lOMoARcPSD|11448692
‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ Summary Sheet
Scene Theme Quote Analysis
Scene One Fantasy & Delusion “on a street in New Orleans which is The Ancient Greek myth presents such as being a
named Elysian Fields […] with a kind of resting place for heroes, essentially paradise, which
lyricism and gracefully attenuates the creates a dichotomy with the poverty – similarly
atmosphere of decay” Blanche is too decaying (socially/ mentally)
“her appearance is incongruous to this A further exterior dichotomy – appearance
Fantasy & Delusion setting […] her delicate beauty must suggests innocence whilst light suggests the fragility
avoid a strong light […] her white clothes, of her Southern Belle façade – moth imagery implies
that suggests a moth” that she is in pursuit of the intangible, just like a
Sexual Desire/ moth chases light
Masculinity “He heaves the package at her. She Stanley asserts his dominance as the action
cries out in protest but manages to catch reflects their sexual relationship – he forces himself
it; then she laughs breathlessly.” on her in a primitive way with his raw lust and she is
attracted to it
Sexual Desire
Blanche’s allegorical journey reflects how she has
“They told me to take a street-car
ridden Desire which has ended her social life/status
named Desire, and transfer to one called
– could also relate to the journey that Stella has
Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get
taken to what she thinks is her best life with Stanley,
off at – Elysian Fields!”
but it’s still as good as death. ALSO shows contrast to
what Blanche and Stella/Stanley see as normal
Sexual Desire/
Use of plastic theatre reflects Blanche’s unease/
Fantasy & Delusion
“The two rooms can be seen, not too unfamiliarity of her surroundings – the positioning of
clearly defined […] off this [bedroom] is a the bathroom shows how Blanche’s fantasies will
Sexual Desire narrow door to a bathroom” disrupt the primarily sexual nature of her sister’s
marriage
Blanche’s insecure body language shows her alert
“her hands tightly clutching her purse ad on guard, her erratic/ neurotic nature is revealed
as if she were quite cold […] A cat and portrays her to be pray-like
Fantasy & screeches. She catches her breath with a
Delusion/ Femininity startled gesture.” Reveals the extent of Blanche’s façade ad her need
“I thought you would never come back to rehearse compliments and being nice
to this horrible place! What am I saying? I
didn’t mean to say that. I meant to be
Fantasy & Delusion nice about it and say – “ The dramatic irony here explains what
“Now don’t get worried, your sister psychoanalysts would explain as detachment as a
hasn’t turned into a drunkard” form of coping mechanism to not face her
alcoholism
Fantasy & Delusion Adds to the sense that Blanche cannot deal with
“And, oh, what gorgeous boxes they reality, “pack” rejects any sort of finality and like the
pack them away in! […] I saw! Saw! house, Blanche believes that the people can be won
Saw!” back
Blanche subconsciously feels the guilt – her high
Fantasy & Delusion regard for appearances is revealed as to what it
“Yes, accuse me! Sit there and stare at
me, thinking I let the place go! Where looks like she’s done. With this, the real issue is
were you! In bed with your – Polack!” revealed in that Blanche feels abandoned for the
lower-class Polish Stanley
Fantasy & Almost bathos-esque in that Eunice here goes
Delusion/ Sexual against hegemonic femininity standards
“Break it up down there! I made the Reveals Stanley’s status as a sexually charged
Desire
spaghetti dish and ate it myself.” character, he’s only of medium height and so his
“He sizes women up at a glance, with dominance shows such of the whole male sex over
sexual classifications, crude images women.
flashing into his mind and determining Stanley isn’t fooled by Blanche’s façade
Femininity the way he smiles at them.”
