Past Vs Present

A Streetcar Named Desire

Tennessee Williams
 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.
 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

Little reference to WW2 – Williams was more affected by American Civil War
 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.
 Blanche

represents the faded grandeur of the

American past

Already a ghost!
•White clothes
•Fear of light
•Detachment of reality
 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
and a mix in classes
 Open/frank

 Sexuality/relationships Privileged/plantation (past)

V’s
Immigrant in New Orleans
 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
 Dialogue
 Sentimental/poetic Blanche

 Abruptness/simplicity Stanley
 Climax
 Tennessee Williams was influenced by
European culture increases dramatic
tension through revealing to the audience
the degree to which the character’s self
image is pretence.

The climax comes when the character

is forced to confront
both past and present simultaneously! Essence of the character
is disclosed