Just as circumstance has led her to the Kowalskis' doorstep, so too did circumstance lead her to a life driven by desire and death. She cannot believe where she has ended up, standing at her sister's rundown New Orleans door step, or determine how she got there, on a pair of streetcars named Desire and Cemeteries. She asks Stella to tell her how she looks, fusses over Stellas plumpness and disheveled appearance, and is surprised to learn that Stella has no maid. March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 When Stanley abruptly asks what happened to Blanches marriage, Blanche replies haltingly that the boy died, then plops down and declares that she feels ill. Aside from the use of the raw meat, he uses the bowling balls and pins, and the columns of the Belle Reve plantation home as obvious, overt phallic and sexual symbols. Blanche explains to Stella that she had to resign from her high school teaching position because of her nerves. A Streetcar Named Desire has only one setting: a two-story flat in New Orleans. She pours a half tumbler, carefully replaces the bottle and washes out the tumbler at the. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. A few minutes later Mitch appears with a bunch of roses. In an outburst that builds to a crescendo of hysteria, Blanche reveals that she has lost Belle Reve, the familys ancestral home. Blanche emerges from Eunices flat, frantically looking for Stella. Raw physical lust forms a vital part of the life-blood of New Orleans, and of their relationship. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Tennessee Williams and A Streetcar Named Desire Background. The second scene brings in the elements particular to Blanche and Stanley's relationship, and from there all the foundation is laid to send the story hurtling down the tracks towards its conclusion. A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams Study Guide Mastery Quizzes PLUS Flashcards PLUS Quick Quizzes Scene One Quiz 1 of 5 Who lives in the apartment above Stella and Stanley? Setting The Scene Before Reading . Read more about the use of piano music as a theatrical device. He holds the power in the apartment, even though Blanche sees herself as elite. She worries that Stanley wont like her, and she makes several disparaging comments about Stanleys lower-class status, focusing on his Polish background. For example, discordant sounds play as the violent drama heightens. He sizes her up with a glance; she hides her eyes from him. Williams provides copious stage directions in his plays, and they are both functional and poetic. In this way, Stanley and Blanche are like the sun and the moon. Their reunion is also described in terms of animal noises. The reader should be especially aware of Williams' description of Stanley. Its only a paper moon, Just as phony as it can beBut it wouldnt be make-believe If you believed in me! You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Its loss could signify the end of Blanche's dream life or fantasy.A Streetcar Named DesireTennessee williams' Scene 1KEY SOUND IN THE PLAY Like the woman in the song, Blanche is now a "captive maid," as she has nowhere else to go except Stella and Stanley's apartment. Why, that you had to live in these conditions! she feared for either of them to stop and think. This is both meaningful in the present tense and on a deeper thematic level. Later that evening, Blanche is dressed in an old, faded gown and has a rhinestone tiara on her head. Note the symbolic use of names throughout the play. Since earliest manhood the center of [Stanleys] life has been pleasure with women, the giving and taking of it, not with weak indulgence, dependently, but with the power and pride of a richly feathered male bird among hens. Steve and Eunice live upstairs, and Stanley and Stella live downstairs. Blanche becomes visibly agitated during the cross-examination. The setting is the exterior of a corner building on a street called Elysian Fields, which runs between the river and the train tracks in a poor section of New Orleans that has raffish [crude] charm. Faded white stairs lead up to the entrances of the shabby buildings two flats. on 50-99 accounts. You can view our. What happened to Belle Reve, the DuBois family home? He asks Blanche some straight forward questions about herself and her plans, while removing his sweaty shirt and taking a drink. She has absolutely no place to go and no one to turn to or else she would not be here in these surroundings. Previous She prefers, instead, the dim, illusionary world of semi-darkness. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. The portieres are partly. a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries, Blanche slowly follows her into the downstairs flat. When Stella asserts that its time to stop playing for the night, Stanley refuses her request, tells her to go upstairs to Eunices, and disrespectfully slaps her on the buttocks. He tries to leave again but Blanche stops him, telling him how handsome he looks and then she walks over and kisses him softly on the lips. They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off atElysian Fields! Mitch emerges into the bedroom from the bathroom and is sheepish and awkward upon meeting Blanche, indicating that he is attracted to her. 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LitCharts Teacher Editions. 20% Scene 1 Quotes They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off atElysian Fields! -Graham S. Below you will find the important quotes in, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Over the course of the poker game and the Kowalskis fight, however, the pianos sound changes, registering the turbulent emotional shifts of the action onstage. A streetcar named desire- scene 1 Flashcards | Quizlet A streetcar named desire- scene 1 Term 1 / 10 In what city is the play set? He is brutish, coarse, primitive; she is dainty, elegant, delicate. Blanche redirects the conversation by asking if Stella has any liquor in the flat. Blanche is immediately seen as Stanleys direct opposite: fluttering, insubstantial, and pale rather than a robust, muscular specimen. And as a moth is often attracted by light and consequently killed by the heat, later we will see that Blanche is afraid of the light and when Mitch forces her under the light, this act begins Blanche's destruction. Blanche then returns to the subject of the apartment, wondering how Stella could live in such a place. Both also nursed their parents through lingering deaths. Tennessee Williams and A Streetcar Named Desire Background, Read more about the unnamed Black womans role. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Stella asks if Blanche is interested in Mitch. The Question and Answer section for A Streetcar Named Desire is a great Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus, Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines. Wed love to have you back! His dismissal of Blanches beauty is therefore significant, because it shows that she does not exude his same brand of carnal desire. The first encounter occurs at the end of Scene 1. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Dont have an account? Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. When Stella asks how it happened, Blanche reminds Stella how there has been a long line of deaths in the family and that she had to stay there and fight while Stella was "in bed with your Polack." They grab their poker winnings and leave. Their talk is heavy with testosterone and the effects of whiskey, several glasses of which litter the table. from your Reading List will also remove any Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Continue to start your free trial. Blanche also lives in a world of illusion, and rhinestone gives an illusion of. Blanche thinks on a spiritual level, while Mitch behaves practically and temperately. When Blanche says that she took a "streetcar named Desire, and then . for a group? Stanleys cocky interactions with Blanche show him to be insensitivehe barely lets Blanche get a word in edgewise as he quickly assesses her beauty. Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love. Oh, I spy, I spy! Blanche is concerned about living in such close quarters with Stanley, and makes no effort to hide her discomfort with his blue collar background. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. The action begins with the arrival of Blanche DuBois, dressed in white, and both looking and feeling entirely out of place on this downtrodden street. Steve and Eunice, like Stanley and Stella, have a relationship that blows hot and cold and has ferocious underpinnings. During the time period in which the play was set, New Orleans was transforming from the old "aristocratic" south to the new "industrialized" south. Stanley appears and calls for Stella, his wife, to catch a package of meat. Her actions also suggest the fluttering of a delicate moth. She pours a healthy shot, downs it immediately, replaces the bottle, cleans her tumbler, and returns to her original pose. All of the major themes and elements of A Streetcar Named Desire are introduced as quickly as possible at the top of the play. Aw. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Soon after Stella leaves, her sister, Blanche, arrives, carrying a suitcase and looking with disbelief at a slip of paper in her hand and then at the building. Free trial is available to new customers only. "A Streetcar Named Desire Scene 1 Summary and Analysis". He is the "emblem of the gaudy seed-bearer." You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. The polka music is only in Blanches mindeven though the audience hears itand its appearance signifies that she is haunted by her dead husband. Blanche is lost; her life is falling apart and she has nowhere to go. Its loss could signify the end of Blanches dream life or fantasy. This is a first reference to Blanche's aversion to too much light. This scene, therefore, shows Stanley as the crude and uncouth man. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Please wait while we process your payment. When she hears the Varsouviana Polka, the audience hears the polka, even though it is only playing in her mind. Blanche has been visiting now for three months. pleasure with women, the giving and taking of it, He sizes women up at a glance, with sexual classifications, crude images, [drawing involuntarily back from his stare]. Almost immediately, Blanche appears trying to find a certain street number. Stella is packing Blanche's things. Stanley appears and calls for Stella, his wife, to catch a package of meat. But don't you look at me, Stella, no, no, no, not till later, not till, And turn that over-light off! Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc. Social and class distinctions also point to the tension between interior and exterior. Discount, Discount Code you can't describe someone you're in love with! The audience of Streeetcar sees both the inside of the Kowalskis apartment as well as the street, which emphasizes the tense relationship between what is on the outside and what is on the inside throughout the play. creating and saving your own notes as you read. Blanche, you sit down and let me pour the drinks. Related Characters: Blanche DuBois (speaker) Blanche hesitantly introduces herself to Stanley, who did not know Blanche was coming to town. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. But in the first scene, of course, Blanche is still putting on a happy face. She screams piercingly and Stella wonders why. In addition, probing questions and honest speech function as a metaphorical light that threatens to reveal Blanches past and her true nature. Stella cries out that she wants to get away, and Blanche scrambles to gather clothes and take Stella upstairs to Eunices apartment. Read more about the realistic and empathetic tone of the play. I told you already I dont want none of his liquor and I mean it. When Stella begins crying and goes to the bathroom, Blanche hears Stanley outside. She seeks to relive the past and longs for a young lover to replace the young husband who shot himself. In other words, since she once denied help to her young husband, she now tries to compensate by giving herself to almost anyone. Only desperation and a lack of other options has brought her to Elysian Fields, a tenement as different from its heavenly title as can be imagined by Blanche's sheltered mind. You ought to lay off his liquor. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Making small talk, Eunice mentions what she knows of Blanche from Stellathat Blanche is from Mississippi, that she is a teacher, and that her family estate is called Belle Reve. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. It is a stark contrast to the, Snobbery: Where were you! Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Her appearance is incongruous to this setting, necklace and earrings of pearl, white gloves and hat, looking as. Ethnically diverse, working class, quiet. She has just finished composing a letter to Shep Huntleigh pretending that she has been on a round of teas and cocktail parties. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams And so it was I entered the broken world To trace the visionary company of love, its voice . Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The blue piano that frequently plays outside evokes tension and fraught emotions inside the apartment. Blanche tells him yes, but the boy died; then, she leaves thinking that she is going to be sick. The hum of voices in the street can be heard, as well as the bluesy notes of a cheap piano playing in a bar around the corner. Stanleys cruel abuse of his wife convinces the audience that genteel Blanche has her sisters best interests in mind more than Stanley does. Stanley laughs contemptuously when he hears this and then abruptly asks her about a man named Shaw who had known Blanche in a Hotel Flamingo. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Although the blue piano is a part of the exterior world, it expresses the feelings occurring inside the characters. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. We have only one set for the entire play the crowded apartment of the Kowalskis but thanks to transparent walls we have access to the street outside as well as the two rooms and bath. A Streetcar Named Desire: Scene 10 Summary & Analysis Next Scene 11 Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis It is still later that night. Blanche denies the accusation, but her fear is evident. And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby you left! Analysis. Two women, one white and one colored, are taking the air on the steps of the building. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. It was originally a Catholic settlement (unlike most Southern cities, which were Protestant), and consequently typical Southern social distinctions were ignored. Blanche declares that the "rattle-trap street-car" named desire is no basis for a life. The men settle on playing poker at Stanleys, and Steve and Mitch leave. Blanche promises to leave before Stanley pitches her out, but by now she is shaking so badly that the coke foams and spills on her dress. Stella is packing Blanche's things. The white is a play on Blanche's supposed innocence and the woods are used as another Freudian phallic symbol. Aren't you being a little intense about it? Blanche is a little drunk and unabashedly flirtatious. Read more about the unnamed Black womans role. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. and any corresponding bookmarks? Stella returns with excitement, and she and Blanche embrace. Contact us Read an in-depth analysis of Stanley Kowalski. Blanche is sitting in her red satin robe in the bedroom. Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 10 New orleans Click the card to flip Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by jskarr Terms in this set (10) In what city is the play set? The astrological signs, the spilled coke on Blanche's white dress, and the cherry soda that the young man mentions are all used as slightly suggestive symbols. Dont have an account? What is the symbol of the searchlight in A Streetcar Named Desire . The play immediately establishes Stanley and Blanche as polar opposites, with Stella as the link between them. Which of the following accurately describes Elysian Fields? Her fear of light will be seen to be connected with the death of her first husband and her fear of being too closely examined in the cold, hard world of reality. In Scene 1 Blanche reveals what about Belle Reve to Stella? Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of A Streetcar Named Desire and what it means. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Struggling with distance learning? Thus part of the later conflict is that Blanche can never in any sense of the word be his. The section is poor but, unlike . Dressed in a fine white suit appropriate for an upper-crust social event, Blanche moves tentatively, looking and apparently feeling out of place in Stellas neighborhood. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Blanche represents a society that has become too detached from its animal element. Blanche explains that she is nervous because Mitch is coming for her at seven. A tale of hypocrisy, betrayal and utter madness, Williams captivates our attention through his vibrant characters, vivid descriptions, and a narrative hook that is bound to grip you. A Streetcar Named Desire literature essays are academic essays for citation. Stanley stumbles out of the bathroom, calling for Stella. How does Blanche react? resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Since his earliest manhood, the center of his life has been pleasure with women, the giving and taking, Wheres the little woman? and Catch! . Meat!, A gentle young woman, about twenty-five, and of a background obviously quite different from her, He heaves the package at her Stanley throwing raw meat to Stella. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. The play had four main characters: Stella, Stanley, Blanche, and Mitch. Setting the Scene This leads Blanche to tell Stella that Belle Reve, the ancestral home, has been lost. Where were you! After Stanleys drunken radio-hurling episode, Stella yells at him and calls him an animal thing, inciting Stanleys attack. Stella leaves the bathroom, and Blanche impulsively turns the radio back on and begins to dance, slyly engaging the clumsy Mitch and preventing his leaving to go to the bathroom. The quality of the neighborhood comes up quickly; Blanche is appalled that Stella is living in such conditions. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Blanche has been drinking steadily since Mitch left. I don't see where you're going to put me! You left nothing here but spilt talcum and old empty perfume bottlesunless its the paper lantern you want to take with you. He then goes bowling and Stella follows. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Compare and contrast themes from other texts to this theme, The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Interior and Exterior Appearance appears in each scene of.