7.1.1

Tragic Ideas

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Ideas Relating to the Tragic Genre

Here are some ideas you could explore in relation to the tragic genre:

Type of tragic text

Type of tragic text

  • The type of the tragic text - whether it is classical and about public figures, or domestic and about representations of ordinary people:
    • The tragic text is a dramatic tragedy.
    • The action is domestic.
    • The play is about a representation of ordinary people in 1940's America.
    • The play draws on some classical archetypes.
Settings

Settings

  • The play is set in the post-World War Two period.
  • It is set over a period of weeks in the city of New Orleans.
  • The specific setting is Stanley and Stella’s apartment at Elysian Fields.
  • The street outside also forms a setting.
  • Several moments of action happen whilst Blanche is in the bathroom and is being discussed by others.
Death of the tragic heroine

Death of the tragic heroine

  • Unlike Classical and Shakespeare tragedies, this drama does not culminate in the death of the protagonist, Blanche DuBois.
  • However, what Williams offers Blanche is almost a fate worse than death – and one which peculiarly relevant and scary for the middle of the twentieth century.
Flaws of the tragic heroine

Flaws of the tragic heroine

  • Blanche’s flaw is her attempt to erase her past.
  • She is full of pride about her education and love of the good things in life, but she has compromised those.
  • Her folly was her decision to make love to a student whilst being a teacher and to ignite passion in both Stanley and Mitch
  • She is blind to the fact that she cannot re-invent herself and wants a quick fix.

Ideas Relating to the Tragic Genre (cont.)

Role of fate

Role of fate

  • It may be that the nature of Blanche DuBois as a strong but also vulnerable woman determines her fate.
  • There may also be something fatalistic in the attraction Stanley has for Blanche, demonstrating the flaws in his own marriage.
  • Blanche’s lies about her past mean that her end is inevitable: her mental collapse began earlier in the play when she learnt that Stella was pregnant.
Behaviour of the heroine

Behaviour of the heroine

  • Everywhere Blanche goes, she appears to cause chaos and affect the lives of others.
    • In the past, this was at the school in Laurel.
    • In the present, this is with Stanley and Stella: Stanley is attracted to Blanche and he rapes her; Stella and Stanley’s marriage and future have been maimed by her presence.
    • Mitch has been hurt through his relationship with her.
    • The Young Man is confused about her actions.
Moments of humour and happiness

Moments of humour and happiness

  • There are some jokes and moments of comedy in the play to relieve the tension.
    • We see the possible happiness that Stella and Stanley might have with their baby.
Revenge

Revenge

  • The audience notes that Stanley is, in fact, trying to get his revenge to discover the truth about Blanche.
  • Stanley is a violent figure, seen through his attack of Stella and his rape of Blanche DuBois.
  • Mitch also attempts to sexually assault Blanche.
Jump to other topics
1

Context & Overview

1.1

The Author

1.1.1Tennessee Williams
1.2

Social Context & Setting

1.2.1Social Context1.2.2Social Issues1.2.3Setting
1.3

Tragedy

1.3.1Overview of the Tragic Genre1.3.2Modern Domestic Tragedy1.3.3End of Topic Test - Author, Context & Tragedy
2

Scene Summaries

2.1

Scene One-Two

2.1.1Scene One: Summary2.1.2Scene One: Tragedy Ideas2.1.3Scene Two: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.1.4End of Topic Test - Scenes One-Two
2.2

Scene Three-Four

2.2.1Scene Three: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.2.2Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.2.3End of Topic Test - Scenes Three & Four
2.3

Scenes Five-Eigth

2.3.1Scene Five: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.3.2Scene Six: Summary2.3.3Scene Seven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.3.4Scene Eight: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.3.5End of Topic Test - Scenes Five-Eight
2.4

Scenes Nine-Eleven

2.4.1Scene Nine: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.4.2Scene Ten: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.4.3Scene Eleven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.4.4End of Topic Test - Scenes Nine-Eleven
3

Character Profiles

3.1

Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski

3.1.1Blanche DuBois - The Past & Illusions3.1.2Blanche DuBois - Relationship with Men & Breakdown3.1.3The Dynamic Between Blanche & Stanley3.1.4End of Topic Test - Blanche & Stanley
3.2

Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.2.1Stella Kowalski3.2.2Harold Mitchell (Mitch)
3.3

Minor Characters

3.3.1The Hubbels3.3.2Other Characters3.3.3End of Topic Test - Stella, Mitch & Others
4

Key Ideas

4.1

Sex & Gender

4.1.1Sex & Desire4.1.2Masculinity & Femininity4.1.3End of Topic Test - Sex, Desire & Gender
4.2

Appearances, Fantasy & Reality

4.2.1Outer & Inner Appearances4.2.2Fantasy & Reality4.2.3End of Topic Test - Appearances, Fantasy...
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.1.1Structure & Stage Design5.1.2Linking Devices5.1.3Recurring Motifs
5.2

Genre, Form & Language

5.2.1Genre5.2.2Form & Language5.2.3End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques
6

Critical Debates

6.1

Early & Modern Reception

6.1.1Interpreting Blanche & Self-Pity6.1.2Contemporary & Modern Reviews
6.2

Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach

6.2.1Feminist Approach6.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach6.2.3Marxist Approach6.2.4End of Topic Test - Critical Debates
7

Ideas About Tragedy

7.1

Ideas About Tragedy

7.1.1Tragic Ideas7.1.2Tragic Villain7.1.3Tragic Structure & Language7.1.4Tragic Plots & Sub-Plots
8

Recap: Main Quotes

8.1

Main Quotes by Scene

8.1.1Scene One - Quotations8.1.2Scene Two - Quotations8.1.3Scene Three - Quotations8.1.4Scene Four - Quotations8.1.5Scene Five - Quotations8.1.6Scene Six - Quotations8.1.7Scene Seven - Quotations8.1.8Scene Eight - Quotations8.1.9Scene Nine - Quotations8.1.10Scene Ten - Quotations8.1.11Scene Eleven - Quotations

Practice questions on Tragic Ideas

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Which of these are true of _A Streetcar Named Desire_?True / false
  2. 2
    Features of the setting of _A Streetcar Named Desire_:Fill in the list
  3. 3
    Where is Blanche when characters tend to discuss her?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    In what ways is Blanche flawed?Fill in the list
  5. 5
    How does Blanche cause chaos in the play?Fill in the list
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End of Topic Test - Critical Debates

Tragic Villain