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Essays on A Streetcar Named Desire

Choosing the right essay topic is crucial for your success in college. Your creativity and personal interests play a significant role in the selection process. This webpage aims to provide you with a variety of A Streetcar Named Desire essay topics to inspire your writing and help you excel in your academic pursuits.

Essay Types and Topics

Argumentative.

The role of gender in A Streetcar Named Desire
The impact of societal norms on the characters' behaviors

Paragraph Example:

In Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, the portrayal of gender dynamics is a central theme that sheds light on the power struggles and societal expectations faced by the characters. This essay aims to explore the significance of gender in the play and its influence on the characters' decisions and relationships.

Through a close examination of the gender dynamics in A Streetcar Named Desire, this essay has highlighted the complexities of societal norms and their impact on individual lives. The characters' struggles serve as a reflection of the broader societal challenges, prompting us to reconsider our perceptions of gender roles and expectations.

Compare and Contrast

The parallels between Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski
The contrasting symbols of light and darkness in the play

Descriptive

The vivid imagery of New Orleans in the play
The sensory experiences portrayed in A Streetcar Named Desire
An argument for Blanche's mental state and its impact on her actions
The case for the significance of the play's setting in shaping the characters
Reimagining a key scene from a different character's perspective
A personal reflection on the themes of illusion and reality in the play

Engagement and Creativity

As you explore these essay topics, remember to engage your critical thinking skills and bring your unique perspective to your writing. A Streetcar Named Desire offers a rich tapestry of themes and characters, providing ample opportunities for creative exploration in your essays.

Educational Value

Each essay type presents a valuable opportunity for you to develop different skills. Argumentative essays can refine your analytical thinking, while descriptive essays can enhance your ability to paint vivid pictures with words. Persuasive essays help you hone your persuasive writing skills, and narrative essays allow you to practice storytelling and narrative techniques.

Reality Versus Illusion in The Streetcar Named Desire

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How Blanche and Stella Rely on Self-delusion in a Streetcar Named Desire

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An Examination of The Character of Blanche in a Streetcar Named Desire

The flaws of blanche and why she ultimately failed, analysis of stanley kowalski’s role in tennessee williams’ book, a streetcar named desire, analysis of blanche and stella relationship in a streetcar named desire, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

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The Concealed Homosexuality in a Streetcar Named Desire

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December 3, 1947, Tennessee Williams

Play; Southern Gothic

The French Quarter and Downtown New Orleans

Blanche DuBois, Stella Kowalski, Stanley Kowalski, Harold "Mitch" Mitchell

1. Vlasopolos, A. (1986). Authorizing History: Victimization in" A Streetcar Named Desire". Theatre Journal, 38(3), 322-338. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/3208047) 2. Corrigan, M. A. (1976). Realism and Theatricalism in A Streetcar Named Desire. Modern Drama, 19(4), 385-396. (https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/50/article/497088/summary) 3. Quirino, L. (1983). The Cards Indicate a Voyage on'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Contemporary Literary Criticism, 30. (https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1100001571&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=00913421&p=LitRC&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E8abc495e) 4. Corrigan, M. A. (2019). Realism and Theatricalism in A Streetcar Named Desire. In Essays on Modern American Drama (pp. 27-38). University of Toronto Press. (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.3138/9781487577803-004/html?lang=de) 5. Van Duyvenbode, R. (2001). Darkness Made Visible: Miscegenation, Masquerade and the Signified Racial Other in Tennessee Williams' Baby Doll and A Streetcar Named Desire. Journal of American Studies, 35(2), 203-215. (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-american-studies/article/abs/darkness-made-visible-miscegenation-masquerade-and-the-signified-racial-other-in-tennessee-williams-baby-doll-and-a-streetcar-named-desire/B73C386D2422793FB8DC00E0B79B7331) 6. Cahir, L. C. (1994). The Artful Rerouting of A Streetcar Named Desire. Literature/Film Quarterly, 22(2), 72. (https://www.proquest.com/openview/7040761d75f7fd8f9bf37a2f719a28a4/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=5938) 7. Silvio, J. R. (2002). A Streetcar Named Desire—Psychoanalytic Perspectives. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry, 30(1), 135-144. (https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/abs/10.1521/jaap.30.1.135.21985) 8. Griffies, W. S. (2007). A streetcar named desire and tennessee Williams' object‐relational conflicts. International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 4(2), 110-127. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aps.127) 9. Shackelford, D. (2000). Is There a Gay Man in This Text?: Subverting the Closet in A Streetcar Named Desire. In Literature and Homosexuality (pp. 135-159). Brill. (https://brill.com/display/book/9789004483460/B9789004483460_s010.xml)

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A Streetcar Named Desire

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Before You Read

Scene Summaries & Analyses

Scenes 10-11

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Sounds and actions on the street constantly interrupt or backdrop the dialogue taking place within the Kowalski flat. What are the purposes of these various interruptions? How might reading them on the page differ from seeing them enacted on stage?

Mitch and Stella confront life-changing questions in the face of information given to them by Stanley. How much does he influence their decisions to sever ties with Blanche? Do you think any measure taken by Blanche could have countered the breadth and scope of his domination over those around him?

Whenever Blanche talks about Belle Reve, her language becomes dreamlike—loose and associative. What can you piece together about her experience there given the visceral details she provides? How do this trauma and the past traumas of her life influence her manner of moving about the world?

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A Streetcar Named Desire: Essay Questions

A list of potential essay questions to form revision and speed planning practice

‘Stella is the lynchpin within the play for better or for worse’ In light of this statement, explore William’s presentation of relationships in A Streetcar Named Desire. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘Shame lies at the heart of each character’ In light of this statement, explore William’s presentation of self and identity in A Streetcar Named Desire. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘A Streetcar Named Desire is a play emblematic of the modern era’ In light of this statement, explore William’s presentation of time and place in A Streetcar Named Desire. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘Abuse is normalised as the strong dominate the weak’ In light of this statement, explore William’s presentation of power in A Streetcar Named Desire. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

Examine the view that the conflict between Stanley and Blanche is primarily based on their difference in social class.

‘A play about secrets and the catastrophic consequences of their exposure’ In light of this statement explore Williams’ presentation of secrets and their revelation in A Streetcar named Desire .

To what extent can Blanche DuBois be considered a victim in A Streetcar named Desire ?

Discuss the importance of the past in A Streetcar named Desire .

‘This play explores the clash between two cultures not, two individuals’ Consider this perspective in A Streetcar named Desire .

‘The play essentially reveals to us the vulnerability of human beings’ Examine this view in A Streetcar named Desire .

Explore Williams’ use of music in the play, is it much more than a naturalistic device?

Blanche believes the opposite to death is desire. How is this theme developed throughout the play?

Discuss the role of music and other sound effects in A Streetcar named Desire .

