A Streetcar Named Desire

Setti ng
“A Streetcar Named Desire,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning play written by Tennessee Williams, is primarily set in
the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, during the late 1940s. The choice of setting is of crucial
significance and is integral to understanding the themes and characters of the play.

1. The French Quarter: The French Quarter, historically and culturally rich, is known for its vibrant and
sometimes chaotic energy. The Quarter is a melting pot of cultures, classes, and races, creating a
backdrop that is alive with music, street vendors, and a sense of community. This setting is in sharp
contrast to the genteel Southern world that Blanche DuBois, the play’s protagonist, comes from. The
neighborhood’s rough and unpolished charm represents a new, modern world that is starkly
different from the decaying antebellum South that Blanche represents.

2. Elysian Fields: The specific street where Stanley Kowalski and Stella, Blanche’s sister, live is Elysian
Fields. The name itself is an allusion to Greek mythology, referring to the final resting place of the
souls of the heroic and the virtuous. This is an ironic contrast to the harsh reality of the life on this
street, which is characterized by poverty, domestic violence, and crudeness.

3. The Kowalski Apartment: Most of the action of the play takes place in the two-room apartment of
Stella and Stanley. The apartment is small and lacks any sort of privacy, which helps build the tension
in the play. The modest and somewhat worn-down condition of the apartment further serves to
underline the social and economic differences between Blanche and the Kowalskis. The play’s action
being confined to this small, claustrophobic space also contributes to the sense of impending
disaster.

4. Time Period: The late 1940s was a time of significant social and cultural change in America. World
War II had recently ended, leading to shifts in social norms and economic conditions. The Old South,
with its gentility and strict social hierarchies, was fading, making way for a more modern and
industrialized society. This transition is a central theme in the play, with Blanche and Stanley
symbolizing the old and the new worlds respectively.

The setting of “A Streetcar Named Desire” is thus not just a backdrop, but a character in itself. It’s integral to
the play’s exploration of themes such as class conflict, the death of the old South, and the struggle between
illusion and reality. Williams uses the vibrant, gritty, and multicultural setting of the New Orleans French
Quarter to great effect, creating a sense of place that is palpable and integral to the story’s progression.

Expositi on
Exposition, in a dramatic or literary work, involves the necessary background information that sets the scene
for the story to unfold. It helps to introduce the audience to the characters, their relationships, their pasts,
and the current situation. In “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Tennessee Williams uses the exposition to lay a
strong foundation for the unfolding of the play’s themes and plot.
 1. Introduction of Characters and Their Dynamics: The early scenes of the play introduce the audience
to the main characters - Blanche DuBois, Stanley Kowalski, and Stella Kowalski. Blanche’s arrival at
her sister Stella’s humble apartment in New Orleans and her interactions with Stella and Stanley
provide crucial insights into their personalities and the dynamics among them. Blanche is shown as a
fading Southern belle, clinging to the pretensions of her genteel past, while Stanley is depicted as a
brash, working-class man, representing the new, industrialized America. Stella is caught between the
two, torn between her loyalty to her sister and her love for her husband. These character
introductions and dynamics set up the conflicts that drive the play.

2. Establishment of Themes: The exposition also lays the groundwork for the play’s major themes. The
clash between the old, aristocratic South and the new, industrialized America is evident in the
contrasting characters of Blanche and Stanley. The theme of illusion versus reality is introduced
through Blanche’s initial attempts to hide her past and maintain her pretentious persona, setting the
stage for her eventual downfall.

3. Foreshadowing: Certain elements of the exposition also foreshadow later events in the play.
Blanche’s discomfort with light, for example, hints at her fear of aging and her desire to hide her
past, which become significant plot points later on. Similarly, Stanley’s initial suspicion of Blanche
hints at the conflict that will escalate as the play progresses.

4. Establishing the Mood and Atmosphere: The exposition of “A Streetcar Named Desire” also sets the
mood and atmosphere for the play. The description of the setting - the bustling, vibrant French
Quarter, the modest Kowalski apartment, the sounds of the street - all contribute to creating a sense
of place that is integral to the story. The tension between Blanche and Stanley, the affection
between Stella and Stanley, and the anxiety of Blanche all contribute to an atmosphere of tension,
anticipation, and impending disaster.

In conclusion, the exposition in “A Streetcar Named Desire” plays a crucial role in setting up the characters,
themes, and mood of the play. It lays the groundwork for the conflicts and tensions that drive the plot, while
also providing the audience with the necessary background to understand and appreciate the unfolding
drama.

Blanche as a foil character

A “foil” in literature is a character whose values, attitudes, or behaviors contrast with those of the main
character, thereby illuminating significant features of that main character’s personality. In “A Streetcar
Named Desire,” Blanche DuBois serves as a foil not only to Stanley Kowalski, but also to the setting itself.

Blanche, with her refined manners, her genteel Southern past, and her insistence on maintaining a facade of
respectability and sophistication, stands in stark contrast to the gritty, vibrant, and somewhat chaotic
environment of the French Quarter in New Orleans.

