A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams: Scene One Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Lecture Focus: Guided read of Scene One from "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams.
• Tennessee Williams' Context:
  • Modernist playwright commenting on post-war social, cultural, and political changes.
  • Associated with the Southern Gothic genre.
  • Uses a narrative framing device with an epigraph from Hart Crane's poem "The Broken Tower".

Epigraph Significance

• Hart Crane's Influence:
  • Part of the French Symbolist School, infusing symbolism in Williams' work.
• Key Quotes from Epigraph:
  • "The broken world": Reflects the broken society depicted by Williams.
  • "Desperate choice[s]": Highlights the theme of desperation arising from desire and a fractured world.
  • "Visionary company of Love": Suggests love is fleeting in the broken world of the play.

Scene One: Setting and Atmosphere

• Opening Description:
  • Set in a poor but charming area of New Orleans called Elian Fields.
  • Mixture of decay and lyricism in the scene, reflecting cultural tensions between past and post-war present.

Characters Introduction

• Blanche DuBois:
  • Arrives in New Orleans, appearing incongruous to the setting.
  • Dressed as a Southern belle, symbolizing her alienation and fragility.
• Stella Kowalski:
  • Blanche's sister, living in a working-class area with her husband Stanley.
  • Portrayed as having a different background from Stanley.

Themes and Symbolism

• New Orleans as a Multicultural Hub:
  • The setting is depicted with references to jazz music and racial diversity.
• Tension Between Old and New Worlds:
  • Blanche represents the old Southern aristocracy, while Stanley embodies the post-war, modern world.

Blanche's Arrival

• Blanche's Reaction:
  • Shocked by Stella's living conditions.
  • Displays snobbish and prudish behavior.
• Dynamic with Stella:
  • Blanche dominates their relationship, treating Stella with a mix of affection and criticism.

Stanley Kowalski

• Characterization:
  • Alpha male with animalistic traits, representing raw masculinity.
  • His pleasure-centric life and objectification of women are highlighted.

Conflict and Themes

• Blanche's Desperation:
  • Her need for companionship and fear of being alone are emphasized.
  • Struggles with her past and the loss of the family estate, Belle Reve.
• Stanley and Stella's Relationship:
  • Described as based on animal magnetism and dependency.

Conclusion of Scene One

• Climactic Revelation:
  • Blanche confesses the loss of Belle Reve amid accusations toward Stella.
• Dramatic Ending:
  • The scene ends with Blanche's emotional collapse, hinting at her fragile mental state and the central conflict with Stanley.