Caution!!!
In puritanical post-war America, the play was heavily criticized because of the scenes of violence, references to gay and immoral behavior of the main character. An overly frank staging could not but cause a resonance - such was the opinion of skeptics.
Tennessee Williams is a legendary American playwright of the last century. One of Williams' most famous works is the play A Streetcar Named Desire. Serious American drama has received unprecedented recognition not only in America but also in other countries. In the book, the writer demonstrates the tragedy of a man of a bygone era, who found himself face to face with the indifferent consumer society of the new time. The wise Litrecon invites you to familiarize yourself with the analysis of the work "A Streetcar Named Desire" according to the plan in order to join the achievements of world culture. Happy enlightenment!
History of creation
In 1944-1945, Tennessee Williams created the image of the main character - Blanche. He wrote the poetically beautiful scene "Blanche in the Moonlight", where the beautiful southerner dreams of a better share in the company of her chosen one. However, thoughts about Blanche and his own problems depressed the author, and he was forced to take a break from work:
Then I stopped writing because I was in an incredibly depressed state, it is difficult to work when thoughts are far away. I decided not to drink coffee and gave myself a rest for a few months and, indeed, soon came to my senses, Williams shares his memories.
In 1946, the first version of the work was ready. However, the author himself was a perfectionist and wanted to bring the play to the ideal. Enthusiastic responses from friends did not convince him. First of all, he decided to change the name. He first titled the book "Poker Night" in honor of that fateful moment when all of Blanche's illusions are shattered. She seems to be losing her life. But then the author decided to dig even deeper and called the play "A Streetcar Named Desire". Why? Litrekon commented on this issue below in the course.
Tennessee Williams completed work on the creation of the work "A Streetcar Named Desire" in 1947. It is known that the book was published in the same year. In the process of work, the writer managed to visit three cities. So, the author began to create a work while in Chicago. The main place of creation of the play is New Orleans. The third place of residence of the writer was New York. It was here that Tennessee met director Elia Kazan. Their joint work is aimed at staging a play. Together they are looking for actors. In the course of a persistent search, they achieved their goal: Stanley played Marlon Brando, and Blanche played Jessica Tandy.
The first version of the work, which was called "Poker Night", was first seen by the writer's friend Margarita Jones. The first production of the play A Streetcar Named Desire took place in 1947.
Thanks to his work, Williams was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. It is known that after the play appeared on the screens, Williams began to qualify for an Oscar. The famous writer is nominated as the best screenwriter.
It premiered at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in New York on December 3, 1947. The performance ran 855 times with a full house. Advertising was provided by conservatively minded criticism. Reviewers immediately accused the author of being too frank. And he was glad to hear it. The audience was intrigued. Going "dangerous to morality" play was the latest peep of the capital's fashion.
Genre and direction
The genre of the work "A Streetcar Named Desire" is a drama. Before us is the tragedy of the modern world, where human ideals cannot withstand the onslaught of harsh reality.
The direction is modernism. The author uses innovative techniques and departs from the classical composition. Thus, the action is accompanied by the sound of the piano, which expresses the emotional coloring of the play. The sounds are detailed in the text of the drama. The story of the heroine is revealed throughout the play, we constantly go into a retrospective of Blanche's life. In parallel, there are two storylines: Blanche's relationship with Stanley and Stella and the story of the heroine herself, which does not go in chronological order, but with torn interspersed memories.
Composition
There are 11 scenes in the play. Each picture is a new phenomenon of heroes, a new round of conflict. Each of them has two storylines: memories of Blanche and her life in her sister's house.
The author skillfully connected these lines, keeping the intrigue until the end. Gradually, the viewer gets to know Blanche better and is imbued with sympathy for her.
The meaning of the name
There was a Streetcar in New Orleans called "The Desire Streetcar". The action takes place in this city. The main character of the work named Blanche went on such a tram to her sister. As the heroine herself said, she had to take the Desire tram, transfer to the Cemetery tram, drive 6 blocks and get off at the Champs Elysees. That's how she got to her sister's house.
The symbolic meaning of the name "A Streetcar Named Desire" is to be found in Blanche's biography. Dreams of a beautiful life have supplanted the reality of the heroine. She came up with an image for herself and manipulated the interpretation of events so that they were a glossy picture, devoid of the tragic shades of bleak reality. Illusions and delusions led the heroine to the cemetery of hopes - a bourgeois swamp in her sister's house.