Explore themes of morality in A Streetcar named Desire .

49 A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on a streetcar named desire, 🎓 most interesting a streetcar named desire research titles, 💡 simple a streetcar named desire essay ideas.

Critical Comments on “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Williams
Fantasy and Reality in “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Williams
Personality in Williams’s “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Playing Steve in “A Streetcar Named Desire” by T. Williams
The Play “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams
The Tragedy of “A Streetcar Named Desire” by T. Williams
“A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams
“A Streetcar Named Desire” a Play by Elia Kazan
Tennessee Williams’ Play “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Analyzing of Blanche DuBois: Character Development in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Techniques How in New Orleans Shapes the Narrative in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Themes of Desire and Despair in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
“A Streetcar Named Desire” Teaches Us About Human Nature
Comparing “A Streetcar Named Desire” to Other Classic American Plays
The Symbolism of the Paper Lantern in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Impact of “A Streetcar Named Desire” on Modern Theater
The Representation of Masculinity and Femininity in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Significance of Music and Sound in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Adaptation Process of “A Streetcar Named Desire” in Film and Theater
Understanding Tennessee Williams: A Brief Biography of the Playwright
The Cultural Impact of “A Streetcar Named Desire”
How “A Streetcar Named Desire” Reflects Social Issues of Its Time and Today
The Role of the Southern Gothic Tradition in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Blanche DuBois Is Tragic Heroine or Victim of Circumstance
Stanley Kowalski: The Embodiment of Primal Masculinity
The Concept of Setting in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Impact of the Past on the Present in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Darkness as Symbols in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Stella Kowalski: Character Analysis
The Significance of the Title “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Gender Roles and Power Dynamics in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Representation of Mental Illness in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Conflict Between Reality and Illusion in Blanche’s Character in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Themes of Sexuality and Repression in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The American Dream in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Theme of Class Conflict in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Alcoholism and Its Effect on Characters in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Role of Violence in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Tragic Paths of Blanche DuBois
Symbolism of the Streetcar and Its Metaphorical Meaning
The Representation of Women in 1940s America Through “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Blanche DuBois and the Southern Belle Archetype
The Interplay of Fantasy and Reality in the Lives of the Characters in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Blanche and Stanley’s Relationship: From Antagonism to Tragedy
The Theme of Madness in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Significance of Clothing and Costume in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Theme of Fragility in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
The Role of Blanche’s Letters and Paperwork as Symbols of Lost Dreams
The Impact of War on the Characters in “A Streetcar Named Desire”

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A Streetcar Named Desire

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Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

A Streetcar Named Desire: Introduction

A streetcar named desire: plot summary, a streetcar named desire: detailed summary & analysis, a streetcar named desire: themes, a streetcar named desire: quotes, a streetcar named desire: characters, a streetcar named desire: symbols, a streetcar named desire: literary devices, a streetcar named desire: theme wheel, brief biography of tennessee williams.

Historical Context of A Streetcar Named Desire

Other books related to a streetcar named desire.

Full Title: A Streetcar Named Desire
When Written: 1946-7
Where Written: New York, Los Angeles, and New Orleans
When Published: Broadway premiere December 3, 1947
Literary Period: Dramatic naturalism
Genre: Psychological drama
Setting: New Orleans, LA
Climax: Stanley’s rape of Blanche at the end of Scene Ten
Antagonist: Stanley Kowalski

Extra Credit for A Streetcar Named Desire

That Rattle-trap Streetcar Named Desire. The Desire streetcar line operated in New Orleans from 1920 to 1948, going through the French Quarter to its final stop on Desire Street.

Streetcar on the silver screen. The original 1947 Broadway production of Streetcar shot Marlon Brando, who played Stanley Kowalski, to stardom. Brando’s legendary performance cemented the actor’s status as a sex symbol of the stage and screen. Elia Kazan, who directed both the original Broadway production and the 1951 film adaptation, used the Stanislavski method-acting system, which focuses on realism and natural characters instead of melodrama. The Stanislavski system asks actors to use their memories to help give the characters real emotions. Brando based his depiction of Stanley on the boxer Rocky Graziano, going to his gym to study his movements and mannerisms. Largely due to Brando’s Stanley and Vivian Leigh’s iconic Blanche, Kazan’s film has become a cultural touchstone, particularly Brando’s famous bellowing of “STELL-LAHHHHH!”

Oh, Streetcar! In an episode of The Simpsons , the characters stage a musical version of A Streetcar Named Desire called Oh, Streetcar! Mild-mannered Ned Flanders as Stanley gives the famous “STELLA” yell, singing, “Can’t you hear me yell-a? You’re putting me through hell-a!”

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A Streetcar Named Desire

By tennessee williams, a streetcar named desire essay questions.

A Streetcar Named Desire is laden with symbolism and metaphor. Pick one of the many recurring symbols – light, flowers, fire, bathing, meat – and trace its occurrence through the play. What does this motif add to the story and characterizations?

Bathing - Blanche is constantly taking baths in the play, subconsciously trying to cleanse herself of the sins of her past. She never succeeds, however, and must return to the bath again and again. Similarly, Stanley showers after he beats his wife, and unlike Blanche he is able to come out cleansed and remorseful.

Elia Kazan's 1951 film adaptation of Streetcar is much lauded, but due to the Hayes Code in effect at the time a film faced much stricter censorship than a stage play. Compare the depiction of Blanche's memory of her husband in the play and in the film adaptation – how does Kazan imply Allan's homosexuality without overtly stating it? Does the film effectively convey the story of Blanche's marriage, and how does it differ from the stage script in this interpretation?

The screenplay has Blanche express disgust at her husband not for being gay, but for being a poet. However, Vivien Leigh's performance makes it clear that "poet" is euphemistic, and the point gets across. It just requires a little more attention to the subtext than in the original play, which is straightforward with its account of Allan's sexuality.

At points throughout the play, Blanche hears the music of a polka, the song that was playing the night her husband died. Trace the occurrences of this tune and note what conclusions can be drawn about her mental state when she is hearing this music. How does it compare to the occurrences of the "blue piano" in the stage directions?

The Varsouviana was the music playing at the moment of Blanche's loss of innocence, and it has been haunting her ever since. It first appears when she is actively thinking about her dead husband, but as the play progresses the tune's increased presence highlights her slipping grip on reality.

Two of Williams most popular plays, Streetcar and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, have characters who are preoccupied with the memory of a loved one who committed suicide after being confronted about their homosexuality – the "dead gay man" who haunts so many of Williams' plays. Compare Blanche's recollections of Allan with Brick's of Skipper. Can a connection be drawn between the gunshot that always ends the Varsouviana and the "click" that brings Brick peace when he drinks?