“Some people rarely touch it, but it
Stanley does so without waiting for her to reply –
touches them often”
Masculinity foreshadows his lack of regard for women’s consent
“Do you mind if I make myself
comfortable (He starts to remove his
shirt)” This plastic theatre symbolises not only Blanche’s
“You were married once, weren’t you? remorse, but also her decent into fantasy as her
(The music of the polka rises up, faint in emotional trauma intensifies into insanity as the
Fantasy & Delusion
the distance)” music becomes more frequently
, lOMoARcPSD|11448692
‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ Summary Sheet
Masculinity/ Power
Dynamics
Fantasy & Delusion
Scene Two Masculinity/ Power “(She jumps up and kisses him which Ironic due to his second-generation immigrant
Dynamics he accepts with lordly composure)” status, furthered by his name Stanley which
translates to Stanislaw, connotating to the last king
of Poland and the end of dynasty. Emphasises
Stella’s inferiority to her husband and that of all
women in marriages at the time; pre-second-wave
feminism
Contrast of the domestic affairs to Blanche’s
Fantasy & Delusion “She’s soaking in a hot tub to quiet her relaxation shows her disconnect from reality and
nerves. She’s terribly upset.” possible self-involvement – quiet nerves so perhaps
the cat’s screech symbolises such. She yearns for
emotional cleansing
Example of naturalism as Stanley’s upholding of
gender roles mimics the contemporary reality
Masculinity “How about my supper, huh?” Example of expressionism as Blanche distorts
reality as such contrasts her surroundings
Fantasy & Delusion “From the land of the sky blue water, Constant repetition is meant to sound intellectual
They brought a captive maid!” but in only reveals his short-comings intellectually
“Have you ever heard of the Stella upholds hegemonic femininity traits as
Masculinity/ Power
Napoleonic code?” Blanche’s failure to confront reality reflects in her
Dynamics
“My head is swimming!” sister upon emotional turmoil
Femininity/ Power
Hints that Stanley may feel inferior that he is
Dynamics
unable to provide this for Stella, but a woman lie
Blanche can do so herself, so he tries to tarnish her.
Fantasy & “Genuine fox fur-pieces, a half a mile
He senses that Blanche may have some control over
Delusion/ Masculinity long! Where are your fox-pieces, Stella?”
Stella whilst he wants it all for himself
Reveals the couple’s marriage to be on of a
constant struggle for control – Stella tries to mediate
Stanley’s brute nature whereas Stanley constantly
Power Dynamics “Shhh! Be still, Stanley!” […] Now close exerts such
that trunk before she comes out the
bathroom! (He kicks the trunk partly Connotes to sexuality as well as danger –
closed) Since when do you give me foreshadowing as in front of Stanley?
orders?” The dichotomy between Blanche’s expressionist
“Blanche comes out of the bathroom in tendencies and Stanley’s pragmatism naturalism
Sexual Desire/ a red satin robe” shatter Blanche’s façade that she upholds as a
Femininity “How do I look? defence mechanism
Fantasy & Delusion You look all right?” Blanche’s fixation of appearances leads to her
vulnerability upon her clothes being exposed
Sexual undertones to everything that Stanley says
“It looks like my trunk has exploded” as he knows what gets women into bed. Again, he
breaks Blanche’s delusions and façade of glamour
Femininity
“It ended the conversation – that was
all. Some men ae too in by this Blanche’s words act to encourage Stanley’s
Sexual Desire primitive assertions of sexuality but in fact do
Hollywood glamour stuff and some men
aren’t” nothing to reflect Blanche’s identity – bold colours
“I like an artist who paints in strong, reflect sexual desire as contrasted by the innocence
bold colours, primary colours. I don’t like of white and her name
Sexual Desire pinks and creams and I never cared for Presents the destruction that desire can cause as
wishy-washy people.” the theme is prologues throughout the play, shows
that Blanche’s inability to express sexual desire is
one that belongs to the family as the polysyndetic
“our improvident grandfathers and
demonstrates the patriarchy within society
father and uncles and brothers
Foreshadows the end for both Stella and Blanche
exchanged the land for their epic
Sexual Desire as Stella is blind in seeing anything but the good in
fornications—to put it plainly!”