1. Social and Cultural Disparity: Blanche comes from a fading aristocratic Southern family who lived in
a grand plantation called Belle Reve. This world was marked by its strict social hierarchies, its formal
manners, and its adherence to an idealized vision of the past. This contrasts sharply with the setting
of the play - the culturally diverse, noisy, and unrefined French Quarter, where social class lines are
blurred and a more raw, even primitive form of life is embraced. The setting serves to underline
 Blanche’s displacement and her struggle to adapt to a world that is vastly different from the one she
is used to.

2. Representation of New and Old America: The setting and Blanche represent two different eras and
social systems in America. The French Quarter, with its vitality and lack of pretense, represents the
new, modern America - democratic, industrial, and free of old aristocratic social norms. On the other
hand, Blanche, with her insistence on maintaining old Southern gentility, represents the old,
aristocratic South, which is fading away. This contrast helps highlight the theme of societal transition
and the conflict between the old and the new.

3. Physical Environment: The physical environment of the Kowalski’s apartment, small, worn-down,
and lacking privacy, serves to emphasize Blanche’s discomfort and her sense of loss. Used to a larger,
grander house and a more private and secluded life, Blanche finds herself in a setting that
continually reinforces her fall from social grace and her inability to escape her past.

4. Symbols and Motifs: The setting also serves as a foil to Blanche through various symbols and motifs
in the play. For instance, Blanche’s fear of bright light, which exposes her aging face and her past,
contrasts with the harsh, unfiltered light of reality in the French Quarter. The streetcar itself, which
is associated with desire and destruction, is a symbol of the forces that Blanche is unable to control
or escape.

By using Blanche as a foil to the setting, Tennessee Williams underscores the character’s displacement, her
struggle to maintain her illusions in the face of reality, and the broader theme of the death of the old South
and the rise of a new, more democratic and industrialized America.

Signifi cance of the ti me period

“A Streetcar Named Desire” is set in the late 1940s, in the post-World War II era. This time period holds
significant importance for the themes and characters of the play.

1. Post-War Social Changes: The end of World War II marked a significant societal shift. Men who had
gone to war returned home, reintegrating into civilian life, often leading to tension and adjustment
struggles. Stanley Kowalski, a World War II veteran, embodies this raw, masculine energy of the
returning soldier. His assertive, even aggressive behavior mirrors the changing social dynamic of this
time.

2. Industrialization and Urbanization: The post-war period was characterized by a surge in

industrialization and urbanization. The traditional agrarian lifestyle was giving way to a more urban,
industrialized society. The French Quarter of New Orleans, with its diverse, working-class population,
represents this new America. This contrasts sharply with the fading aristocracy of the old South,
represented by Blanche DuBois.

3. Economic Changes: The late 1940s was also a time of economic transition. The prosperity of post-
war America is contrasted with the decline of the Southern gentry. Blanche and Stella’s loss of their
ancestral home, Belle Reve, represents the economic decline of the Southern aristocracy.

4. Changing Gender Roles: The post-war period also saw significant changes in gender roles. During the
war, many women had taken on roles traditionally held by men, leading to a shift in societal
 expectations. In the play, Stella has adapted to her new life with Stanley, accepting a more
egalitarian (though still problematic) relationship compared to the strict gender roles of the
Southern society Blanche clings to.

5. Cultural Shifts: The cultural milieu of the late 1940s was one of increasing openness and fluidity,
which contrasts with the rigid social hierarchies and cultural norms of the old South. The
multicultural, vibrant French Quarter, with its music, street life, and lack of pretense, represents this
cultural shift.

The setting of “A Streetcar Named Desire” in the late 1940s is thus integral to its exploration of themes such
as societal transition, class conflict, gender roles, and the clash between illusion and reality. By placing the
characters in this specific historical context, Tennessee Williams illuminates the tensions and conflicts of a
society in flux, as embodied in the characters of Blanche, Stella, and Stanley.

Blanche
Blanche DuBois, in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” is a deeply complex character who represents several
significant elements of the play’s themes and conflicts.

1. The Old South: Blanche is a symbol of the fading aristocracy of the old South. She clings to the
genteel manners, the refined culture, and the idealized past of this world, even as it has crumbled
around her. Her insistence on maintaining this facade in the face of her own downfall underscores
the theme of illusion versus reality in the play.

2. Decline and Decadence: Blanche also embodies the decay and moral decadence of the old South.
Her past, marked by promiscuity and the tragic death of her young husband, points to a world that,
despite its pretensions of gentility, was riddled with hypocrisy and moral decay.

3. Illusion and Disguise: Blanche relies heavily on illusion to cope with her harsh reality. She uses her
charm, her beauty, and her cultured persona to hide her past and her present circumstances. She is
afraid of bright light, which she feels exposes her aging face and her reality, and prefers to live in a
kind of half-light, which softens the harsh edges of her life.

