A Streetcar Named Desire Flashcards
Tragedy
Tragedies evoke the disillusionment and agony of life. Tragic protagonists are destroyed by their own self-destructive tendencies, or by external forces over which they have no control- nature, rivals, society, war, poverty, illness. Their downfall and death often seem predestined.
Comedy
Comedies reflect the foibles, contradictions, and confusions of man and society. They may be broadly funny and playful, wry and cynical, or satirical and biting. Comic protagonists face many conflicts, but they usually emerge unscathed from them.
Neurasthenic
Portiere
a curtain hanging across a doorway
Neurasthenic
an emotional and psychic disorder that is characterized especially by easy fatigability and often by lack of motivation, feeling of inadequacy, and psychosomatic symptoms
Sotto Voce
under the breath: in an undertone; also: in a private manner
Bohemian
a person (as a write or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others
Courtesan
a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele
Blanche
full discretionary power (as in carte blanche)- to rearrange the truth with no limits
Elysian Fields
The mention of this is an allusion to the underworld of Greek mythology
When we first meet Blanche Dubois, she has traveled to see her sister Stella. She took streetcars named Desire and Cemeteries to arrive at her sister’s apartment. What might these names represent?
The street-car named Desire represents the desire Blanche had for a better life with her sister Stella. This Desire brought her to Cemeteries which represents the destruction and death of Blanche.
Blanche goes into Stella’s apartment to wait for her to come home. What does she do while she is waiting?
While Blanche is waiting for Stella, she sits nervously and tight together, then drinks half a tumbler of whiskey
What does Belle Reve mean? What does it refer to in the play?
Belle Reve means “beautiful dream”. This is thought of as Blanche’s old life and better life. This is no longer reality, but it is a “dream”.
At the end of Scene One, what music “rises up, faint in the distance”?
Polka music is the music that “rises up, faint in the distance”.
Why does Blanche lie to Mitch about being younger than Stella? Why doesn’t she like bright lights?
Blanche thinks that Mitch wants a younger woman, so she tries to appear to be what he wants. The dim lights will not show the real Blanche. They will hide any imperfections and flaws she may have.
How is Stanley different to Blanche?
- Stanley likes to face things as they are with bright lights and cold hard truth. On the other hand Blanche is willing to hide the truth and uses dim lights to cover up things that she does not want others to know.
The play has many stage directions referring to music. What music and songs are present in the first three scenes? How does the music relate to the characters?
- The Blue Piano and polka music play in the first three scenes. The blue piano plays as the characters are vulnerable, frustrated, emotional, and when truth is being revealed. The polka music plays when Blanche reflects upon the past and death (thinking of her husband).