Stanley – found in Bible with “If a blind man leads a
blind man, both will fall into a pit”
“The blind are – leading the blind”
‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ Summary Sheet
Scene Theme Quote Analysis
Scene One Fantasy & Delusion “on a street in New Orleans which is The Ancient Greek myth presents such as being a
named Elysian Fields […] with a kind of resting place for heroes, essentially paradise, which
lyricism and gracefully attenuates the creates a dichotomy with the poverty – similarly
atmosphere of decay” Blanche is too decaying (socially/ mentally)
“her appearance is incongruous to this A further exterior dichotomy – appearance
Fantasy & Delusion setting […] her delicate beauty must suggests innocence whilst light suggests the fragility
avoid a strong light […] her white clothes, of her Southern Belle façade – moth imagery implies
that suggests a moth” that she is in pursuit of the intangible, just like a
Sexual Desire/ moth chases light
Masculinity “He heaves the package at her. She Stanley asserts his dominance as the action
cries out in protest but manages to catch reflects their sexual relationship – he forces himself
it; then she laughs breathlessly.” on her in a primitive way with his raw lust and she is
attracted to it
Sexual Desire
Blanche’s allegorical journey reflects how she has
“They told me to take a street-car
ridden Desire which has ended her social life/status
named Desire, and transfer to one called
– could also relate to the journey that Stella has
Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get
taken to what she thinks is her best life with Stanley,
off at – Elysian Fields!”
but it’s still as good as death. ALSO shows contrast to
what Blanche and Stella/Stanley see as normal
Sexual Desire/
Use of plastic theatre reflects Blanche’s unease/
Fantasy & Delusion
“The two rooms can be seen, not too unfamiliarity of her surroundings – the positioning of
clearly defined […] off this [bedroom] is a the bathroom shows how Blanche’s fantasies will
Sexual Desire narrow door to a bathroom” disrupt the primarily sexual nature of her sister’s
marriage
Blanche’s insecure body language shows her alert
“her hands tightly clutching her purse ad on guard, her erratic/ neurotic nature is revealed
as if she were quite cold […] A cat and portrays her to be pray-like
Fantasy & screeches. She catches her breath with a
Delusion/ Femininity startled gesture.” Reveals the extent of Blanche’s façade ad her need
“I thought you would never come back to rehearse compliments and being nice
to this horrible place! What am I saying? I
didn’t mean to say that. I meant to be
Fantasy & Delusion nice about it and say – “ The dramatic irony here explains what
“Now don’t get worried, your sister psychoanalysts would explain as detachment as a
hasn’t turned into a drunkard” form of coping mechanism to not face her
alcoholism
Fantasy & Delusion Adds to the sense that Blanche cannot deal with
“And, oh, what gorgeous boxes they reality, “pack” rejects any sort of finality and like the
pack them away in! […] I saw! Saw! house, Blanche believes that the people can be won
Saw!” back
Blanche subconsciously feels the guilt – her high
Fantasy & Delusion regard for appearances is revealed as to what it
“Yes, accuse me! Sit there and stare at
me, thinking I let the place go! Where looks like she’s done. With this, the real issue is
were you! In bed with your – Polack!” revealed in that Blanche feels abandoned for the
lower-class Polish Stanley
Fantasy & Almost bathos-esque in that Eunice here goes
Delusion/ Sexual against hegemonic femininity standards
“Break it up down there! I made the Reveals Stanley’s status as a sexually charged
Desire
spaghetti dish and ate it myself.” character, he’s only of medium height and so his
“He sizes women up at a glance, with dominance shows such of the whole male sex over
sexual classifications, crude images women.
flashing into his mind and determining Stanley isn’t fooled by Blanche’s façade
Femininity the way he smiles at them.”
