Streetcar Summary 1947

Introduction: open in in elution fields (an area of the afterlife in Greek mythology where the souls of heroes and those who lived virtuous lives are sent)

Tells her sister that they “lost” bell reeves which means beautiful dream in French

  • Blanches demure air and language clashes strongly with his working class manners.

  • Stanly actively goes against his wife by telling her about her pregnancy

In the rising action ,Stanley beats stella for not doing what she was told to and stepping across the boundaries. The scene that follows is almost a reflection of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet's balcony scene, as it highlights the tension between love and conflict, showcasing the complexities of their relationship. Stanley cries out “stella” repeatedly

The scene ends with Stella returning to him, illustrating her internal struggle between love for Stanley and the realization of his abusive behavior.

  • Her behavior can arguably be seen as the same as Blanche’s as she refuses to see reason and ignores her abusive situation.

  • her actions can also be seen as a reflection of Juliet’s as she is torn between family loyalty and forbidden love

the seen after is Blanche trying to convince stella that “Stanley is a madman” and that they “have to get out of here” and they should ass for the help of Shep Huntleigh,

  • who is seen as a saving figure to Blanche in her times of feminine weakness

However stella is reluctant. Stanley returns to the house under the cover of the train trach sounds in the background and overhears this conversation.

  • This moment heightens the tension, as Stanley's presence looms large, representing the oppressive reality that Blanche is desperate to escape. The contrast between Blanche's idealism and Stella's pragmatism underscores the play's central themes of illusion versus reality, as Blanche clings to her fantasies while Stella chooses to confront her life with Stanley, despite its harshness.

On the other hand, blanches relationship with mitch starts to become more serious, however she still flirts with a young delivery guy, and the audience gets another looks at her true self.

-Both Blanch and Mitch open up about their traumas. We learn about Blanches old husband and why he dies due to his homosexuality (Which is something Tennessee himself delt with and the continuous poker music is his way to express the hidden influence of gay people in culture and society)

Mitch says that it seems that it “sounds like” (for the first time there’s no poker music - ironic as he now replaces the sound of her dead husband) him and blanche “both need somebody”

Stanley finds out and tries to derail they’re relationship by finding out about blanches past and telling Mitch about her numerous afears and and the real reason she was fired from her school

Because of this, in the next scene, mitch doesn’t not show up to Blanches sad birthday party. Stanley gives blanche a “birthday present” which is a one way ticket back to Laural.

  • The beginning of the birth of Stella’s baby, as at the end of the party stella starts to experience contractions, can be seen as the end of blanches story and her importance being replaced in the life of stella

The seem after is started with blanche being left alone in the apartment and Mitch shoes up drunk and says that she is “no longer clean enough to bring home to his mother” Blanche screams, the poker music comes back and mitch leaves

CLIMAX - Act 7

Stanley comes back from the hospital to get some sleep and mocks blanch calling her a “liar” and attach’s her and it ends with him raping her

  • the bed is such a strong symbol of modern (new) America’s dominance over traditional (old) America

FALLING ACTION - Act 8

Blanche becomes mentally unstable, she tells stella about Stanley raping here but she “cant believe it” reflecting back on the theme of fantasy and reality explored in the pay, as stella is desperate to preserve the marriage.

- The resolution of the play is stella making arrangements to take Blanch to a state mental institution.

- The doctor comes to take blanch away while they’re playing poker and mitch blames Stanley for ruining thing. The doctor takes blanch away and Stanley tries to soothe stella who will not be hushed.

  • (stella staying with Stanley after those was so controversial that in the 1951 movie adaptation, the ending shows stella leaving Stanley at the end)