Sheds light on the meaning of the title of the play "A Streetcar Named Desire" and this fragment from the fourth picture:
BLANCHE. This is called gross lust... yes, yes, exactly: "Desire"! - the name of that very rattling tram that rumbles in your quarter from one cramped street to another ...
STELLA. As if you yourself had never happened to ride in this tram!
BLANCHE. It was he who brought me here ... Where I am an uninvited guest, where to stay is a shame.
The sisters put another meaning into the name of the tram: they associate “desire” with gross lust. She ruined Stella and robbed her of her ambitions. The girl became interested in Stanley only because of the physical side of their relationship. In them lies the source of the power that the hero has over his wife.
“He brought me here,” says Blanche. She already has her own destiny in mind. The heroine led a frivolous lifestyle, disgraced herself in her hometown and lost her last refuge. The desire to compensate for her misfortune through casual romances led her to poverty and humiliation.
Plot
In the image of the main character, the author embodied a former teacher, a southern aristocrat who was born in a huge estate and lived in a big way, but went bankrupt due to the extravagance of her ancestors and relatives. She is forced to sell the estate due to debts.
As a result, Blanche moves in with her sister in a one-room apartment in New Orleans. This is a provincial hole: scandals, drinking parties, fights are everywhere. The people here are of a very questionable sort. For them, violence and rudeness are normal social contact with the world around them.
Blanche's sister is a modest girl named Stella. Stella lives with her husband in a very modest house. According to the main character, their house is very miserable. Despite this, Blanche is forced to come to terms with her place of residence. The sister kindly, but anxiously accepts Blanche, but her husband does not show favor to the girl. He and Blanche instinctively dislike each other. Blanche reminds her sister of their background, education, dreams and ambitions. And Stanley is pulling Stella down to his level, knowing full well. A cold war begins between the heroes: Stanley overhears the sisters talking about him and decides to take revenge on Blanche for her criticism of him.
After a certain time, Stanley becomes aware of Blanche's promiscuity. In her city, she is known for all her wild lifestyle. People thought that she was a city fool, but then everyone turned away from her because of scandals with other people's husbands and soldiers. A naive woman was simply used. And once the main character of the work had an affair with her own 17-year-old student. She was kicked out of school, she had nothing left. Subsequently, Mitch, Stanley's friend, who has tender feelings for Blanche, realizes that his communication with the girl has come to an end. Previously, he considered her noble and pure, she did not give him free will, and now he realized that he had become a victim of deception. Blanche just wanted to get married. Mitch didn't come to her birthday, which offended Blanche, who did not know that everyone already knew everything.
At this point, Blanche's biography is revealed. At the age of 16, she fell in love with a handsome young man from her midst. He proposed to her and they got married. But Blanche noticed that something was wrong with him. He seemed to need outside help. One day she saw a terrible thing: her husband and his best friend retired to the bedroom. Her heart was broken. Later, Blanche called her husband "scum", accused him of everything, but he could not stand it and shot himself. After this injury, Blanche began to lead a frivolous lifestyle. She tried to forget herself in the arms of casual suitors.
Then fate did not reduce its pressure. Blanche's relatives began to die, one by one. She, as the youngest, had to treat and bury them at her own expense. This hastened the sale of the estate. Blanche had to work to support herself, but her behavior put an end to her reputation.
Stella tries to constantly defend her sister from her husband's attacks, but he is relentless. When Stella leaves for the hospital (she is in labor), Stanley rapes her sister. She fights back, but in vain. The hero understands that no one will believe Blanche who has lied. And so it happened. The sister ignored her complaints.
Blanche begins to lose her mind after Stanley's obscene act. The main character in the imagination appeared a wealthy admirer. Stanley tells his wife that her sister must be sent to an insane asylum. Stella agrees, not without hesitation. The doctor who came for the main character is very friendly to the girl, so she easily agreed to follow him: “I have always depended on the kindness of the first comer,” says Blanche. The main character just suffered from a lack of warmth.
Main characters and their characteristics
In the work "A Streetcar Named Desire" there are 4 main characters. Their characterization will simplify the understanding of the play.
