Purchasing Blanche is very concerned with keeping her delicate surface appearance intact. Continue to start your free trial. He wants to keep playing poker no matter how late it is. And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby you left! For instance, he dictates that Blanche should enter in "a white suit with a fluffy bodice," and further describes her outfit as something appropriate for a cocktail party. In an outburst that builds to a crescendo of hysteria, Blanche reveals that she has lost Belle Reve, the familys ancestral home. 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. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% The other men pull him off. Her actions also suggest the fluttering of a delicate moth. Blanche makes it clear from the start that her actions are involuntary "they," some unknown entity, told her to take a street-car named Desire. Blanche is appalled. An interesting choice of comparison, as moths are drawn to light the way Blanche is desperately drawn from it. Just as circumstance has led her to the Kowalskis' doorstep, so too did circumstance lead her to a life driven by desire and death. Tennessee Williams and A Streetcar Named Desire Background. 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. This is the opposite of the delicate and ethereal Blanche. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. The atmosphere of the kitchen is now the same. This scene also illustrates Williams' fondness for the use of symbols. You'll also receive an email with the link. Stanley comes in and is apparently irritated. So I just got in the habit of being quiet. Therefore, her sexual promiscuity returns to her guilt feelings over her failure to help her young husband. The play offers a romanticized vision of slum life that nevertheless reflects the atypical characteristics of New Orleans. 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. Blanches commentary on Stellas body and the appearance of the apartment draw a contrast between the physical life that Stella has chosen and the dream world that Blanche desperately wants to inhabit. Don't ever believe it. | Stanley proceeds to change his sweaty T-shirt in front of Blanche, offending her modesty. Though Stella has changed and moved into a new life, Blanche clings to her version of the past. Contact us By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Blanche, you sit down and let me pour the drinks. and any corresponding bookmarks? 20% You'll be billed after your free trial ends. for a customized plan. Both metaphorically and literally, bright light threatens to undo Blanches many deceptions. Blanche talks feverishly and seems nearly hysterical. Stanley appears and calls for Stella, his wife, to catch a package of meat. Outside the apartment, Stanley discusses plans for poker the following day with Steve and Mitch. March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 You can view our. Struggling with distance learning? She claims she could use the drink to calm her nerves, but insistswithout being askedthat she isnt a drunk. All the while, Stella still hasnt emerged from the bathroom. The Kowalskis live in the downstairs apartment, and Eunice and Steve live upstairs. When she hears the Varsouviana Polka, the audience hears the polka, even though it is only playing in her mind. The mix of characters and social elements around Elysian Fields demonstrates the way New Orleans has historically differed from other American cities in the South. for a customized plan. There are things that happen between a man and a woman in the darkthat sort of make everything else seemunimportant. She has been drinking heavily. Her concealed drinking shows her desire to escape reality as well as the fact that she is quite adept at hiding facts about herself. Stella shows her the folding bed and explains that Stanley won't mind the lack of privacy because he is Polish. 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. Blanche emphasizes that she must stay for a while because she can't stand to be alone. Blanche is both disdainful of Stanley and afraid of him. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Purchasing She stops short at the entrance to the downstairs flat. Left alone, Blanche surreptitiously takes a drink of whiskey, and puts the bottle and tumbler away. We find out that Stanley was born under the sign of Capricorn (the Goat) and Blanche was born under Virgo (the Virgin). A Streetcar Named Desire Scene One Summary & Analysis | SparkNotes A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams Study Guide Mastery Quizzes PLUS Flashcards PLUS Summary Scene One 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! She tells Stella that she wants to rest and that she does want Mitch. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. "They told me to take a street-car named Desire." She recounts how she suffered through the agonizingly slow deaths of their parents and relatives, and points the finger at Stella for running off to New Orleans and leaving all familial woes behind. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. He takes off his shirt and makes a shady remark to Stella, who is in the bathroom. He is direct and blunt; she dances around every topic. Alone, Blanche sits looking nervous and uncomfortable as she surveys the messy, dingy surroundings. Stella is Stanley's wife and Blanche's sister. Struggling with distance learning? Then she asks him about the rain and what he did when it rained. I assure you I wasn't just blinded by all the brass. Aw. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. The idea expressed is that desire can lead to ones literal or figurative death. Stanley's animalism almost destroys Blanche's sensibilities even in this first meeting. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Stella is shamed and joins Blanche, who is planning to take another bath, in the bedroom. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Rather than face the consequences of her actions, Blanche blames Stella for choosing the lower-class, Polish Stanley over the DuBois family. I said stand up! or You sit down, now, and explain this place to me!. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. The best I could do was make my own living, [Blanche begins to shake again with intensity. could suggest Blanches movements and the things she seems to appreciate. It is some weeks later. