5.1.1

Structure & Stage Design

Test yourself

Structure

The play is a modern play and the way that it is written matches this.

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Eleven scenes

  • Williams unusually divides the play into eleven scenes.
  • A more usual tri-partite structure might have been to have nine scenes where there is an exposition, development and conclusion.
  • However, the basic structure is still in place – especially if we consider Scene One to be a kind of Preface to the action, whilst Scene Eleven acts as an epilogue.
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Climax

  • The lead up to the climax of the play sees Blanche almost seduce another Young Man, Mitch’s rejection of her, and Stella going to the hospital to give birth.
  • The climax itself is the moment when Stanley rapes Blanche.
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Timing of Scene Eleven

  • We know that Scene Eleven is a set a good while after the main action of the play – and this distance in time allows for Blanche’s mental breakdown to take place.
  • In fact, it is not depicted. The audience sees the full result of her decline when the Doctor and Nurse come to take her away.
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Dramatic naturalism

  • The overall structure of the play may be described as dramatic naturalism.
  • However, Williams often integrates some melodramatic flashes to heighten tension and impact.
  • This is found in the way that Blanche uses signs and hand gestures.
  • Stanley also makes loud noises and is physically violent for dramatic effect.
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Moralistic drama

  • A Streetcar Named Desire is a moralistic drama. This means the play is there to teach us something.
  • This may go back to the original function of Tragedy to put us through ‘fear’ and feel catharsis as the drama unfolds. The idea is that as an audience we are not to repeat the same mistakes as the characters on stage. We must learn from them.

Stage Design and Character Movements

Some modern dramatists are quite flexible with their use of stage directions, but Williams is very specific both in terms of stage design and character movements.

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Set demands

  • The set Williams needs is quite complex as the stage has to depict the apartment block, with the different rooms of Stanley and Stella’s apartment but also the Hubbel’s room above.
  • There needs to be a set of stairs and a stairwell, as well as a depiction of the street.
  • It would almost be impossible to depict this in a realistic way because it would be too large and complex a set.
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Realistic set designs

  • Therefore, most designers develop a set that has some naturalistic elements but also some compromises.
  • For example, the apartment itself might be very detailed but there might just be simple scaffolding and steps to symbolise the spatial aspect of the apartment.
  • It is unlikely that the street would be given full set dressing.
  • Instead, the street may be represented with one or two simple items such a lamp-post and mail-box.

Jump to other topics

1Context & Overview

2Scene Summaries

3Character Profiles

4Key Ideas

5Writing Techniques

6Critical Debates

7Ideas About Tragedy

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