Williams utilizes a similar device in Blanche's gunshot and Brick's click - both of these serve to dramatize characters' internal thoughts and conflicts in a way that is appropriate to the stage. They also serve as motivators for the characters - Brick is drinking his memories into oblivion, and Blanche's memories are crowing constantly into her consciousness, relieved only by death.

The truth is a mutating, subjective figure in Streetcar, with each of the principals having a different relationship with the idea of "truth." How does Williams express these relationships, and what role do they have on the narrative?

In sum, Stanley seeks truth, Stella hides from truth, and Blanche manipulates truth. Blanche covers the truth in paper lanterns, dressing it up into what she wants it to be, and honestly believing that she has the power to bend reality to her will. Stanley's role is to peel away Blanche's layers of illusion, and Stella is caught in between, aware of lies but choosing to pick up her sister's method of dealing with reality by changing it to suit her life.

Streetcar is a very "New Orleans" play, closely tied to its location in space and time, while tackling universal themes and relationships. What role does New Orleans play in the work? How do the characters interact with the city, and how does the city impact the narrative? Can you imagine a production set in a different time and place? How would that change the play?

You could put Streetcar in another environment of weakened economic conditions and mutating social standards, but it would be a fundamentally different play outside the Old South, and specifically New Orleans. New Orleans occupies a unique place as a bastion of old wealth and gentility while also being home to jazz, Mardi Gras, and Bourbon Street. Like Blanche, New Orleans is a faded rose fallen into hard times and cheap thrills, and this is vital to the play.

"I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley," Stella says at the end of the play. Examine this statement – is Stella showing a remarkable self-awareness? Or perhaps self-justification? Compare Stella's behavior in the final scene to that of Stanley and Mitch.

Depending on the performance, Stella can be either heartlessly condemning her sister to save her own way of life, or showing that she honestly loves Stanley so much that she is incapable of disbelieving him. Her statement is wonderfully ambiguous and layered; meanwhile, Stanley sees Blanche off with good riddance, and Mitch bemoans the situation but is powerless to change it.

Stella and Stanley's conversation in scene seven is punctuated by Blanche singing "Paper Moon" in the bathroom. What function does the song play in the scene? What significance does this particular song have to the characters? Why do you think Williams chose to underscore this scene in the way he did?

Paper Moon serves as a constant reminder to the Kowalskis of Blanche's presence in the apartment and in their lives. While living with them, she has completely invaded their existence, even punctuating their private conversations. It also adds poignance and contrast, as Stanley describes Blanche's downfall while she, unsuspecting, continues to carries on with her daily routine. The song itself is also well chosen. The chorus of "it's only a paper moon, sailing over a cardboard sea, but it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me" expresses Blanche's fundamental world-view that what's fake can be made real if you just pretend hard enough.

Clearly, a main theme of Streetcar is "desire." But does this key word refer only to physical desire, lust? What other desires are present in the story and characterizations?

Although lust is the dominant form of desire in Streetcar, it is not the only one. Blanche is motivated by sexual desire but also by a rejection of the same, desiring stability and a fresh start instead. She is a character full of needs and wants, unlike Stanley and Stella who were perfectly content with their lot in life until Blanche came to town.

What is the relationship between sexuality and death in the play, and how does it factor into Blanche's nymphomania and fear of aging?

Starting with Blanche's transfer from the Streetcar Named Desire to the Streetcar Named Cemeteries, sexuality and death are connected in the play. Those cars and the themes they symbolize run together to Blanche's final destination and ruination. Blanche's loss of innocence arose out of a death, and more deaths led to her sexual experimentation - for her, death and desire go hand in hand.

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A Streetcar Named Desire Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for A Streetcar Named Desire is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What is the significance of the hand mirror Blanche looks into in this scene? What does she confront through this action?

I see no evidence of a hand mirror in Scene V. Please provide the text in question.

The difference between Blanche and Stanley’s social background is shown through their way of speaking. What are some quotes from scene 2 to support the following statements

STANLEY: What's all this monkey doings?

Blanche explains that she knows she fibs a lot, because "after all, a woman's charm is fifty percent illusion"

You can clearly see the difference in diction.

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Study Guide for A Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire study guide contains a biography of Tennessee Williams, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

About A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire Summary
Character List

Essays for A Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of A Streetcar Named Desire.

Chekhov's Influence on the Work of Tennessee Williams
Morality and Immorality (The Picture of Dorian Gray and A Streetcar Named Desire)
Traditionalism versus Defiance in a Streetcar Named Desire
Comparing Social and Ethnic Tensions in A Streetcar Named Desire and Blues for Mister Charlie
The Wolf's Jaws: Brutality and Abandonment in A Streetcare Named Desire

Lesson Plan for A Streetcar Named Desire

About the Author
Study Objectives
Introduction to A Streetcar Named Desire
Relationship to Other Books
Notes to the Teacher

Wikipedia Entries for A Streetcar Named Desire

Introduction

A Streetcar Named Desire - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

A Streetcar Named Desire is a classic play by Tennessee Williams, delving into themes of desire, social class, and mental illness among others. An essay on this play might explore the complex characters, the symbolism, or the socio-cultural implications of the narrative. Other topics could include a deep dive into the psychological dynamics at play, the impact of this piece on American theatre, or a comparative analysis with other works by Tennessee Williams or contemporaneous playwrights. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about A Streetcar Named Desire you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

The Streetcar Named Desire: Symbols, Ideas, Conflicts

"The Streetcar Named Desire is a play that was written by Tennessee Williams in the year 1947; the presentations in the play happens in Orleans and can be studied to being occurred between May and September, and it revolves around the conflict between Blanche Dubois and Stanley Kowalski: in the play, lower class and upper class are both associated with different meanings, for example, the upper class is associated with intellectual strength; this paper intends to provide an analysis based […]

A Streetcar Named Desire: a Tragic Hero

Introduction Tennessee Williams, also known as Thomas Lanier Williams, was an American play writer. He is considered among the three foremost playwrights of the 20th century. He is a Pulitzer Prize winner. Tennessee Williams was born on March 26, 1911, in Columbus, Mississippi. After college, he moved to New Orleans, a city that would inspire much of his writing. Tennessee Williams wrote his play “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1947. This was a period of rebuild after World War II. […]

The Importance of Illusion and Fantasy in a Street Car Named Desire

An Illusion is a “false illustration of something, a deceptive impression, or a false belief” (literarydevices.net). Fantasy is completely a normative thought especially in children, it allows one to imagine what an outcome could be. In contrast, when illusion and fantasy are associated with an adult character, it portrays insanity and madness. Tennessee Williams portrays illusion and fantasy to show as struggles that a character accepts to deceive themselves of their acceptance and innocence of reality. In his play A […]

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What a Streetcar Named Desire Lost in the Film

