Streetcar Named Desire

### **A Streetcar Named Desire** – A Comprehensive Analysis

**Tennessee Williams’ *A Streetcar Named Desire* is one of the most significant plays in American drama.** First performed in 1947, this play portrays the tragic downfall of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who struggles with delusion and desire, which ultimately lead to her undoing. The play is set in New Orleans and revolves around the tension between Blanche and her sister Stella's brutish husband, Stanley Kowalski.

The play begins with Blanche arriving at the Kowalski home on Elysian Fields Avenue after losing her ancestral estate, Belle Reve, to creditors. She claims to be on leave from her teaching job because of her "nerves" and presents herself as genteel and refined. However, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that Blanche is hiding a scandalous past, including an affair with a teenage student and a failed marriage to Allan Grey, who committed suicide after Blanche discovered his homosexuality.

Blanche's presence disrupts the Kowalski household. Stanley’s aggressive nature and suspicions about Blanche create a volatile environment. He digs into Blanche’s past and reveals her sordid history to Mitch, a friend who was courting Blanche. This revelation ruins her relationship with Mitch, leaving her vulnerable. Stanley’s ultimate assault on Blanche drives her into madness, and she is taken away to a mental institution, all the while maintaining her belief that she has “always depended on the kindness of strangers.”

The play ends with a tense scene where Stella chooses to stay with Stanley despite Blanche’s accusations, showcasing the complex power dynamics and tragic outcomes of desire and delusion.

### **Frequently Used Clues and Their Contexts**

1. **Blanche’s Marriage to Allan Grey and His Suicide**

   - This tragic backstory is mentioned frequently as it is a pivotal moment that shapes Blanche’s character. Allan Grey, Blanche’s husband, committed suicide after she discovered his homosexual affair. This revelation is crucial to understanding Blanche’s fragile mental state and guilt.

2. **Blanche’s Line: “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”**

   - This line, delivered at the end of the play when Blanche is being taken to a mental institution, symbolizes her disconnection from reality and reliance on others to maintain her illusions. It encapsulates her tragic vulnerability and the ultimate breakdown of her world.

3. **Stanley’s Brutish Behavior and Aggression**

   - Stanley’s violent tendencies, such as throwing the radio out of the window and his eventual rape of Blanche, are highlighted in numerous clues. His aggressive nature symbolizes the raw, primal forces of desire and power that clash with Blanche’s delicate illusions.

4. **Blanche’s Obsession with Youth and Beauty**

   - Clues often mention Blanche’s attempts to obscure her age, such as covering a lightbulb with a Chinese paper lantern or taking frequent baths. This obsession reflects her desire to preserve a façade of gentility and youth, which is shattered by Stanley’s revelations.

5. **Belle Reve and the Flamingo Hotel**

   - Belle Reve is the lost ancestral home of the DuBois family, symbolizing Blanche’s fall from grace and the loss of old Southern values. The Flamingo Hotel, where Blanche stayed after losing Belle Reve, is a symbol of her degradation and the sordidness of her past.

6. **The Varsouviana Polka**

   - This polka, which plays when Blanche recalls Allan’s death, represents her mental deterioration. It is a recurring motif that underscores her inability to escape the trauma of her past.

7. **Stella’s Choice to Stay with Stanley**

   - Despite knowing about Stanley’s assault on Blanche, Stella chooses to believe in her husband, reflecting the complex dynamics of their relationship and her dependence on him, which is a central conflict in the play.

### **Related Quizbowl Facts for Practice**

1. **The play is set on ___1___ Fields Avenue in New Orleans.**  

2. **Blanche loses her ancestral home, ___2___ Reve, and comes to live with Stella.**  

3. **Blanche’s past lover, ___3___ Grey, committed suicide after she discovered his homosexuality.**  

4. **Mitch stops courting Blanche after learning about her scandalous past at the ___4___ Hotel.**  

5. **Blanche often hears the haunting ___5___ Polka, which reminds her of Allan’s death.**  

6. **Stanley gives Blanche a one-way ___6___ ticket back to Laurel as a cruel birthday present.**  

7. **Stanley famously yells out “___7___!” in the street after hitting Stella.**  

8. **At the end, Blanche is taken to a mental institution and claims, “I have always depended on the ___8___ of strangers.”**

### **Answers for Fill-in-the-Blank Practice:**

1. Elysian  

2. Belle  

3. Allan  

4. Flamingo  

5. Varsouviana  

6. Bus  

7. Stella  

8. Kindness  

This structured breakdown should help solidify your understanding of *A Streetcar Named Desire* and provide targeted practice on key quizbowl details.