Scene One: Summary

Scene One: Summary (Part One)

The play begins with the arrival of Blanche DuBois in the New Orleans French Quarter. She has come to stay with her younger, married sister, Stella, and her brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski.

Background to Blanche's visit

Apparently, Blanche has lost her family home, Belle Reve to creditors. So she has travelled from the small town of Laurel, in Mississippi, down to New Orleans.
Blanche seems to have little direction, but is in her thirties.
It becomes clear that she has no money and has nowhere else to go. She is relying on the kindness of Stella and Stanley.

Streetcar

The title of the play comes from the Desire streetcar line which ran from 1920 to 1948, at the height of streetcar use in New Orleans.
Streetcar is American-English for a tram.
The route ran down Royal, through the Quarter to Desire Street in the Bywater district and then back up to Canal.

Blanche's route

Blanche’s route in the play - “They told me to take a streetcar named Desire, transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at—Elysian Fields!” - is allegorical, taking advantage of New Orleans’s colourful street names.
The Desire line itself crossed Elysian Fields Avenue on its way to Canal Street. There, one could transfer to the Cemeteries line, which ran along Canal - blocks away from Elysian Fields.

Play's opening

Williams opens the play by showing the migrant nature of the city, showing several characters seeking direction or in the business of selling ("Red hots! Red hots!").
A world of gambling is also established as the two men, Stanley Kowalski and Mitch (Harold Mitchell), discuss odds at betting.
Stanley and Stella have a tense relationship where male and female worlds are distinct.

Elysian Fields

Elysian Fields works metaphorically here.
The term comes from Greek mythology and indicates ‘the abode of the blessed after death’.

Scene One: Summary (Part Two)

Blanche’s clothing and demeanour mark out her difference and that she does not fit this society.

Blanche and Stella's relationship

When Blanche and Stella meet, the audience is aware that, despite the façade, they may not be telling the truth and that there is some sibling rivalry between them.

Stanley and Stella's life

Blanche is not exactly enthralled about where Stella and Stanley are living and she comments on the inadequacy of their accommodation.
This is partially related to Stella having married a "Polack" (a term of abuse for a Polish person).
However, Stella shows Blanche a picture of Stanley and she admits he is handsome. It seems Stanley has been in the military engineering corps.

Belle Reve

Blanche and Stella bemoan their lack of communication, culminating in Blanche’s monologue about her experiences at Belle Reve. Clearly, several family members have died and she has struggled to keep the place going.
A lack of inheritance meant she had to forego the property.
Stella is upset by this news.

Blanche's job

Blanche has left her job as an English teacher because of her nerves: the implication being that teaching is too stressful and demanding, though we later learn that there is another reason for this.

Poker game organised

Outside, the audience is privy to the conversation between Stanley, Mitch and Steve Hubbel (another friend).
They joke with each other and negotiate a poker game, which Stanley offers to host.
Eunice Hubbel (Steve’s wife) breaks up their conversation.

Stanley and Blanche meet

Stanley and Blanche then meet, with Stanley asking where she is from (Laurel).
From this conversation, it is clear that Stanley drinks and that Blanche was an English teacher. Blanche appears to want to stay with them.
At the end of the scene, Stanley asks Blanche a question about marrying young and the fate of her husband. Blanche informs him that "the boy died". In saying this, she becomes sick and collapses.

1Context & Overview

1.1The Author

1.1.1Tennessee Williams

1.2Social Context & Setting

1.2.1Social Context

1.2.2Social Issues

1.2.3Setting

1.3Tragedy

1.3.1Overview of the Tragic Genre

1.3.2Modern Domestic Tragedy

1.3.3End of Topic Test - Author, Context & Tragedy

2Scene Summaries

2.1Scene One

2.1.1Scene One: Summary

2.1.2Scene One: Tragedy Ideas

2.2Scene Two

2.2.1Scene Two: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.2.2End of Topic Test - Scenes One-Two

2.3Scene Three

2.3.1Scene Three: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4Scene Four

2.4.1Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Three & Four

2.5Scene Five

2.5.1Scene Five: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.6Scene Six

2.6.1Scene Six: Summary

2.7Scene Seven

2.7.1Scene Seven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.8Scene Eight

2.8.1Scene Eight: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.8.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Five-Eight

2.9Scene Nine

2.9.1Scene Nine: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.10Scene Ten

2.10.1Scene Ten: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.11Scene Eleven

2.11.1Scene Eleven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.11.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Nine-Eleven

3Character Profiles

3.1Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski

3.1.1Blanche DuBois - The Past & Illusions

3.1.2Blanche DuBois - Relationship with Men & Breakdown

3.1.3The Dynamic Between Blanche & Stanley

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Blanche & Stanley

3.2Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.2.1Stella Kowalski

3.2.2Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.3Minor Characters

3.3.1The Hubbels & Other Characters

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Stella, Mitch & Others

4Key Ideas

4.1Sex & Gender

4.1.1Sex & Desire

4.1.2Masculinity & Femininity

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Sex, Desire & Gender

4.2Appearances, Fantasy & Reality

4.2.1Outer & Inner Appearances

4.2.2Fantasy & Reality

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Appearances, Fantasy...

5Writing Techniques

5.1Structure

5.1.1Structure & Stage Design

5.1.2Linking Devices

5.1.3Recurring Motifs

5.2Genre, Form & Language

5.2.1Genre

5.2.2Form & Language

5.2.3End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

6Critical Debates

6.1Early & Modern Reception

6.1.1Interpreting Blanche & Self-Pity

6.1.2Contemporary & Modern Reviews

6.2Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach

6.2.1Feminist Approach

6.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach

6.2.3Marxist Approach

6.2.4End of Topic Test - Critical Debates

7Ideas About Tragedy

7.1Ideas About Tragedy

7.1.1Tragic Ideas & Villain

7.1.2Tragic Structure & Language

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