelievable.’
-“the real test of any production of any of William’s play is whether is allows you to see from each
characters p.o.v.” Billington
it is inconceivable due to the rape scene
HOWEVER it is not as gender roles // moving forward futures
Paragraph 1 -At the beginning it is only Stella and Stanley not inconceivable ((American dream &
declaration of independence”
“down off them columns” represents their relationship
metaphorical // old southern life
-Blanche mentally unstable
“Diamonds!”
“Rhinestone tiara” Juxtaposition
Paragraph 2 Should Blanche truly influence their relationship?
“He seizes the atomizer and slams it down” represents abusive nature
BUT gender roles ww11 & American dream (trapped by cultural pragmatics of the south
“Stella cries out. Blanche screams”
talk about how the Kazan film ends with Stella running away mirrors earlier in play
Paragraph 3 It is fair that Stella feels this way (Social realist play)
Theme of meat, Scene 1 Stan throws meat to Stella ((sexual proprietorship) “Meat!”
-Theme of drunkness (Both Blanche and Stanley are drunk the only difference is how they portray it)
“Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh” Binary opposites
Conc
Examine this view of A Streetcar Named Desire [25 marks]
Intro -“I have only one major theme for my work, which is the destructive power of society on the
sensitive non-conformist”
-Blanche & Stanley being the main clash
-agree with statement its clash between culture of Old American South & New America
Paragraph 1 -Entrance of Blanche as a character vs the new culture
the arrival of an intruder
“suggest a moth” metaphor (plastic theatre)
“Belle Reve” symbolism
American Civil war (South wanted slaves/lost) White southerners vs Black southerners
Stan
“Look at the feathers and furs” paradox between two cultures
Paragraph 2 -culture clash can be further seen multicultural heritage of New Orleans
Stanley polish vs Blanche old south
Varsouviana polka
“Varsouviana rises audibly” how is this used in the play, Polish heritage
but there is a clear clash between characters as it is a fight over Stella
“Stella cries out. Blanche screams” how this clashes
BUT rape scene is more of a political statement (Kazan doesn’t show the rape scene)
Paragraph 3 – Napoleonic code is a reflection of combat between characters
“Especially now that she has a baby.” Dramatic irony of Stella not knowing Blanche knows
Used a direct attack
HOWEVER Napoleonic code reflects time of civil war
“Blanche’s desperate laughter” reflects the fight she endures mentally
Conc
, Examine the view that A Streetcar Named Desire fails because the relationship between Stella and
Stanley is ‘inconceivable’ [25 marks]
Intro – ‘not capable of being imagined or grasped mentally; unbelievable.’
-“the real test of any production of any of William’s play is whether is allows you to see from each
characters p.o.v.” Billington
it is inconceivable due to the rape scene
HOWEVER it is not as gender roles // moving forward futures
Paragraph 1 -At the beginning it is only Stella and Stanley not inconceivable ((American dream &
declaration of independence”
“down off them columns” represents their relationship
metaphorical // old southern life
-Blanche mentally unstable
“Diamonds!”
“Rhinestone tiara” Juxtaposition
Paragraph 2 Should Blanche truly influence their relationship?
“He seizes the atomizer and slams it down” represents abusive nature
BUT gender roles ww11 & American dream (trapped by cultural pragmatics of the south
“Stella cries out. Blanche screams”
talk about how the Kazan film ends with Stella running away mirrors earlier in play
Paragraph 3 It is fair that Stella feels this way (Social realist play)
Theme of meat, Scene 1 Stan throws meat to Stella ((sexual proprietorship) “Meat!”
-Theme of drunkness (Both Blanche and Stanley are drunk the only difference is how they portray it)
“Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh” Binary opposites
Conc
