Characterisation in “A Streetcar Named Desire”

Learning Objectives Explain how characters are created in plays. Identify stereotypes in Streetcar Explore speaking styles and convergence Identify power relationships Explore politeness and impoliteness strategies and their effects on face needs

Character Roles Protagonist Antagonist Who is the main protagonist and who is the antagonist in A Streetcar Named Desire?

Creating Identity Appearance Background Behaviour Speech style What? How? Appearance Background Behaviour Speech style Stage directions Dialogue Other characters observations and how they respond to each other

Comparing characters Stanley Blanche Appearance: “peak of physical manhood”, primary colours: “power and pride of a richly feathered male bird”, shirtless Background: immigrant family, working class Behaviour: dominant, aggressive, competitive in sport and cards, sudden movements, coarse humour, cruel Speech style: imperatives, lots of exclamation marks, impolite, won’t apologise, informal, simple vocabulary, Prosodics: holler, bellow Appearance: wears white and pastel colours, “a delicate beauty”, aging Background: well educated, “French by extraction”: family history through the Hugenots, wealthy until the the loss of Belle Reve and her reputation Behaviour: tense and anxious (past traumas) “uncertain manner... suggests a moth”, insensitive to or resentful of Stella, escapist (alcohol dependency), vain/focused on appearances Speech style: formal polite, uses literary references, philosophical ideas, grammatical accuracy

Comparing characters Stanley Stella Appearance: gentle Appearance: “peak of physical manhood”, primary colours or shirtless, “power and pride of a richly feathered male bird” Background: immigrant family, working class Behaviour: dominant, aggressive, competitive in sport and cards, sudden movements, coarse humour, cruel Speech style: imperatives, impolite, won’t apologise, informal, simple vocabulary, Prosodics: holler, bellow Appearance: gentle Background: wealthy, well educated but chose to leave and marry Stanley Behaviour: forgiving of faults, weak/afraid: doesn’t tell Stanley that Blanche is coming, doesn’t stand up to him, flatters Blanche, little sister expecting to be looked after/led? Speech style: formal polite, mildly reproaches Stanley

Stereotypes Prevalent societal view of what constitutes the genders: Hegemonic masculinity Hegemonic femininity Melodrama: characterised by stereotypical characters, exaggerated emotions and language, morality and conflict

Exploring Conflict Gender Conflict Marital Conflict Williams plays on gender stereotypes and hegemonic gender roles to create conflict between Blanche and Stanley. She values her looks, he values his sportsmanship. She gets what she wants through flirtation and manipulation, he is more direct and aggressive. Stella and Stanley have different roles within their relationship and different expectations of each other. Consider how Stanley is bringing home the meat in the first scene, acting as the provider for Stella. When does the tension start?

Identify Stereotype Complete Activity 15 on page 233 of the course book

Speaking in Verse or Prose Elevated speech, signifying a character of higher rank, class or education. This is a convention of Shakespearean plays May signify lower rank if used in contrast to characters speaking in verse. Equally, higher register prose contrasting a lower register can be used to signify different character traits or status.

Convergence of Speech A speakers accommodation of other speakers means they adapt their speech and behaviours to match others’. Upwards convergence: emphasising the prestige of standard forms Downwards convergence: emphasising non- standard forms Read page 228 of the course book.

Speech Styles Idiolect: speech characteristic of a particular individual Sociolect: speech characteristic of a particular society

Power Positional: status Knowledge: expertise affords power Personal: influence drawn from charisma, admiration, fear etc. Which kind of power do the main characters in Streetcar have?

Presenting Power Stage setting and location: on whose territory is the scene set? Body language; Proxemics and Kinesics: position on stage, dominance by height/stance, facial expressions, gestures etc. Action: what happens and in what order

Identify Power Activity 18 on page 236 of the course book. In stage directions In language Activity 18 on page 236 of the course book. Read 19.7.2 on page 236 and complete Activity 19.

Address How characters address each other reveals their attitude toward each other. Copy the key terms box on page 237 of the course book. Complete Activity 20

Power Shifts The downfall of the hero in a tragedy is presented through their loss of power. Compare Blanche’s interactions with Stanley in Scene 2 and Scene 10.

Saving Face Positive Face Need: need to be appreciated Negative Face Need: need to be independent Face threatening Act: a speech act that may damage someone’s self esteem Politeness strategies can be used to minimise the loss of positive face.

Character Analysis Answer the questions on pages 239-240.

Impoliteness Strategies Insults Dismissals Condescension Insincerity/ sarcasm Non-verbal gestures (staring, not shaking hands etc.)

Polite and Impolite Compare Mitch and Stanley’s interactions with Blanche (Scene 3, 9-10).