Many critics believe the film adaption of A Streetcar Named Desire was a perfect translation of the play and gives the full meaning of Tennessee Williams’ vision. However, due to the Motion Picture Production Code, important plot points are censored from the film causing it to lose some of the meaning and essence of the story. Some scenes were rewritten and some were cut out completely. In the end this creates two different stories with many similarities, but ultimately different […]

A Streetcar Named Desire Atmospheres

"The south of the United States of America as a setting provides diverse symbols to the reader in Tennessee’s Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire. In the 1940s, the southern region of America was generally characterized as racist, poor, and soulful. The influence of gender, race, culture, and Williams’s personal life contributes to modeling the mood, tone, and actions within the play. “Each of Williams’s work challenges readers perception of style, structure, society, and the meaning of literature, drama, theater, humanity, […]

Comparing Willy Loman and Blanche Dubois

The character Blanche in Tennessee Williams’s, A Streetcar Named Desire, is centered around fantasies and illusions. Blanche continuously, throws a smoke screen to hide who she really is. Her high maintenance, elegant clothing, and chic accessories contributes to appearing as if she is from the elite. However, in reality she has nothing and nowhere to go. Similarly, Willy in Arthur Miller’s, Death of a Salesman is centered around fantasies and illusions. Willy creates illusions to stand between him and his […]

Classical Tragedy in Streetcar Named Desire

"In 1947 play, Tennessee Williams created A Streetcar Named Desire using elements from classical tragedy. Blanche Dubois is the tragic heroine due to the “fatal flaw” of her character—self-deception. No matter how firmly she refuses to accept reality, she will eventually have to face its harsh consequences—her tragic downfall to the asylum. Blanche is from Dubois family in Belle Reve, which represents the upper class. This setting reflects a common characteristic of the tragic hero in classical tragedy, who is […]

The Symbol of Light in a Streetcar Named Desire

What is the significance of the symbol of light throughout A Streetcar Named Desire? What objects are used to illustrate the significance of light? Why does Blanche want to avoid it?Where does desire lead to in the play? The symbol of light in A Streetcar Named Desire is significant because it is used to highlight many different parts of the poem. One of the main objects used to illustrate the significance of light is the paper latern because the paper […]

The Physical and Metaphorical Use of Light

The Physical and Metaphorical Use of Light: Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. Light is “the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible” (Merriam Webster). Just like when light is shown upon an object in the darkness, it becomes visible, if someone does not desire to be seen or observable, they will try their best to stay in the darkness. In this way darkness can be a metaphor for one to hide from the detrimental decisions they […]

Play a Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

In the play “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams, the two characters Stanley and Blanche, have opposite personalities that cause conflict between them. Stanley’s background is described as carelessness and without manners. Although, Blanche’s is the opposite, her background is more prestige as she stood out more. They both have wants in life, and they go through difficulties trying to achieve their desires. Stanley and Blanche affect each other in multiple ways, and use Stella for their own purposes […]

Run or Stay: a Streetcar Named Desire

Situations that may be difficult to one person may not compare to the mindset of another. Circumstances and environment shape the background of the character and how they decide what direction will lead them to their desires. The two sisters Blanche and Stella, in A Streetcar Named Desire, chose contrasting paths after their childhood in Belle Reve, Mississippi. Blanche stayed at their family estate while Stella decided to leave and move to New Orleans. After each made their decisions they […]

Evolution of Women’s Roles and Treatment in 1900s Plays

"During the spring semester, the class was assigned reading two dramas. The dramas were Trifles, by Susan Glaspell, and A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams. Both of these plays serve as a great example of the evolving changes in the role and treatment of women over time. The plays, Trifles, and A Streetcar Named Desire were set in the early 190s. During these times, women were confined to the home and had been given the traditional roles of being […]

A Streetcar Named Desire Themes

"The theme of A Streetcar Named Desire is driven on emotional fantasies and how they can cloud the picture of reality as we notice Blanche living in her fairytale world that ends up being a fugazy. It also is about the relationship of sex and death and how Blanche has had to deal with the death of her lover and she is scared of losing her beauty, so she tends to go after younger men. The play was set in […]

Symbolism and Deception in “A Streetcar Named Desire”

“A Streetcar Named Desire," is a play written by Tennessee Williams. It is about a teacher, Blanche Dubois arriving to New Orlean’s, Louisiana to live with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley after living in laurel her whole life. Blanche has lost their family inheritance a mansion “Belle Reve " it was repossessed by the bank when blanche could not keep up with the payments. Throughout the play, we see how Blanche lies about who she is to hide […]

Reflection Paper : a Streetcar Named Desire

The Streetcar Named Desire is a play that greatly influenced history in America. This play was highly controversial in the topics and ideas presented by Tennessee Williams. This play was set in New Orleans in 1947, the same year in which it was written. During this time period women were still deemed inferior to men and stepping out of gender roles was still looked down upon. This era was also highly controversial in respect to class and racial boundaries. In […]

Comparison between “Death of a Salesman”, “Oedipus Rex”, and “A Streetcar Named Desire”

Both “Oedipus Rex,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and “Death Of A Salesman” have scenes where a character’s past is revealed, whether it is to other characters or the audience (Oedipus’ parentage, Blanche’s past, or Willy’s affair). This overall foreshadows that they cannot fully escape their past, whether it is an eventual surfacing (“A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Death of a Salesman”) or an unexpected revelation (Oedipus Rex). This is linked to the theme of the inevitability of fate. There are […]

The Tragedies of Lies

In a Streetcar Named Desire, Southern dramatist from Tennessee Williams, displays the issues after the two wars and the Depression. Although the play is arranged in the South yet the convincing way in which he gives topics makes it rather all inclusive. A Streetcar Named Desire has one pronounced main character Blanche DuBois that is very extraordinary. She attempts to conceal her very own weaknesses yet in an alternate manner and endeavor to dispose of her inward and furthermore external […]

Analysis “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams

In the play, Streetcar Named Desire the author Tennesse Williams used different scenes in the play to make one think was the climax. Blanche Dubois moves to New Orleans to somehow escape her past but is challenged with more disputes from her brother in law Stanley Kowalski. Several people who read or watch the play would think different incidents in the play identify the climax. The incident indicating the climax could be when Blanche arrived in New Orleans, or when […]

“A Streetcar Named Desire”: Analysis of Blanche

The University of Illinois at Chicago Theatre presented a play named by A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. The play was directed by Directed by one the the UIC faculty member Derrick Sanders. It is a classic play, about poetry foundation is a free scholarly association focused on a vivacious presence for verse in our way of life, and is ideally based on here in Chicago. This play is about the school teacher, Blanche Dubois. She has lost her […]

Intriguing Play that Shows the Flaws that each Character Conveys as the Story Unfolds

"Lastly, all of these elements added up to create an emotion filled story that addresses social issues during his time period through the flaws of the character’s personalities and their actions. The author creates an intriguing play that shows the flaws that each character conveys as the story unfolds, provides us with an insight into a variety of social issues, and effectively uses writing elements to move the audience. The audience begins to catch on how each character is different […]