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. 12 of 25. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Sometimes it can end up there. Belle Reve is French for beautiful dream. weathered gray, with rickety outside stairs and galleries and quaintly ornamented, The sky that shows around the dim white building is a, You can almost feel the warm breath of the brown, In this part of New Orleans you are practically always just around the corner, or a few doors. Blanche has been visiting now for three months. Eunice gets in a fight with Steve. I'll make myself scarce, in that case. After Stanleys drunken radio-hurling episode, Stella yells at him and calls him an animal thing, inciting Stanleys attack. Meat. He sizes her up with a glance; she hides her eyes from him. But then she meets Stanley. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. 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! Stanley, the son of Polish immigrants, represents the changing face of America. The first part of this scene introduces us symbolically to the essential characteristics of Stanley Kowalski. Stella is packing Blanche's things. This is the beginning that sets up the inevitable date they have with each other. Stanley calls for Stella and as she is leaving, she assures Blanche that her wish for Mitch will come true, but that Blanche should not drink any more. And we will learn that throughout Blanche's adult life, without any agency, she has been riding two metaphorical streetcars named Desire and Cemeteries the dual themes of lust and death that will be paired constantly through the play. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Contact us She has also lied about her age because she wants Mitch to want her. And I with my pitiful salary at the school. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The tiara is attractive and sparkly, just like Blanche. After a clatter and crash of furniture, Eunice runs downstairs, screaming that she is going to call the police. Stella is packing Blanche's things. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% More books than SparkNotes. Blanche broaches the subject of the DuBois family plantation, Belle Reve. It is an evening in early May in the 1930s. They stare at each other and then rush together with animal moans. He falls to his knees, tenderly caresses her face and belly, then lifts her up and carries her into their flat. She pours a healthy shot, downs it immediately, replaces the bottle, cleans her tumbler, and returns to her original pose. Stanley hollers for Stella, who comes out onto the first-floor landing and replies calmly to his tough, streetwise banter. To hold front position in this rat-race you've got to believe you are lucky. 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. Blanche is sitting in her red satin robe in the bedroom. Blanche represents a society that has become too detached from its animal element. Blanche tells him yes, but the boy died; then, she leaves thinking that she is going to be sick. Elysian Fields is the name for the ancient Greek version of the afterlife. SCENE ONE The exterior of a two-story corner building on a street in New Orleans which is named Elysian Fields and runs between the L & N tracks and the river. He cries remorsefully and then telephones upstairs, but Eunice wont let him speak to Stella. Stage directions describe Stanley as a virulent character whose chief pleasure is women. 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. The recollection makes her feel sick, and she buries her head in her arms. Analysis. While conversing with Mitch, she asks him to place a Chinese lampshade on the bare lightbulb in the bedroom, claiming that the naked bulb is rude and vulgar. Bright light, whether from a naked bulb or the midday sun, reveals Blanches true age. Which of the following events occurs first? About your hair--. Prior to Scene Three, the piano music that sounds throughout the play functions chiefly to create atmosphere, suggesting the plays setting in a somewhat seedy section of New Orleans. Eunice comes downstairs and into the apartment. Continue to start your free trial. I stayed and struggled! The men settle on playing poker at Stanleys, and Steve and Mitch leave. Tennessee Williams teasingly drops clues about all the major reveals of the second and third acts in the introductory exposition, as though he were writing a mystery. Tossing the package of meat symbolically captures Stanley and Stellas sexual relationship: he hurls himself physically at her, and she accepts delightedly. Blanche deftly deflects any criticism or questioning from her younger sister, and when certain revelations become necessary (as in the telling of the loss of Belle Reve) Blanche succeeds in spinning them around so that she is breaking the news on her own terms. A Streetcar Named Desire (Scene One) Lyrics The exterior of a two-story corner building on a street in New Orleans which is named Elysian Fields and runs between the L & N tracks and the river.. Summary. Young, young, young man! Stanleys cocky interactions with Blanche show him to be insensitivehe barely lets Blanche get a word in edgewise as he quickly assesses her beauty. The instant animus between the characters is powerful and binds them together much more so than more positive emotions. Mitch discourages their discussion of borrowing money and refuses to host poker at his mothers house. 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 portrays herself as a lady who rarely drinks, but her words are directly opposite to her actions. Tiring of Eunices questions, Blanche asks to be left alone. Immediately, Blanche finds a bottle of whiskey and gulps down a big swig. Central Idea Essay: Is Blanche a Sympathetic Character? Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Active Themes Sometimes it can end up there. In other words, since she once denied help to her young husband, she now tries to compensate by giving herself to almost anyone. A long string of deaths in the family ate up all the money, while the process of nursing dying loved ones took their toll on Blanche's psyche, and in the end Belle Reve was lost. Hence, Black people mingle with white people, and members of different ethnic groups play poker and bowl together. Known by many as "The Rape Scene," scene 10 of " A Streetcar Named Desire " is filled with dramatic action and fear inside the flat of Stanley Kowalski. -Graham S. Below you will find the important quotes in, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Stanley enters the apartment with Mitch and Steve, all returning from bowling. