11 Dec. 2000

A Streetcar Named Desire is a tragic, poignant and beautiful play written by the famous American playwright Tennenessee Williams. The play is set in New Orleans and revolves around the central character Blanche Dubois who is an insecure,once rich, romantic, fading southern belle. She visits her sister Stella, who has married Stanley, a crude and sexually predatory immigrant, a total contrast in temproment and class, who immensly dislikes Blanche. As the play unfolds it is apparent that Blanche's past is not exatly what it seems and the play snowballs to a tragic climax. The vivid language and suggested music that is used in this play is what makes the action so intense and the story so gripping. The central characters are all so different and well drawn, each having different weaknesses and strengths that make them bith both likable and dislikable. The readers sympathy, as intended I feel, must lie with Blanche as it becomes apparent that despite all her coquettish boasting she is a victim of society's expectations. Her desperation to find love again to forget a tragic past and her insecurities about growing old are are very human emotions and make her a heroine to be empathized with. I find this play extremely moving but also enjoy the pace and drama of the play. Williams creates an atmosphere and characters that are disturbingly real on the page. This I feel is Williams finest play and i would recommend it to anyone.

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Overall I agree with this review, as I also think that the language and music have a big effect on the tone of the play. In particular I feel the 'blue piano' really sets the melancholy atmosphere of the play. I also agree that despite Blanche's egotism, her hardships have made her a victim of society, overall creating a raw and relatable character.

I saw the film years ago! Of course, this is not a novel but a play, and so, you get a script to read? No problem! A couple of pages and you're into it. This is such a great story - believe me!
Blanc is a wonderful character and must be a riot to play, her dialogue is just superb, putting a class barrier of extreme proportions, between her and the working class hero, Stanley, - who actually, is quite rough around the edges, though he does have some logic in the way he works things through.
Stella is loyal to all, happy, a little naïve and a bit of a brick all round. Mitch is a nice guy but eventually ends up heartbroken.
Great characters, great storyline, wonderfully descriptive writing and whilst we couldn't hear the music and see the graphics, it still comes over crystal clear - no wonder it's a classic. I loved it. Finally, just read through the lovely expressions in the glossary - bobby-soxer, red hots, monkey doings, turn the trick, epic fortifications! - just brilliant dialogue!

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I agree with how the characterisation is portrayed in this review, as Blanche is a great character, her dialogue putting a significant class barrier between characters and setting an atmosphere for the play. However, I disagree that Stanley is a 'working class hero', as I personally dislike his character and feel he is an antagonist rather than 'hero'. I also feel that his 'logic' is simply a facade he puts forward to control his wife and make himself appear more intelligent, intimidated by Blanche's upper class status.

I am reading this for an AS English Literature course and have to say that whilst it is written with incredibly emotive and visual stage directions I found the actual story quite painful to read.

The story is based on the inter-relationships of three people. Blanche Dubois, an aristocratic well brought up woman who has definitely fallen on hard times and is having a difficult time dealing with the realities around her. She is a fragile creature in a hard world, a butterfly in a land of beasts. Blanche exhibits a strange double standard; on the one hand she appears otherworldly and untouched by man but as the story unfolds we discover that she has seen more than her fair share of pain, death and corruption. This wreaks a dreadful toll on a woman who is constantly grateful for the kindness of strangers.

The other two characters are Stella and her loutish husband Stanley Kowalski. Stanley is a neanderthol, a barbarous ape with a huge ego. He isn't stupid, as he soon finds out the truth about Blanche and knows his rights but he is so very masculine that I felt that I would have difficulty being in the same room as such a man who owns the very air around him. Stella, in comparison with her sister is a calmer character, more accepting of her fate and with the world. She truly loves her husband, brutish and base as he is. She is torn between love for him and her sisterly fealty.

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I agree with the characterisation of  Stella in this review, aware that throughout the play she is torn between her love for both Stanley and Stella. However I disagree with the statement 'He [Stanley] isn't stupid, as he soon finds out the truth about Blanche and knows his rights but he is so very masculine that I felt that I would have difficulty being in the same room as such a man who owns the very air around him'. 
I disagree with this because Stanley was not in fact correct in his predictions about Blanche, as she did not lose Belle Reve for her own gain. I also feel that his 'masculinity' that the reviewer mentioned is just a trait used to cover his brutishness and anger.

After studying this play on my course, I find everything a little bit over-dramatic for my tastes (I say that full well knowing the irony). Character like Mitch and Stanley tend to come across a little flat, and although they serve their purposes in moving the story forward, I feel like more could have been done with them.

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Although this review has no further explanation, I disagree with the overall idea that more could have been done with Mitch and Stanley. However I agree with the reviewer that they served their purposes in moving the story forward.
Stanley's role in the play was essential for the downfall of Blanche, as his antagonistic character was crucial in the divide between Stella and Blanche. Furthermore, the character of Mitch showed the audience Blanche's instability and insecurity, presenting her neediness for attention and affection, demonstrating her mental instability, which is a crucial part of her downfall.