A streetcar named desire: context

dramatic tragedy

battle of Salerno

The battle ended on 15th September, the same day as Blanche’s birthday - refers to the ‘date’ being set, and the heightened tension on her birthday (representing the height of conflict before it ended - final scene before she is sent away)

Gender roles

• Societal expectations for women to be wives & mothers, men to work & earn money - nurturing VS aggressive

• Domesticity & family values promoted - (especially because of the end of the war)

Old VS new America

Old:

• Race & class mattered greatly

• Education

New:

• social fluidity

• equality for all men

• industrial

• ‘American dream’

Post ww2

• Caused more fluidity between social classes, Stanley believes he can build a life for himself, as any other man can - ‘the American dream’

• Success in the war is expected to translate to making a name for themselves in America

• Economic boom post war

• Male bonds - Mitch & Stanley’s friendship

female sexual desire & mental instability

called ‘hysteria’ - seen as acceptable to treat her a certain way

mid 20th century America

The deep south

• Blanche represents the importance of class & race

Southern Belle

A stock character representing well-to-do young women in the southern states of America who were expected to marry respectable young men. Both flirtatious and chaste.

Masculinity