Borrowed slides.

1. Past Vs Present
A Streetcar Named Desire
Tennessee Williams

2.  According to Williams, the play is about:
 “the ravishment of the tender, the
sensitive, the delicate, by the
savage and brutal forces of
modern society”

3. Conflict between values of old
world and the new
 Contrast between Stanley and
Blanche
 Represent different aspects of
American society!
Stanley represents the American dream – that all men are
conflict born equal and can succeed equally. He is associated with the
world of stark reality, rooted in the present.
Blanche represents the old world, where class and race were important issues.
She is associated with a fantasy world, rooted in the past.

4. The South
Associated with a landed
elite in elegant houses
For Tennessee Williams the South stood for strong
cultural values whilst the North was greedy and sordid

5. Belle Reve
Associated with:
 Past
 Death
 False illusion of pastoral beauty
Old America is seen as a beautiful dream in
Blanche’s mind
- in reality it is based on racism and prejudice.

6. Blanche
Represents the faded grandeur
of the American past
Already a ghost!
•White clothes
•Fear of light
•Detachment of reality

7. The present
Stark reality
Stanley is associated with the present.
New Orleans is associated with:
 Modern
 Mixed
Involvement in WW2 led to
Economic boom, rise in immigrants
 Open/frank
and a mix in classes
 Sexuality/relationships Privileged/plantation (past)
Vs
Immigrant in New Orleans

8. Stanley
Strips away the illusions
embedded in the past
Conflict between values of old world and the new!
Hypocrisy of old America
Vs
Vulgarity of new America
Unborn baby gives hope to darkness of the play
- mixture of Stanley and Stella

9. Dialogue
 Sentimental/poetic Blanche
 Abruptness/simplicity Stanley