A Streetcar Named Desire : Techniques&Examples

Proxemics

The Proximity of one character to another - staging

E.g. In Scene 2, Stanley begins to circle and invade Blanche's space - [She closes the drapes between the rooms] - [He crosses through the drapes with a smouldering look]

Plastic Theatre

Created by Williams in lieu of Typewriter Theatre- the use of props, sound, lighting and costume to make emotions or concepts tangible to the audience

E.g. The Varsouviana/Polka is auditory Plastic Theatre symbolic of Blanche's traumas haunting her [The music of the polka rises up faint with distance]

Expressionism

A type of Plastic Theatre in which a non-realistic element is introduced

E.g. In Scene 10, [Lurid reflections appear on the walls around Blanche.The shadows are of a grotesque and menacing from]

Contrapuntal Sound

Simultaneous , overlapping separate sound

E.g. In Scene 2, while Stanley and Stella have a serious conversation about Belle Reve Blanche is :"[singing in the bathroom]: 'From the land of the sky blue water ,they brought a captive maid!'"

Simultaneous Staging

Where the stage is split and two different interactions/locations are shown at the same time

E.g.In Scene 10, to foreshadow the SA of Blanche : [Through the back wall of the rooms, which have become transparent,can be seen the sidewalk.A prostitute has rolled a drunkard.He pursues her along the walk, overtakes her, and there is a struggle.]

Diegetic sound

Sound that is heard by all characters and the audience - often realistic sound.

E.g. The Blue Piano is used to highlight the Industrial ambience of New Orleans

[..tinny piano being played with the infatuated fluency of brown fingers]

Non-diegetic sound

Sound that isn't heard by all characters

E.g. The Varsouviana is only heard by Blanche; a symbol of her delusion and 'hysteria'

"Are you boxed out of your mind?" Mitch scn 9

Mythological allusion

Reference to mythology (especially Greek)

E.g. 'Elysian Fields' - Elysium was a heaven/utopia for ancient Greek soldiers; Mitch Stanley,Steve and Pablo were members of the Engineers Corps during WW2

Stichomythia

dialogue in which two characters speak alternate lines of verse (usually monosyllabic), used as a stylistic device in ancient Greek drama especially in conflict.

E.g In Scene 1, "Catch!" "What?" "Meat!"

Phallic imagery

The use of imagery that is sexual in nature, particularly referring to male genitalia,

E.g. Scene 1, Stanley holds a "red-stained package"

Scrim

a firm open-weave fabric used for a curtain in the theatre

E.g. Scene 2, [She closes the drapes between the rooms] - [He crosses through the drapes with a smouldering look]

Epigraph

the use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme

"And so it was I entered the broken world

To trace the visionary company of love, its voice

An instant in the wind [I know not whither hurled]

But not for long to hold each desperate choice."

Epizeuxis

repetition of one word ,without others between

"but I saw! Saw! Saw!" Scene 1

Aposiopesis

the device of suddenly breaking off in speech.

E.g. "To interest you a woman would have to- [she pauses with an indefinite gesture]" Scene 2

Tragic hero

A literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy

E.g. Ostensibly, Blanche DuBois

Anti-hero

a protagonist who lacks the characteristics that would make him a hero (or her a heroine)

E.g. Blanche DuBois

Hamartia

a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine Aristotle's tragic hero

E.g. Blanche's desire

Peripeteia

reversal of fortune

E.g. The death of Allan Gray

Anagnorisis

Recognition of truth about one's self and his actions; moment of clarity

E.g. ""I have always depended on the kindness of strangers" Scene 11

Catharsis

a release of emotional tension

E.g. "[She sobs with inhuman abandon.] and all of Scene 11