“Some people rarely touch it, but it
Stanley does so without waiting for her to reply –
touches them often”
Masculinity foreshadows his lack of regard for women’s consent
“Do you mind if I make myself
comfortable (He starts to remove his
shirt)” This plastic theatre symbolises not only Blanche’s
“You were married once, weren’t you? remorse, but also her decent into fantasy as her
(The music of the polka rises up, faint in emotional trauma intensifies into insanity as the
Fantasy & Delusion
the distance)” music becomes more frequently
, lOMoARcPSD|11448692
‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ Summary Sheet
Masculinity/ Power
Dynamics
Fantasy & Delusion
Scene Two Masculinity/ Power “(She jumps up and kisses him which Ironic due to his second-generation immigrant
Dynamics he accepts with lordly composure)” status, furthered by his name Stanley which
translates to Stanislaw, connotating to the last king
of Poland and the end of dynasty. Emphasises
Stella’s inferiority to her husband and that of all
women in marriages at the time; pre-second-wave
feminism
Contrast of the domestic affairs to Blanche’s
Fantasy & Delusion “She’s soaking in a hot tub to quiet her relaxation shows her disconnect from reality and
nerves. She’s terribly upset.” possible self-involvement – quiet nerves so perhaps
the cat’s screech symbolises such. She yearns for
emotional cleansing
Example of naturalism as Stanley’s upholding of
gender roles mimics the contemporary reality
Masculinity “How about my supper, huh?” Example of expressionism as Blanche distorts
reality as such contrasts her surroundings
Fantasy & Delusion “From the land of the sky blue water, Constant repetition is meant to sound intellectual
They brought a captive maid!” but in only reveals his short-comings intellectually
“Have you ever heard of the Stella upholds hegemonic femininity traits as
Masculinity/ Power
Napoleonic code?” Blanche’s failure to confront reality reflects in her
Dynamics
“My head is swimming!” sister upon emotional turmoil
Femininity/ Power
Hints that Stanley may feel inferior that he is
Dynamics
unable to provide this for Stella, but a woman lie
Blanche can do so herself, so he tries to tarnish her.
Fantasy & “Genuine fox fur-pieces, a half a mile
He senses that Blanche may have some control over
Delusion/ Masculinity long! Where are your fox-pieces, Stella?”
Stella whilst he wants it all for himself
Reveals the couple’s marriage to be on of a
constant struggle for control – Stella tries to mediate
Stanley’s brute nature whereas Stanley constantly
Power Dynamics “Shhh! Be still, Stanley!” […] Now close exerts such
that trunk before she comes out the
bathroom! (He kicks the trunk partly Connotes to sexuality as well as danger –
closed) Since when do you give me foreshadowing as in front of Stanley?
orders?” The dichotomy between Blanche’s expressionist
“Blanche comes out of the bathroom in tendencies and Stanley’s pragmatism naturalism
Sexual Desire/ a red satin robe” shatter Blanche’s façade that she upholds as a
Femininity “How do I look? defence mechanism
Fantasy & Delusion You look all right?” Blanche’s fixation of appearances leads to her
vulnerability upon her clothes being exposed
Sexual undertones to everything that Stanley says
“It looks like my trunk has exploded” as he knows what gets women into bed. Again, he
breaks Blanche’s delusions and façade of glamour
Femininity
“It ended the conversation – that was
all. Some men ae too in by this Blanche’s words act to encourage Stanley’s
Sexual Desire primitive assertions of sexuality but in fact do
Hollywood glamour stuff and some men
aren’t” nothing to reflect Blanche’s identity – bold colours
“I like an artist who paints in strong, reflect sexual desire as contrasted by the innocence
bold colours, primary colours. I don’t like of white and her name
Sexual Desire pinks and creams and I never cared for Presents the destruction that desire can cause as
wishy-washy people.” the theme is prologues throughout the play, shows
that Blanche’s inability to express sexual desire is
one that belongs to the family as the polysyndetic
“our improvident grandfathers and
demonstrates the patriarchy within society
father and uncles and brothers
Foreshadows the end for both Stella and Blanche
exchanged the land for their epic
Sexual Desire as Stella is blind in seeing anything but the good in
fornications—to put it plainly!”
Stanley – found in Bible with “If a blind man leads a
blind man, both will fall into a pit”
“The blind are – leading the blind”