To Leave, or not to Leave

One critic has said that “The very beginning of the play mars Blanche as a scarlet-lettered woman, a recognizable and uninvited outcast, whose indiscrete sexual behavior distorts her image of a teacher as a “[custodian] of culture” (Gencheva 32). This essay will focus on the obvious dependance on men between both Blanche and Stella and the perplexing relationship between both Blanche and Stanley throughout Williams play. Within A Streetcar Named Desire, there is a distinct, reoccurring critique of the restrictions […]

Misogyny in American Culture – Examples

Misogyny is deeply embedded in American culture, as the value seems to lie on the man, and not the woman. A marriage, housewife, and mother are instilled into women as what they should aspire to have and to be. The patriarch obtains male dominance and power over his spouse, often uncaring of her emotions or wellbeing. Any woman who deviates from her ‘duties’, immediately receives criticism. This tale, which has been told throughout history over and over again, is asserted […]


Release date :	September 18, 1951 (USA)
Director :	Elia Kazan
Adapted from :	A Streetcar Named Desire
Music by :	Alex North
Box office :	$8 million (North America)
Budget :	$1.8 million

A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Topics

A Streetcar Named Desire is among the world’s most read plays and watched films. Written by Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire is an American theater play. The play is all about Blanche Dubois, an upper-class and flimsy woman living in a romantic world of illusions. Writing about this famous play requires good A Streetcar Named Desire essay topics

Blanche DuBois is portrayed as a woman who faces extreme levels of exploitation, pain, and agony. Blanche DuBois lives a life of misery and sorrows that involves the loss of loved ones, pain-numbing life experiences, and costly life standards. Amid these sufferings, Blanche DuBois decides to start life afresh by moving to her sister Stella who lives in New Orleans.

Unique A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Topics

Moving to New Orleans doesn’t make life easier, either. She has to struggle to live with almost the same miseries and pains she had at her home place. While watching or reading the Streetcar Named Desire, students can learn a whole lot of things. Some of these things will be queried in A Streetcar Named Desire essays . In some instances, the essay assignments will be about selected topics, while in other cases, a student will have to choose a topic on their own. Here are some A Streetcar Named Desire essay topics:

The adverse effects of letting humanly desire to control you
Blanche DuBois loses her sanity: How does it happen and what triggers it
The gender issues Tennessee Williams trying to portray in A Streetcar Named Desire
The way Tennessee Williams Portrays Masculinity in the play A Streetcar Named Desire
The lives of Stanley and Blanche as a reflection of the effects of wrong desires
The themes of fantasy and illusion in the play A Streetcar Named Desire
The theme of intimacy as portrayed in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Why it is so hard for Blanche to comprehend the fact that Stanley is her sister’s lover?
Blanche is highly attracted to young boys: How does that affect her life and lead to her downfall?
The primary differences between the two female characters Stella and Blanche in the play A Streetcar Named Desire
A glimpse on the societal expectations of women when A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee was published
The differences between Mitch and other men in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
The way A Streetcar Named Desire portrays the Southern Elites and the Working Class
The characters and behaviors of Blanche are different when she is alone and when alongside other people: Explain and describe real scenarios
The role the child sired by Stella and Stanley represents in the play A Streetcar Named Desire
The importance of alcohol in the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
What is the relationship between Stella and Stanley like?
Why does Stella choose to stay despite the maltreatment and abuses by her husband, Stanley?
What does the streetcar symbolize in the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams?
How is sexual Desire portrayed as the prerequisite and destroyer of love in the play A Streetcar Named Desire?
The literacy techniques used by Tennessee Williams in the play

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Social Norms in “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams Analytical Essay

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The play A Streetcar Named Desire written by Tennessee Williams raises several questions about gender roles and identity which are relevant even nowadays. The main character of this literary work Blanche DuBois cannot see herself as an independent and self-sufficient person.

In her opinion, the life of a woman is impossible without men’s company support. She is not willing or able to change her perceptions about gender roles. This paper will compare Tennessee Williams’ play with a work of contemporary cinematography, namely the film, The Devil Wears Prada. It is necessary to show how these two works explore gender roles. This comparison can show how social norms and values have evolved since the time Tennessee Williams was writing this play.

First of all, Tennessee Williams describes Blanche as a person who is extremely sensitive about her age. She avoids any conversations about it and becomes very suspicious when someone asks her how old she is. She is extremely concerned about the fading of her beauty, and even tries to console herself by saying that “Physical beauty is passing.

A transitory possession. But beauty of the mind and richness of the spirit aren’t taken away, but grow!” (Williams, 108). Still, Blanche focuses only on men’s opinion about her. For example, when Mitch asks her how old she is, Blanche immediately becomes anxious and tries to find out what he thinks about her (Williams, 74).

In Blanche’s opinion, beauty is the true value of a woman since it enables her to win recognition of men. In his play Tennessee Williams was able to show how men of that time viewed women and how some women regarded themselves.

At this point, we need to compare Blanch with Miranda Priestly the protagonist of the film The Devil Wears Prada . This character deliberately tries to distance herself from the opposite sex. She attempts to show that she is a self-sufficient person who does not require men’s support.

More importantly, she even tries to conceal the moments when she feels weak and vulnerable. Blanche DuBois would not have understood or accepted such behavior. So, to some extent, this example shows that gender roles and perceptions have been transformed. Conventional belief in female vulnerability and dependence is no longer acceptable for modern women.

Yet, this movie also indicates that some common gender stereotypes are still prevalent in the modern society. For example, one can surely mention Andrea Sachs. Her friends and relatives accuse her of paying too much attention to her career and overlooking their needs.

Their discontent with her reaches the highest point when she misses the birthday of her boyfriend. In their opinion, this careerism is not suitable for a woman. Such an opinion was particular popular when Tennessee Williams was writing his play, and we cannot say that it has completely disappeared nowadays. In comparison with Blanche, Miranda and Andrea are much more empowered, they still have to struggle with sexual stereotypes.

The main difference between Blanche DuBois and these characters lies in their attitude toward the opposite sex. Blanche believes that a woman can hardly exist for men unless she is not the object of their sexual desires. She says, “Men don’t even admit your existence unless their making love to you.

And you’ve got to have your existence admitted by someone, if you’re going to have someone’s protection” (Williams 60). This statement is the main principle to which she adheres to. She fully acknowledges her dependence on the opposite sex, and such situation is quite acceptable for her. In part, her worldview can be explained by her background; Blanche comes from an Old South family.

She was raised to believe that the duty of a woman is to obey or at least accompany man (Fox-Genovese, 29). The main tragedy of Blanche DuBois is that she was conditioned to act and behave in such a way. Yet, without men’s adoration and support life means very little to her. This is why she desperately wants Mitch to fall in love with her. This is the only chance her to achieve a social status.