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. This is a first reference to Blanche's aversion to too much light. Also important is the detailed description of the set. (one code per order). 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! Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc. You can view our. Discount, Discount Code Previous Ace your assignments with our guide to A Streetcar Named Desire! Blanche meets Mitch. Almost immediately, Blanche appears trying to find a certain street number. Blanche declares that the "rattle-trap street-car" named desire is no basis for a life. 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. All of the major themes and elements of A Streetcar Named Desire are introduced as quickly as possible at the top of the play. | March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of A Streetcar Named Desire. 20% LitCharts Teacher Editions. You'll also receive an email with the link. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Then the men attempt to revive the now limp and confused Stanley, but when they try to force him into the shower to sober him up, he fights them off. 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. Stella is upset at both the news and the accusatory way Blanche broke it to her, and she goes into the bathroom to cry. Read an in-depth analysis of Stanley Kowalski. Each of these encounters will intensify with each subsequent meeting. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Read the Study Guide for A Streetcar Named Desire, Chekhov's Influence on the Work of Tennessee Williams, Morality and Immorality (The Picture of Dorian Gray and A Streetcar Named Desire), Traditionalism versus Defiance in a Streetcar Named Desire, Comparing Social and Ethnic Tensions in A Streetcar Named Desire and Blues for Mister Charlie, The Wolf's Jaws: Brutality and Abandonment in A Streetcare Named Desire, View our essays for A Streetcar Named Desire, View the lesson plan for A Streetcar Named Desire, View Wikipedia Entries for A Streetcar Named Desire. At rise, we see a two-story building in a poor, charming, diverse section of New Orleans, called Elysian Fields. Blanche's emphasis that she can't be alone suggests that she is at a point of desperation at the opening of the play. Later that evening, Blanche is dressed in an old, faded gown and has a rhinestone tiara on her head. Music also allows the audience to enter Blanches head. Blanche comes across as a frivolous, hysterical, insensitive, and self-obsessed individual as she derides her sisters lesser social status and doesnt express joy at seeing Stella so in love. Whoever you are--I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. Mitch skips the next hand to go to the bathroom again. As they talk Stanley grows increasingly annoyed at Mitchs absence from the game. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Mitch emerges into the bedroom from the bathroom and is sheepish and awkward upon meeting Blanche, indicating that he is attracted to her. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of A Streetcar Named Desire and what it means. Please wait while we process your payment. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Ethnically diverse, working class, quiet. But rather than letting in air and light, these penetrations just force Blanche to retreat deeper and deeper into her fantasy, hiding from the encroaching walls of the apartment. As the scene ends, it is revealed that Blanche was married once, when she was young, but the boy died. You left nothing here but spilt talcum and old empty perfume bottlesunless its the paper lantern you want to take with you. The Varsouviana polka music can be heard from offstage. Historical Context Essay: Post-World War II New Orleans, Literary Context Essay: Social Realism in the Play. Their talk is heavy with testosterone and the effects of whiskey, several glasses of which litter the table. Her effort to create a more flattering, untruthful portrait of herself for Mitch continues in upcoming scenes. A Streetcar Named Desire Summary and Analysis of Scene 1. Scene 1: At rise, we see a two-story building in a poor, charming, diverse section of New Orleans, called Elysian Fields. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Stella finally cuts her off and leaves the room, crying. Historical Context Essay: Post-World War II New Orleans, Literary Context Essay: Social Realism in the Play. Stella for Star! You're a fine one to sit there accusing me of it! He hurls a package of meat up to her and says that he and Mitch are going to meet Steve at the bowling alley. 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. Stella and Blanche return. and any corresponding bookmarks? She can claim to be a woman of twenty-five in semi-darkness, but the glare of sharp light reveals a woman who has seen more, suffered more, and aged more. She then sends him away, saying that she must keep her hands off children. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Why is the mention of Shaw threatening to her? Chainani, Soman ed. Blanche Mitch Eunice and Steve Pablo 2 of 5 Before Stella arrives to greet her, what does Blanche do in Stella's apartment? Blanche lost her husband and Mitch the girl who gave him the cigarette case with the poetic inscription. 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. Blanche explains to Stella that she had to resign from her high school teaching position because of her nerves. Thus the conflict is between the oversensitive aristocratic world of Blanche and the brutal, realistic, present-day world represented by Stanley. He says youve been lapping it up all summer like a wild-cat! The blue piano that frequently plays outside evokes tension and fraught emotions inside the apartment. I don't see where you're going to put me! He takes pride in everything that is his. She prefers, instead, the dim, illusionary world of semi-darkness. A tiara, usually signified royalty, which is how Blanche perceives herself. Her defensive strategy is to stay on the offensive criticizing Stella's lifestyle and social standing when Blanche is in an even worse situation herself, defending herself against blame for the loss of Belle Reve before Stella can even say a word. Williams provides copious stage directions in his plays, and they are both functional and poetic. Life has got to go on. He offers her a cigarette. Waiting for Stella to finish in the bathroom, he and Blanche talk. Stella agrees that Mitch is polite but claims that Stanley is the only one of them who will get anywhere.. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Stella is quite in love with her husband, however. He offers Blanche a drink, but she declines, saying that she rarely drinks. Blanche arrives in Scene 1 and reacts to her sister's new home with what? They grab their poker winnings and leave. Eunice tells Blanche that she has come to the right place Blanche's sister, Stella, lives on the first floor. She seeks to relive the past and longs for a young lover to replace the young husband who shot himself. The outside world regularly penetrates the apartment, with visits from Mitch and Eunice and the occasional poker night. The impulses are paired from the very start; which will win? It is as if he were bringing it back to his cave fresh from the kill. (one code per order). Stella offers Blanche a drink, which she makes a show of accepting reluctantly. Central Idea Essay: Is Blanche a Sympathetic Character? Read more about the unnamed Black womans role. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. You want the lantern? His dismissal of Blanches beauty is therefore significant, because it shows that she does not exude his same brand of carnal desire. Young man! She has just finished composing a letter to Shep Huntleigh pretending that she has been on a round of teas and cocktail parties. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. SparkNotes PLUS A Streetcar Named Desire literature essays are academic essays for citation. You haven't said a word about my appearance. How does Blanche react? Blanche denies the accusation, but her fear is evident. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Stanley and Blanche are characterized as polar opposites. Summary. Want 100 or more? Stanely is at home without Stella in a few scenes. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! She then explains that she has come to New Orleans because her nerves have forced her to take a leave of absence from her job as a schoolteacher during the middle of the term. Subscribe now. After calling again to no avail, he hurls the phone to the floor. Contact us tennessee-williams-a-streetcar-named-desire.pdf - Google Docs . TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Social and class distinctions also point to the tension between interior and exterior. In this way, Stanley and Blanche are like the sun and the moon. She screams piercingly and Stella wonders why. Stella's name means star. 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. She tells Stella that she has created an illusion with Mitch that she is all prim and proper. Rather, his directions are like a depiction of a potential performance the outline of the Blanche and the Stanley that he sees, but written in gossamer and smoke. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. He follows her as she runs offstage, and the stage directions call for sounds of him beating her. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Where could it be, I wonder? A Streetcar Named Desire Summary and Analysis Scene 5 Summary Blanche has been visiting now for three months. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# It is a stark contrast to the, Snobbery: Where were you! Blanche hesitantly introduces herself to Stanley, who did not know Blanche was coming to town. The first encounter occurs at the end of Scene 1. The exterior of a two-story corner building on a street in, Songs That Sample A Streetcar Named Desire (Scene One). You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Whoever you areI have always depended on the kindness of strangers. Summary and Analysis Scene 10. Two women, one white and one colored, are taking the air on the steps of the building. 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. bowling. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. for a group? 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. A Streetcar Named Desire has only one setting: a two-story flat in New Orleans. Stanley says that he will have this man check it out and "clear up any mistake." Steve and Eunice, like Stanley and Stella, have a relationship that blows hot and cold and has ferocious underpinnings. She is distinctly overcivilized and has repressed her vitality and her sexuality. A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams Study Guide Mastery Quizzes PLUS Flashcards PLUS Summary Scene Three Summary It is around 2:30 a.m. Steve, Pablo, Mitch, and Stanley are playing poker in the Kowalskis' kitchen, which is bathed in a sinister green light. $24.99 I cant stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action. Stanleys return interrupts Blanches apology. He then asks Blanche some pointed questions which end with an inquiry about her earlier marriage. creating and saving your own notes as you read. At this point in the drama, the scene with the young boy might seem puzzlingly out of place. (Williams notes that the music from this piano is to set the mood throughout the play.) Eunice and the Black woman find something hilariously suggestive in the meat-hurling episode, and their cackles indicate sexual innuendo. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. This is both meaningful in the present tense and on a deeper thematic level. for a group? Read more about the realistic and empathetic tone of the play. The surrounding areas dim out as the, Two rooms can be seen, not too clearly defined. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Stanley stumbles out of the bathroom, calling for Stella. 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. Yet Stella sides with Stanley and his base instincts, infusing the play with an ominous sense of gloom.
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