These aspects of Blanche’s character come into conflict with the other characters in the play, particularly
Stanley Kowalski.

1. Stanley Kowalski: Stanley, with his raw masculinity, his lack of refinement, and his embrace of
reality, is a stark contrast to Blanche. He represents the new, industrialized America, which is in
conflict with the old, aristocratic South that Blanche represents. Stanley is suspicious of Blanche’s
pretensions and goes out of his way to expose her past, leading to the play’s tragic climax.

2. Stella Kowalski: Stella is caught between Blanche and Stanley, torn between her loyalty to her sister
and her love for her husband. She represents the bridge between the old and the new, but
ultimately chooses her life with Stanley over her sister, highlighting the irreversible decline of the
world Blanche represents.

3. Harold “Mitch” Mitchell: Mitch, Stanley’s friend who becomes Blanche’s suitor, is initially charmed
by Blanche’s refined persona and sees in her a chance for companionship and perhaps redemption.
 However, when he learns about her past, he feels deceived and rejects her, underscoring the conflict
between illusion and reality.

Blanche’s character, and the conflicts it engenders with other characters in the play, highlights the societal
transition from the old to the new, the struggle between illusion and reality, and the human need for
compassion and understanding.

Inciti ng Incident
In “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams, the inciting incident, which sets the plot in motion, is
the arrival of Blanche DuBois in New Orleans to stay with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley Kowalski.

Blanche, a former Southern belle, arrives in the French Quarter of New Orleans in a state of desperation,
having lost the family plantation, Belle Reve, and having been fired from her job as a schoolteacher. She is
out of place in the modest, urban environment of the Kowalskis’ home, and her presence immediately
causes tension.

This is the event that brings the central conflict of the play to light: the contrast between the cultured,
somewhat pretentious Blanche and the primitive, brutish Stanley. This cultural and social collision between
Blanche and Stanley (representing the old, aristocratic South and the new, industrialized America
respectively) drives the rest of the plot.

Furthermore, this inciting incident introduces the main themes of the play: the conflict between illusion and
reality, the struggle between the old and new societal values, and the exploration of human desire and its
consequences.

Blanche’s arrival and her interactions with Stanley and Stella lay the groundwork for the escalating tension,
misunderstandings, and eventual tragedy that occurs as the play progresses. Blanche’s attempts to hide her
past and maintain her genteel facade, Stanley’s suspicion and eventual exposure of Blanche’s secrets, and
Stella’s torn loyalties between her husband and her sister, all stem from this initial event.

In a broader sense, Blanche’s arrival at the Kowalskis’ symbolizes the intrusion of illusion and pretense into
the harsh reality of the Kowalskis’ life. This clash between illusion and reality, a central theme of the play, is
what ultimately leads to Blanche’s tragic downfall.

Theme of Desire: Old South vs. New South; Code of Ethics and

Morality
The theme of desire is central to Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire,” not just in the
explicit relations between characters, but also metaphorically in the clash between the old South and the
new South. This clash can be seen as a form of societal and cultural desire, a yearning for progress and
modernity on one hand and a longing for a past elegance and gentility on the other.

1. Desire as a Destructive Force: Desire in the play is often portrayed as a destructive force. Blanche’s
younger husband committed suicide after she discovered his homosexuality, and Blanche’s own
desires led to her disgrace in Laurel, losing her position as a teacher and her place in society.
Stanley’s physical desire for Stella often leads to violent altercations. Moreover, Stanley’s desire to
uncover Blanche’s past and expose her lies ultimately leads to Blanche’s mental breakdown.
 2. Old South vs. New South: This theme of desire is also reflected in the conflict between the old South
and the new South. The old South, represented by Blanche, is characterized by its desire to cling to a
past marked by elegance, gentility, and strict social hierarchies. Blanche’s constant illusions and lies
are a form of desire, a yearning for a world that no longer exists. On the other hand, the new South,
represented by Stanley, is marked by its desire for progress, modernity, and social mobility. Stanley
is a member of the working class who has no respect for the pretensions of the old Southern
aristocracy.

3. Code of Ethics and Morality: The play also explores the shifting codes of ethics and morality in the
old South and the new South. The old South, despite its pretensions of gentility, was marked by
hypocrisy and moral decay, as seen in the decadent lifestyle of Belle Reve and Blanche’s own
promiscuous past. The new South, despite its lack of refinement, is portrayed as more honest and
forthright. Stanley, despite his brutish behavior, is truthful and transparent, in stark contrast to
Blanche’s lies and illusions.

In conclusion, “A Streetcar Named Desire” uses the theme of desire to explore the conflict between the old
South and the new South and their respective codes of ethics and morality. The play suggests that both the
blind pursuit of desire and the refusal to face reality can lead to destruction and tragedy. The clash between
Blanche and Stanley, representing the old and new South, serves to highlight the societal transitions of that
time and the inevitable fall of the old Southern aristocracy.