In their turn, Miranda Priestly and Andrea Sachs oppose or even reject such worldview. For them career is of much greater importance than success with the opposite sex. Nonetheless, one should not forget that this idea of female independence is not readily accepted by the society.

According to conventional perceptions of gender roles, the main task of a woman is to stay at home and look after the family, and this opinion is reflected in numerous sociological surveys (Scott, 214). Thus, one can argue that some of the opinions and stereotypes described by Tennessee Williams have survived in the twenty-first century.

Overall, in his play Tennessee Williams attempted to show how social norms and values can change. Blanche DuBois is a person who cannot get used to these changes. She was raised in an entirely different culture. This is the reason why she cannot change her gender identity. In contrast, such characters as Andrea Sachs and Miranda Priestly live in a culture in which women try to become self-sufficient and achieve the positions of power. However, such attempts are not always respected or understood by other people

Works Cited

Fox-Genovese, Elizabeth. Within the plantation household: Black and White women of the Old South . Chapel Hill: UNC Press Books, 1988. Print.

Scott, Jacqueline. Women and employment: changing lives and new challenges . NY: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2008. Print.

The Devil Wears Prada. Dir. David Frankel. Perf. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway. 20th Century Fox. 2006. Film.

Williams, Tennessee. A streetcar named desire . NY: Heinemann, 1995. Print.

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A Streetcar Named Desire research topics

“A Streetcar Named Desire” is a classic of American theater. The play was written by Tennessee Williams, and has earned him the Pulitzer Prize and success on Broadway. The play was named after the streetcar that brought the protagonist Blanche DuBois to her sister’s house.

Short Overview of the Play

Blanche DuBois is a fragile and aristocratic woman who lives in a world of romantic illusions. After a series of losses of loved ones, heavy living compromises, and pain-numbing experiences with strangers, she comes to New Orleans to her younger sister Stella with a desire to rebuild life. But here she has found no rest, and to compound it, meets an irreconcilable enemy – Stanley Kowalski. Their unavoidable confrontation, Blanche’s alcohol dependence, and Stanley’s growing aggression end in the most tragic way.

When Blanche arrived, she dropped a remark: “They told me to take a streetcar named ‘Desire,’ and then transfer to one called ‘Cemeteries.’” This quote hides the meaning of the play’s title: it is desire that leads the shattered woman into the grave. All her life she was driven by inner impulses and aspirations, ignoring the realities of the surrounding world. It is in her nature to choose “desire,” even if it leads to the cemetery.

What to Do Before You Start Writing Your Paper

Jot down any interesting/important quotes that you might want to use in your paper.
Find the quotes that characterize the main characters. For example: “Stanley carries his bowling jacket and a red-stained package from a butcher’s.” You can notice how Williams focuses on certain details to highlight Stanley’s primitive masculinity.
Always pay attention to the symbolism. For example: what do the names of the neighborhoods “Desire” and “Cemeteries” represent?
Notice how genders interact with each other.
Analyze the main themes of the play.
Pay close attention to how reality and illusion manifest throughout the play, especially in the final scenes. Blanche can’t deal with reality and mentally escapes it, while Stella doesn’t accept the real events and ignores Blanche’s story about Stanley.
Think about the main message that the author wanted to send the audience.

Topic Ideas

No matter whether you enjoyed reading the book or not, picking a good topic for the essay may be a real pain. To help you, we have created a list of “A Streetcar Named Desire” paper topics that you can check below.

A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Topics: Compare and Contrast

Compare and contrast the characters of Macbeth and Stanley Kowalski and how the authors contribute to the common canon of literature.
Compare and contrast two books: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Compare the two plays “A Doll’s House” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” in the context of patriarchal ideology.
Compare and contrast “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” in the context of women’s rights and freedoms.
Compare the representation of masculinity in the movies “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Saturday Night Fever.”
Compare and contrast two characters from “Death of a Salesman” and “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Compare “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in the context of representing insanity and reality.
Compare “Enduring Love” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” in the context of the meaning of love.
Compare and contrast “The Great Gatsby” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” in the context of depicting desire as a destructive feeling.
Analyze how love is depicted in “Othello” and “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

A Streetcar Named Desire Discussion Topics: Gender Issues

Compare and contrast the opportunities for female characters in “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Do women seek for independence and individualism? Do male characters show dominance?
What were common societal expectations of women in the time when the play “A Streetcar Named Desire” was written?
Describe the strong dependence of women on men in “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Why have the women behaved in this way?
Describe how caricatures of masculinity and femininity are expressed through the characters of Stella DuBois and Stanley Kowalski.
What ideas of gender issues does Tennessee Williams try to convey to the reader?
Can Stanley be named as the ideal of American masculinity? Or is this ideal represented by Mitch? Why?
Discuss how the conflict between the past and present values is expressed in “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Analyze the relationship between Stanley and his wife Stella. Why has an abused woman stayed with her abuser?
Analyze the role of masculinity in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Compare and contrast the film “Pretty Woman” and the play “A Streetcar Named Desire” in the context of changing attitudes towards women.

A Streetcar Named Desire Research Topics: Analysis of the Plot

What changes were made to the play’s plot for the screen adaptation of “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1951? Why were these changes made, and how do they contribute to the overall plot?
What is the difference between the theatrical performance of “A Streetcar Named Desire” and its screen adaptation?
Discuss the meaning of morality and immorality in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Analyze Stanley’s character in the context of an animalistic approach.
Describe the symbol of the streetcar in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Analyze the conflict of values in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
How is the idea of naturalism presented in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”? Are the setting and characters realistic?
Describe the dangers of desire in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
What message does the writer try to convey in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
Describe your favorite scene from the play “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Why is it your favorite?
How is the theme of class difference portrayed in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
What elements of Southern fiction are presented in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”? How are they expressed in the play?
How is marriage represented in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
What role does sexuality play in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
Describe the themes of madness and mortality in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Imagine that you will be staging a version of the play “A Streetcar Named Desire” in a local theater. What will be the overall concept? Who will be the best cast for the main characters? Think about setting, light, music, and costumes.
Discuss sexual desire as the prerequisite of love, and at the same time, as the destroyer of love.
What literary techniques does Tennessee Williams use to enhance themes in “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
What is unique about Tennessee Williams’ word choice?
What is the symbolic meaning of the shattered mirror?