- The main character of the play is a 30-year-old woman named Blanche. Curiously, her full name Blanche Dubois translates as "white tree". The author made a reference to another dramatic work, widely known abroad - " To the Cherry Orchard "» A.P. Chekhov. The main motive is the same: a ruined aristocrat is trying to survive in a cruel world where her illusions are broken one by one. After selling her house, she was forced to live with her sister. In the image of his heroine, the writer showed a sophisticated and well-educated woman who wants to maintain her level of prosperity and status. She is strong in her own way. The heroine does not lose heart, despite the fact that she lost her job, spouse, money. Blanche appears in the image of a true aristocrat: even in poverty, she does not lose her habits and does not sink to the level of people of a low circle. In response to outright rudeness, she laughs it off and does not respond in kind. She has the patience and endurance due to her upbringing. The main character longs for something new, believes in possible happiness and does not give up her dream. The girl criticizes the primitive life of her sister with her husband. However, she dreams of peace and family life, but not in such crude forms as Stanley and Stella's. Blanche tells Mitch that in a relationship, she primarily wanted to find tenderness and kindness. “Her fading beauty does not tolerate bright light. There is something in Blanche's timidity and her white attire that suggests comparison with a moth" - that's what the author said about her.
- In the image of Stanley, the author portrayed a cruel and very rude man. The reader notices that the hero is disrespectful to his wife, he even raises his hand to her when she is in position. Stanley's ideal pastime is poker and intimacy with women. The character has a very vengeful and evil nature. At the same time, he has a plebeian complex: “You looked at me like a plebeian,” but “I dragged you down” - Stanley rejoices that Stella has sunk to his level and lost her status in society. His attitude towards his wife confirms this. He cheats on her, beats her, but then humbly asks for forgiveness, being sure in advance that she will forgive him. After all, she has nowhere to go. Stanley's true face is shown only by the defenseless Blanche, whom no one will believe. He raped her on the day his wife gave birth. "Indomitable, proud - a feathered sultan among laying hens ”- this is how the author described it. Stanley is a very callous and narcissistic person. On the day when all of Blanche's dreams were destroyed through his fault, Stanley went to play bowling, feeling no remorse.
- In the image of Stella, the writer showed a very calm and modest girl. Stella does not pursue novelty, she has no ambitions. She betrayed her dreams, satisfied with what she has: “But it was you who renounced the Dream, not me! I stayed to the end, fought not for life, but for death! - says Blanche and has in mind not only the house, but also the innermost dreams of her sister. Her nature is lulled by seeming peace. Stella also lives in an illusion, like Blanche, because she loves a cruel and vindictive person who values only himself. But Stella believes him and even gives birth to a child from him. The heroine has a kind and sympathetic nature. Stella loves her sister Blanche, sympathizes with her, and at times she has an epiphany: “There was no kinder, more selfless person. And your brother, people like you, corrupted her, trampled into the dirt, and the fact that she is like this is your doing, ”she says to Stanley about her sister. But she betrays Blanche for the sake of her selfish peace. It was her sister who reminded her of her former life and prevented her from deceiving herself further. Therefore, Stella in the final is relieved to cry. She killed her sister and wept in memory of her, the one who was already infinitely far away and did not cause trouble. Stella was swallowed up by the bourgeois world of Stanley, where indifference is intertwined with cruelty. The similarity of names, as it were, hints: husband and wife are one Satan.
- Mitch is a timid and intimidated person who obeys his mother and friends in everything. This is an intelligent, indecisive and well-read person who is much higher than his friends in terms of erudition and culture. He has been taking care of his sick mother all his life, who clearly exaggerates her illness, because Mitch constantly says that she is dying, but death has not occurred for 9 months, while the events of the drama unfolded. Mitch is very lonely, but his position does not allow him to bring his wife into the house. He tried to start a relationship with Blanche, but Stanley's gossip dissuades him. He realizes that Blanche is not clean enough for his family. Listening to everyone but himself, he gives up his dream - Blanche. In the finale, he tries to stand up for her, but goes limp in the hands of his friends, again submitting to pressure from the outside.
You can see how different the main characters are from each other. This leads to an obvious clash of views. A struggle is taking shape between the routine of everyday life and the sublime dream.
Main characters and their characteristics
In the work "A Streetcar Named Desire" there are 4 main characters. Their characterization will simplify the understanding of the play.
