A Streetcar Named Desire

Question 1

When was Tennessee Williams’ ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ first published?

Answer 1

1947

Question 2

What does Williams’ call Plastic Theatre?

Answer 2

Williams’ take on expressionism blended with realism - “A new, plastic theatre must take the place of an exhausted theatre of realistic conventions.”

Question 3

Define Plastic Theatre

Answer 3

The use of stagecraft (props, clothing, music, scenery, etc) to show/reveal characterisation

Question 4

Give examples of Tennessee Williams’ possible inspirations

Answer 4

• Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ which is also a domestic tragedy
• Blanche’s character is inspired by Rose, Williams’ sister who was lobotomised for ‘female hysteria’
• Williams’ mother was a Southern Belle
• his father (and him) was an alcoholic

Question 5

What is Streetcar’s epigraph? What relevance does it have to Streetcar?

Answer 5

An extract from Hart Crane’s ‘The Broken Tower’. Like Allen in the play, Crane killed himself due to being gay and failing to be in a heterosexual relationship.

Question 6

Give examples of Plastic Theatre in Streetcar

Answer 6

• The ‘Varsouviana’ is representative of Blanche’s trauma and Allen’s suicide
• The ‘Blue Piano’ represents the spirit of life in New Orleans
• Sounds of Locomotives are associated with Stanley as he represents The New South

Question 7

Why did the 1951 film adaptation change the ending of Streetcar? How did they do it?

Answer 7

It was changed due to the Hays Code as immoral or evil characters had to been seen as punished in some way, shown through Stella leaving Stanley at the end of Streetcar.