Paper Topics for “A Streetcar Named Desire”: Characters

What role does fantasy play in the Blanche’s life? Why doesn’t fantasy help her overcome the reality?
Discuss how Blanche’s truth and lies have influenced her life.
How do alcohol and drugs influence the main characters?
Analyze the desires of the following characters from the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”: Blanche, Stanley, Stella, and Mitch.
Why are Blanche and Stella attracted to each other despite their conflicts? What is the nature of this attraction?
Analyze the character of Blanche DuBois. Why has she failed in the end of the story?
Analyze the role Stella played in the relationships between Blanche and Stanley.
Analyze the character of Mitch in “A Streetcar Named Desire.” How has your impression changed by the end of the play?
What secrets from the past does Blanche hide? How do they influence her life?
Why does Blanche DuBois make readers sympathize with her? Why can she be justified?
Why does Blanche try to escape the reality? How has the reality destroyed her fantasy?
Analyze the symbolism of poker references in “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
How does the desire help and destroy particular characters in “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
Analyze how the refusal to change affects the life of a particular character in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
How could other people behave who face the same situation as the main characters of “A Streetcar Named Desire”? Is the ending of the play predictable?

Main Themes Discussed in the Play

When you write a paper, your task is not only to know all the characters and the plot of the play but also to analyze its themes. To make the assignment more manageable, here is a list of A Streetcar Named Desire themes. You will find a specific message of the author behind each of these themes. In your paper, you can focus on all of them or choose the one that inspires you the most.

Sexuality and desire . It is an evident and logical theme for a play that explores the relationships between men and women. At the beginning of the play, Blanche declares that the only way to smooth things over with Stanley is to flirt with him. She often uses the same approach to attract men’s attention and seek their appreciation. From a psychological point of view, Blanche needs to get positive reactions from men to heal the wounds resulting from the realization that her first husband was homosexual.

The dynamics of the relationships between Stella and Stanley are all about sexual tension. Even though there is a lot of violence between them, Stella does not leave her husband. Desire has a strong correlation with destruction in this play. You can link this idea to the way our society uses sexuality in the present.

Masculinity and femininity. Stanley is the main character that represents brutal masculinity. He has none of the characteristics of a gentleman. However, women find his aggressiveness and animal magnetism attractive. He is rude, violent, frightening, and self-centered. Mitch represents another kind of masculinity. He is not as frightening and aggressive. However, he still symbolizes physical strength.

As to femininity in this play, Blanche and Stella seem to rely on men more than on themselves. They can’t imagine their lives without marriage. According to their beliefs, only men can bring happiness to their lives. You can try to explore the way femininity and masculinity are represented today. Alternatively, you can compare the play to a modern drama and analyze the differences and similarities.

Who people are on the inside and the outside. Stella and Blanche try to seem more than they are. Their social statuses are more vital to them than their real emotions. Blanche tries to create an illusion that she belongs to an upper-class society. Stella worries that their apartment does not look how it should look to demonstrate a higher social status.

The author also draws the audience’s attention to the difference between interior and exterior appearance by showing the apartment and the street. You can also focus on how the outside world influences everything that happens inside the apartment. For instance, the sounds of the blue piano playing outside often create tension in the apartment. It is enlightening to examine how people act to get the desired reaction from the outside world and how they act when no one is watching.

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A Streetcar Named Desire

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Analysis of “A Streetcar Named Desire”

Cultural influences have always had an impact on the present times societal structure & gender roles, throughout history. The 1900’s was a time of both American accomplishments and failures. In the 1940’s the demand for theater acts and movie role playing for entertainment started to take root in the hearts and minds of locals. In “ A Streetcar Named Desire”, which was written and acted out through role play in 1947. Where the script goes on to prove just how much everyday societal rules and adaptations effect cultural entertainment and how gender role playing actors interact with each other in films as opposed to present day life.

Just after the Great Depression, in the 1930’s, when the American economy was in an overflow and the industrial revolution was in its infant stages. However, although the economy might have been showing ever increasing signs of stability and growth, fear was in the heart of Americans. 1947 marked the beginning of the Cold War and Americans were feeling the pressure of an always changing and advanced world. To cope with these new societal standards and judgements, tradition was under fire. “ A Streetcar Named Desire’ took a shot at society and caused Americans to re evaluate women’s roles in a warring world dominated by power hungry nations.

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Before 1947, and the play, women were looked at as promiscuous sex objects and a strict home wife. Being submissive to men or their husband of the house, who possessed a king like mentality. Women had little to no authority and did not serve as public servants such as mayor, or even on Congress. In New Orleans, especially, women were flaunted around on the arm of rich aristocrats, only to be for show with nothing presumbley viable to offer. Not even in conversation. Women never spoke about business, they mainly had the role of taking care of the house duties and the family while the man was the provider. Which still stands in todays society. But with “ A Streetcar Named Desire “ we see the gender roles break from tradition and portray women in a new light, as well as the way men perceive women. No longer judging the face value of the women. In the 1940’s women were expected to behave a certain way in public while with their husband if married. While others ran around in the local brothels, committing sin and adultery. The culture of New Orleans demanded women conform and submit much like Blanche, a main character from the play. Men could act in ways that women could not, and women would be chastised for things that men could not. In this traditional view of women, Blanche is an aggressive character who breaks that tradition. In the play she takes an assertive role, always fighting against Stanley’s authoritative figure and stance. Stella, another main character from the play, takes the role of the opposite force of Blanche. She is highly submissive, and whole heartedly embodies the southern New Orleanian tradition of being a man’s property. Which also held true in present day times of the reality in 1947. Women were judged based upon the man that they were able to marry. Men were viewed as superiors, so the higher the “class” of a man, the higher of “class” that women were allowed to be.

Stanley, and the man’s perception of society was to always be in domination of women. He was aggressive, fierce, malicious, and always asserted his authority as the head of the household. The gender role playing of how men were perceived was the exact adaptation to societal culture in reality. Where the man was able to be accepted for rambunctious behavior even, while women were ostracized and chastised for taking a position against a man; usually no matter the cause or reason. The 1940’s was a time of unfairness and offered very little protection for Southern women. Men were able to completely dominate in both reality and the way they were portrayed in the play.

Due to the harshness of societal rules and structure of the men having domination and control of women. A lot of them became so mentally weak that they believed, like Stella and Blanche that the only way to hold a proper place in society and have a decent life was to marry a man. Although Blanche stands up to authority in men, because of the intense cultural definitions she was still not able to break from that mindset. Wives became battered and beaten for defying their husbands; as in scene three, when stella was beaten by her drunk husband after a poker game. This caused women to marry not for love, but for social status instead. Because of her past Blanche becomes viewed as a scorned woman that is not fit to be taken as a wife. Through the sufferings of her past, this character starts evolves, breaking down slowly to the authority of Stanely. Where again we see, the lack of expression and care for women. Even experiencing a rough past or childhood, women were not allowed to speak up for themselves and often times weren’t offered the sympathy they deserved. Instead they would be chastised by the man, and possible humiliated much like Blanche was. Because Stanley held such a status of authority, the other characters insistently took Stanley’s word, instead of uplifting the woman to give her a different perception. Because Blanche constantly challenges Stanley, she is constantly insulted for not submitting. Blanche is almost a cliché in that she wants a traditional Southern marriage in the efforts of receiving adoration, appreciation, love and affection from a man without the traditional power struggle. This held true in the reality of it all, in a world in which the unfair treatment of women was noticed but because of Southern tradition society did nothing to morally correct the situation.

