desire and destruction Flashcards
(30 cards)
“T— t— m- t- t— a s——– n—- D—–”
“They told me to take a streetcar named Desire”
“I d–’- w— r——. I w— m—-!”
“I don’t want realism. I want magic!”
“W-‘– h– t— d— w— e— o—- f— t– b——–!”
“We’ve had this date with each other from the beginning!”
“I p—– y– d—- o– t— c—— a– h– y– l—- i-, h—– t— c——- l—– g—-!”
“I pulled you down off them columns and how you loved it, having them coloured lights going!”
“I’- n– i- a—— I w— t- g– o– o-.”
“I’m not in anything I want to get out of.”
Theme: Desire & Destruction - AO1
Desire drives the plot and characters, especially Blanche’s illusions and Stanley’s aggression.
Theme: Desire & Destruction - AO2
Symbolism of the streetcar journey; repetition and metaphor; imagery of light and color.
What does the streetcar journey symbolize in A Streetcar Named Desire?
The streetcar journey (Desire → Cemeteries → Elysian Fields) is a metaphor for Blanche’s path driven by desire, moving from passion through death to illusion, symbolizing the destructive trajectory of unchecked desire and fate’s inevitability.
How does Williams use the streetcar as a symbol of fate?
The fixed route of the streetcar reflects the deterministic nature of Blanche’s fate—her desires and past mistakes make her journey inevitable, showing how human impulses and social forces trap her.
How does repetition function in A Streetcar Named Desire?
Repetition of “Desire” and other motifs (like “Cemeteries” and “Elysian Fields”) emphasizes the themes of passion and downfall,
acting as a refrain that foreshadows Blanche’s destruction and embeds the theme of desire’s power.
What is the significance of the repetition of the word “Desire”?
It highlights desire as both a personal and universal force, constantly reminding the audience of its driving and destructive role in the characters’ lives
How does Williams use imagery of light in the play?
Light symbolizes truth and reality; Blanche avoids direct light to hide her aging and secrets, using a paper lantern to soften it—symbolizing her clinging to illusion and fantasy.
What does Stanley tearing off the paper lantern symbolize?
It represents the brutal destruction of Blanche’s illusions and the exposure of harsh reality.
How is color imagery used in Streetcar?
- Colors like the blue piano’s music evoke melancholy and desire;
- “lurid reflections” suggest distorted emotions.
- Warm colors align with passion and violence, cool colors with fragility and despair.
What does the “blue piano” symbolize?
The “blue piano” represents the spirit of New Orleans’ nightlife—melancholy, desire, and the underlying tension of the characters’ lives.
How do light and color imagery deepen the themes of illusion vs reality?
Light exposes truth and harsh reality, while softened light and colorful, distorted reflections symbolize illusion, fantasy, and emotional turmoil.
Overall, why are the streetcar journey, repetition, and imagery important in Streetcar?
They create a rich metaphorical framework showing how desire drives fate toward destruction, and how illusion and reality clash, intensifying the play’s tragic emotional and thematic impact.
Theme: Desire & Destruction - AO3
Post-war American sexual politics and social upheaval.
How did post-war America’s sexual politics influence A Streetcar Named Desire?
The play reflects anxieties about shifting gender roles and sexuality after WWII, with men reasserting dominance and women’s changing independence causing social tension.
What social upheavals after WWII are reflected in the play?
The rise of working-class power, challenges to traditional aristocracy, and the clash between old Southern gentility (Blanche) and modern urban life (Stanley) mirror broader cultural shifts.
How does Stanley embody post-war masculinity?
Stanley represents aggressive, physical, working-class masculinity asserting control, reflecting societal pushback against women’s wartime independence.
Theme: Desire & Destruction - AO4
john mcrae
What is Professor John McRae’s critical view on desire and destruction in A Streetcar Named Desire?
McRae argues that Williams portrays desire as an uncontrollable, almost primal force that inevitably leads to destruction. He highlights how Blanche’s yearning for love and acceptance is doomed to fail because it clashes with the brutal realities represented by Stanley, showing desire as both a human need and a source of tragedy.
Theme: Desire & Destruction - AO5
Critical views interpret desire as both tragic and liberating forces