- The main character of the play is a 30-year-old woman named Blanche. Curiously, her full name Blanche Dubois translates as "white tree". The author made a reference to another dramatic work, widely known abroad - " To the Cherry Orchard "» A.P. Chekhov. The main motive is the same: a ruined aristocrat is trying to survive in a cruel world where her illusions are broken one by one. After selling her house, she was forced to live with her sister. In the image of his heroine, the writer showed a sophisticated and well-educated woman who wants to maintain her level of prosperity and status. She is strong in her own way. The heroine does not lose heart, despite the fact that she lost her job, spouse, money. Blanche appears in the image of a true aristocrat: even in poverty, she does not lose her habits and does not sink to the level of people of a low circle. In response to outright rudeness, she laughs it off and does not respond in kind. She has the patience and endurance due to her upbringing. The main character longs for something new, believes in possible happiness and does not give up her dream. The girl criticizes the primitive life of her sister with her husband. However, she dreams of peace and family life, but not in such crude forms as Stanley and Stella's. Blanche tells Mitch that in a relationship, she primarily wanted to find tenderness and kindness. “Her fading beauty does not tolerate bright light. There is something in Blanche's timidity and her white attire that suggests comparison with a moth" - that's what the author said about her.
- In the image of Stanley, the author portrayed a cruel and very rude man. The reader notices that the hero is disrespectful to his wife, he even raises his hand to her when she is in position. Stanley's ideal pastime is poker and intimacy with women. The character has a very vengeful and evil nature. At the same time, he has a plebeian complex: “You looked at me like a plebeian,” but “I dragged you down” - Stanley rejoices that Stella has sunk to his level and lost her status in society. His attitude towards his wife confirms this. He cheats on her, beats her, but then humbly asks for forgiveness, being sure in advance that she will forgive him. After all, she has nowhere to go. Stanley's true face is shown only by the defenseless Blanche, whom no one will believe. He raped her on the day his wife gave birth. "Indomitable, proud - a feathered sultan among laying hens ”- this is how the author described it. Stanley is a very callous and narcissistic person. On the day when all of Blanche's dreams were destroyed through his fault, Stanley went to play bowling, feeling no remorse.
- In the image of Stella, the writer showed a very calm and modest girl. Stella does not pursue novelty, she has no ambitions. She betrayed her dreams, satisfied with what she has: “But it was you who renounced the Dream, not me! I stayed to the end, fought not for life, but for death! - says Blanche and has in mind not only the house, but also the innermost dreams of her sister. Her nature is lulled by seeming peace. Stella also lives in an illusion, like Blanche, because she loves a cruel and vindictive person who values only himself. But Stella believes him and even gives birth to a child from him. The heroine has a kind and sympathetic nature. Stella loves her sister Blanche, sympathizes with her, and at times she has an epiphany: “There was no kinder, more selfless person. And your brother, people like you, corrupted her, trampled into the dirt, and the fact that she is like this is your doing, ”she says to Stanley about her sister. But she betrays Blanche for the sake of her selfish peace. It was her sister who reminded her of her former life and prevented her from deceiving herself further. Therefore, Stella in the final is relieved to cry. She killed her sister and wept in memory of her, the one who was already infinitely far away and did not cause trouble. Stella was swallowed up by the bourgeois world of Stanley, where indifference is intertwined with cruelty. The similarity of names, as it were, hints: husband and wife are one Satan.
- Mitch is a timid and intimidated person who obeys his mother and friends in everything. This is an intelligent, indecisive and well-read person who is much higher than his friends in terms of erudition and culture. He has been taking care of his sick mother all his life, who clearly exaggerates her illness, because Mitch constantly says that she is dying, but death has not occurred for 9 months, while the events of the drama unfolded. Mitch is very lonely, but his position does not allow him to bring his wife into the house. He tried to start a relationship with Blanche, but Stanley's gossip dissuades him. He realizes that Blanche is not clean enough for his family. Listening to everyone but himself, he gives up his dream - Blanche. In the finale, he tries to stand up for her, but goes limp in the hands of his friends, again submitting to pressure from the outside.
You can see how different the main characters are from each other. This leads to an obvious clash of views. A struggle is taking shape between the routine of everyday life and the sublime dream.
Thank you Sir 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
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