Being victimized as women, meant their flaws were focused on rather than the savage like behavior of men at times. Even as an educated woman, and a teacher, Blanche was still a social outcast according to Southern traditions. The hold of tradition is also the cause for Stella’s mutiny from Blanche’s mindset to accept the authority of a male, even though she was the sister of Blanche. This example encompasses just how strong of a cultural hold that traditional roles held over society and what kind of mental and emotional distress that women experienced. The gender roles between the play and society at that present time completely coincide. The play explored the oppressiveness of southern society, and the outcome of a victim’s façade due to a lifetime of inflicted mental and emotional pain. What women could not be in present reality during the 1940’s, Blanche embodied both the southern tradition and the freedom of expressiveness, in wanting to challenge the social norms to raise awareness. You even gain insight into the life of the playwright, Williams, in that he too possible suffered from the social norms of the 1940’s despite being a male.

In conclusion gender roles did not deviate from societal norms, and the playwrights almost perfect perception of those norms. He obviously wanted some sort of social reform in the way that he gave Blanche the audacity to be able to stand up to Stanley and challenge the males authority. But, at the same time she also wanted to be accepted by those social norms in search happiness. Which drove her to make immoraly wrong decisions which ultimately led to her failure of being able to overcome the mans role in society. Gender roles play a huge part in the development of society and culture as a whole. “ A Streetcar Named Desire” perfectly portrayed New Orleanian culture, and social roles of the two genders, while exploring a possibility of a woman gaining a position of power.

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A Streetcar Named Desire: Suggested Essay Topics
Suggestions for essay topics to use when you're writing about A Streetcar Named Desire.
107 A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Questions, Topics, & Examples
🔝 Top 10 A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Topics. Blanche's Descent into Madness; Blanche DuBois as a Tragic Heroine; The New vs. the Old South in the Play
A Streetcar Named Desire Essay
An Examination of The Character of Blanche in a Streetcar Named Desire. 5 pages / 2287 words. In Tennessee Williams' play, A Streetcar Named Desire, the nature of theatricality, "magic," and "realism," all stem from the tragic character, Blanche DuBois. Blanche is both a theatricalizing and self-theatricalizing woman.
A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Topics
Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt ...
A Streetcar Named Desire: Essay Questions
A list of potential essay questions to form revision and speed planning practice 'Stella is the lynchpin within the play for better or for worse' In light of this statement, explore William's presentation of relationships in A Streetcar Named Desire. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors. 'Shame lies at the….
49 A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Topics
These essay examples and topics on A Streetcar Named Desire were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you're using them to write your assignment.
A Streetcar Named Desire Study Guide
Key Facts about A Streetcar Named Desire. Full Title: A Streetcar Named Desire. When Written: 1946-7. Where Written: New York, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. When Published: Broadway premiere December 3, 1947. Literary Period: Dramatic naturalism. Genre: Psychological drama.
A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Questions
A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Questions. 1. A Streetcar Named Desire is laden with symbolism and metaphor. Pick one of the many recurring symbols - light, flowers, fire, bathing, meat - and trace its occurrence through the play. What does this motif add to the story and characterizations?
A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire. The play begins with Blanche DuBois visiting her sister Stella and her brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski at their home in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Blanche says ...
A Streetcar Named Desire Essays and Criticism
Theater Review of A Streetcar Named Desire. First published on December 4, 1947, this laudatory review by Atkinson appraises the play's debut and labels Williams's work as a "superb drama ...
A Streetcar Named Desire Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas
A Streetcar Named Desire is a classic play by Tennessee Williams, delving into themes of desire, social class, and mental illness among others. An essay on this play might explore the complex characters, the symbolism, or the socio-cultural implications of the narrative. Other topics could include a deep dive into the psychological dynamics at ...
A Streetcar Named Desire: Theme & Key Quotes: Interior vs Exterior
Everything you need to know about A Streetcar Named Desire: Theme & Key Quotes: Interior vs Exterior for the Higher English SQA exam, totally free, with assessment questions, text & videos. ... Topics. Critical Essay: A Streetcar Named Desire A Streetcar Named Desire: Context: The Great Depression; A Streetcar Named Desire: Context: World War II;
A Streetcar Named Desire Critical Essays
In A Streetcar Named Desire, Williams shows the reality of people's lives, an enduring concern of his throughout his writing career. He wrote this play believing he was about to die, so he wrote ...
A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Topics
Here are some A Streetcar Named Desire essay topics: Get Writing Help. Rated 4.8 out of 5. The adverse effects of letting humanly desire to control you. Blanche DuBois loses her sanity: How does it happen and what triggers it. The gender issues Tennessee Williams trying to portray in A Streetcar Named Desire.
A Streetcar Named Desire Essay
A Streetcar Named Desire. The play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams examines the theme of both death and desire. Williams presents the only options of life as being one of these two options. Either you choose to figuratively die or you succumb to your desires. You must make to choice and life and battle death and go towards desire.
A Streetcar Named Desire Critical Overview
Critical Overview. A Streetcar Named Desire premiered in Boston and Philadelphia, then in New York on December 4, 1947, to almost unanimously laudatory reviews. The New Yorker described Streetcar ...
Social Norms in "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams
The play A Streetcar Named Desire written by Tennessee Williams raises several questions about gender roles and identity which are relevant even nowadays. The main character of this literary work Blanche DuBois cannot see herself as an independent and self-sufficient person. Get a custom essay on Social Norms in "A Streetcar Named Desire ...
55 A Streetcar Named Desire Paper Topics to Spark Your Imagination
1 Short Overview of the Play. 2 What to Do Before You Start Writing Your Paper. 3 Topic Ideas. 4 A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Topics: Compare and Contrast. 5 A Streetcar Named Desire Discussion Topics: Gender Issues. 6 A Streetcar Named Desire Research Topics: Analysis of the Plot. 7 Paper Topics for "A Streetcar Named Desire": Characters.
What is a good thesis statement for A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire. ? Quick answer: A good thesis statement for A Streetcar Named Desire could focus on the theme of illusion versus reality, such as: "Tennessee Williams develops a theme of ...
⇉Analysis of "A Streetcar Named Desire" Essay Example
But with " A Streetcar Named Desire " we see the gender roles break from tradition and portray women in a new light, as well as the way men perceive women. No longer judging the face value of the women. In the 1940's women were expected to behave a certain way in public while with their husband if married. While others ran around in the ...

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