1. A Streetcar Named Desire
By Tennessee Williams
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2. They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off at—Elysian Fields!

3. "There is no more influential 20th-century American playwright than Tennessee Williams... He inspired future generations of writers […] and his plays remain among the most produced in the world." (Charlotte Canning- the University of Texas)
Born Thomas Lanier Williams III
American author who focused mainly on plays in the American theater (+ short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs)
He received all of the top theatrical awards for his works of drama
Tennessee Williams
One of the most accomplished playwrights in the history of English speaking theater
March 26, 1911 – February 25,
1983
Growing up in a female-dominated environment, he developed empathy for the woman characters he created as a playwright (fragile & neurotic, eventually to the point of mental illness)

4. He found inspiration in his dysfunctional family for much of his writing
First submitted play was “Beauty is the Word” (1930), followed by “Hot Milk at Three in the Morning” (1932)
1939 is the year when he adopted his professional name, Tennessee Williams
He remained close to his sister, Rose (schizophrenia)
By the late 30s, he accepted his homosexuality
He chocked to death after many years of drug and alcohol abuse, depression
Influences
Hart Crane, Anton Chekhov, D.H. Lawrence, August Strindberg, William Faulkner, Thomas Wolfe, Emily Dickinson William Inge, James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway
Some selected works
“Spring Storm”,
“Portrait of a Madonna”, “Summer and Smoke”, “Camino Real”,
“Something Unspoken”, “Sweet Bird of Youth”,
“The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore”…

5. PLOT
Blanche Dubois moves in with her sister, Stella Kowalski who is married to Stanley Kowalski.
From the beginning of her stay, Blanche and Stanley are at odds (opposing ideals, ways of life).
During their first conversation, they argue and discuss Blanche's past. Stanley tells Blanche that Stella is pregnant.
Mitch, a good friend of Stanley, spots Blanche at a poker game and they spark a romance.
Mitch and Blanche begin to see each other frequently.
Stanley continues to search for evidence on Blanche's blemished past.
Stanley gives Blanche a present which is a bus ticket out of New Orleans.
Blanche believes that she is going on a Caribbean cruise with one of her old beau, Shep Huntleigh.
Blanche tries to stab Stanley with a broken bottle top. She admits to her sketchy past and he shows his bad temper.
Weeks later, Stella has the baby and Stanley hosts another poker game.
Instead, of going on a cruise, a doctor and nurse arrive at the door to take Blanche.

6. MAJOR CHARACTERS Blanche Dubois
Former schoolteacher of English in Mississippi, presents herself as very prim, proper, and prudent;
French name: 'It [Dubois] means woods and Blanche means white, so the two together mean white woods. Like an orchard in spring!”.
She was married to Allan, who committed suicide. She drinks and smokes and tells lies. She suffers from continual delusions. She avoids reality, preferring to live in her own imagination.
Stanley Kowalski
Stella's strong and good-looking husband. He works in a factory and has little 'proper' upbringing, he has trouble controlling his temper. Smarter than he appears, he’s the first person to see through Blanche's façade
Stella Kowalski
Blanche's baby sister. She is pregnant during the course of the play and is completely torn between her strong love for her husband and her devoted love to her sister.
Harold Mitchell
One of Stanley's friends from the factory as well as one of his poker buddies. He develops a romance with Blanche and believes her to be unique, beautiful, and proper. He dumps her after he discovers her torrid past.

7. MINOR CHARACTERS Eunice Hubbell
The upstairs neighbor in the Elysian Fields house. She constantly fights with her husband, Steve. She helps Stella when she needs.
Steve Hubbell
One of Stanley's poker buddies who is present during the first big game and the final scene. He seems to be weaker than his wife.
Shep Huntleigh
He never appears in the play, but is mentioned by Blanche repeatedly. He is a Texas oil millionaire Blanche used to date in college.
Young Collector
The young collector for the Evening Star newspaper knocks on the door of the house, looking for money.

8. OBJECTS & PLACES
Belle Reve: an old plantation house where Stella and Blanche grew up. Blanche lost it which is the catalyst for Stanley to consider her a lier.
Elysian Fields Home: Stanley and Stella live in a house located here. This area is of mixed races and is known for being colorfully alive. It is the name for the ancient Greek version of the afterlife.
Four Deuces: is the neighborhood bar that most characters frequent. It is a place of safety away from the Elysian Fields home.
Silver Cigarette Case: Mitch carries around a beautiful silver cigarette case engraved with a Browning poem about death. He offers Blanche a cigarette from it when they first meet, spurring their romance.
Blanche's Trunk: This trunk contains everything that Blanche owns: jewelry, elaborate clothing, mortgage papers, and love letters. It represents Blanche's mobile life.
Bathroom: Blanche frequents the bathroom in Stanley and Stella's home. She escapes to it when she needs a place to cry, wash up, or be alone.

9. Themes
Fantasy’s Inability to Overcome Reality- Blanche lies in order to make life appear the way it should be. The relationship between Blanche and Stanley is a struggle between appearances and reality. At the end of the play, Blanche`s retreat into her own fantasies enables her to partially shield herself from reality`s harsh blows.
The Relationship between Sex and Death- Blanche`s fear of death manifests itself in her fears of aging and of lost beauty. She seems to believe that by asserting her sexuality (toward men younger than herself) she will be able to avoid death. William suggests that Blanche`s sexual history is in fact a cause of her downfall.
Dependence on Men – Both Blanche and Stella see men companions as their only way to achieve happiness, and they depend on men for both their sustenance and their self-image. Blanche sees marriage to Mitch as her means of escaping destitution.

10. MOTIFS
Light- Blanche avoids appearing in direct, bright light, especially in front of Mitch. She also refuses to reveal her age and it is clear that she avoids light in order to prevent him from seeing the reality.
Bathing- Throughout the play Blanche takes several baths in order to relax. Her sexual experiences have made her a hysterical woman, but these baths, as she says, calm her nerves.
Drunkenness- Both Blanche and Stanley drink excessively. For both characters, drinking leads to destructive behavior:

11. Symbols
Shadows and Cries- As Blanche and Stanley begin to quarrel, various shaped shadows begin to appear on the wall behind her. Discordant noises and jungle cries also occur as Blanche begins to descend into madness.
The Varsouviana Polka- The varsouviana is the polka tune to which Blanche and her young husband, Allan , were dancing when she last saw him alive. The polka music plays at various points when Blanche is feeling remorse for Allan`s death.
“It’s Only a Paper Moon”- Blanche sings this popular ballad while she bathes. The lyrics of the song sum up Blanche`s approach to life.