A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams | Scene 1

Summary

In Scene 1 of *A Streetcar Named Desire*, the play opens in New Orleans with Blanche DuBois arriving at her sister Stella’s modest apartment. The contrast between Blanche’s aristocratic airs and Stanley Kowalski’s raw, working-class masculinity sets the stage for conflict. Blanche reveals her struggles, including the loss of their family home, Belle Reeve, while criticizing Stella’s life with Stanley. Themes of class struggle, desire, and the eventual downfall of Blanche unfold as she navigates the tense dynamics with her sister and Stanley. The scene foreshadows Blanche’s tragic journey from desire to destruction.

Takeaways

• 😀 The play opens in New Orleans on a rundown street called Elysian Fields, setting the stage for the story's exploration of class and environment.
• 😀 Stanley Kowalski and his wife, Stella, live in a modest two-story building, with Stanley working class and their lives marked by simplicity and toughness.
• 😀 Blanche DuBois arrives in New Orleans, seeking her sister Stella, and immediately contrasts with the working-class environment she finds herself in.
• 😀 Blanche criticizes the modest, lower-class living conditions of her sister Stella, revealing her sense of superiority and discomfort.
• 😀 Blanche shares her backstory, explaining she lost her family home, Belle Reve, in Mississippi, a symbol of her past and her feelings of abandonment.
• 😀 Stanley and Mitch are introduced as working-class men, with Stanley exuding dominance and sexual confidence, setting up tension with Blanche's delicate demeanor.
• 😀 Blanche's tragic backstory includes the death of her young husband, contributing to her emotional fragility and deep sense of loss.
• 😀 The theme of class differences is highlighted by the sharp contrast between Stanley's blunt, coarse behavior and Blanche's refined, pretentious airs.
• 😀 Tennessee Williams foreshadows the themes of desire, destruction, and death through Blanche's dialogue and the symbolic reference to 'Elysian Fields' and 'a streetcar named desire.'
• 😀 Blanche's first line, linking a streetcar named desire to cemeteries, sets the tone for her journey in the play from longing and desire to eventual destruction and death.

Q & A

What is the setting of Scene 1 in *A Streetcar Named Desire*?

Scene 1 is set in a rundown neighborhood of New Orleans called Elysian Fields. The apartment where Stanley and Stella live is a two-story building, with their unit being on the first floor.

How does Stanley interact with his wife Stella in the opening scene?

Stanley interacts with Stella in a casual, dominant manner. He yells to her from outside, tossing her a package of meat and telling her he's going bowling. His behavior is assertive and confident.

What is Blanche's initial impression of the Kowalski apartment?

Blanche expresses discomfort with the Kowalski apartment, criticizing its modest, lower-class conditions. She is particularly concerned about the lack of privacy and the cramped space.

How does Blanche describe her reasons for coming to New Orleans?

Blanche explains that she took a leave of absence from her teaching job to rest her nerves. She implies that she needs a break from the pressures of life and is also concerned about staying in her sister's small apartment.

What significant backstory does Blanche reveal in this scene?

Blanche reveals that she once owned the family estate, Belle Reeve, but lost it. She also shares that she was married at a young age, but her husband died, which seems to have had a profound impact on her emotional state.

What are the dynamics between Stanley and Blanche when they first meet?

When Stanley and Blanche first meet, there is a clear contrast between their personalities. Stanley is crude and direct, while Blanche is refined and ladylike. Despite their differences, Stanley accepts that Blanche will be staying with them.

What thematic elements are introduced in Scene 1?

The themes of class differences, desire, and the destructive nature of desire are introduced. Blanche's refined background contrasts with Stanley's working-class status, and there are hints of sexual tension and emotional fragility.

What role does the setting of 'Elysian Fields' play in the symbolism of the play?

Elysian Fields, named after the Greek mythological resting place for heroic souls, symbolizes death and the afterlife. This ties into the broader themes of desire, destruction, and death that permeate the play.

Why is Blanche's line about the 'streetcar named Desire' significant?

Blanche's reference to the 'streetcar named Desire' links her personal journey to the destructive power of desire. The 'streetcar named Cemeteries' alludes to the inevitable end of this journey—death and destruction.

How does the arrival of Mitch affect the atmosphere in the scene?

Mitch’s arrival adds another layer to the dynamic between Stanley and Blanche. While Stanley is direct and coarse, Mitch is more reserved and acts as a foil to Stanley’s personality. His interaction with Blanche hints at potential romantic interest.