Tragic Plots & Sub-Plots

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Tragic Plots and Sub-Plots

Here's how Williams uses plots and sub-plots to enhance the tragedy:

Plots involving Mitch

Mitch and his unwell mother.
Mitch's relationship with Blanche.

Steve and Eunice

The story of Eunice and Steve as a comparative pair to Stanley and Stella.

Blanche's men and past

The use of the entry of the Young Man.
Blanche’s reliance on Shep Huntleigh and the back-story of her relationship with him.
The whole true story of Blanche’s time in Laurel.

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-Two

2.1.1Scene One: Summary

2.1.2Scene One: Tragedy Ideas

2.1.3Scene Two: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Scenes One-Two

2.2Scene Three-Four

2.2.1Scene Three: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.2.2Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Scenes Three & Four

2.3Scenes Five-Eigth

2.3.1Scene Five: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.3.2Scene Six: Summary

2.3.3Scene Seven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.3.4Scene Eight: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Scenes Five-Eight

2.4Scenes Nine-Eleven

2.4.1Scene Nine: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4.2Scene Ten: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4.3Scene Eleven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4.4End 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

3.3.2Other Characters

3.3.3End 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

7.1.2Tragic Villain

7.1.3Tragic Structure & Language

7.1.4Tragic Plots & Sub-Plots

8Recap: Main Quotes

8.1Main Quotes by Scene

8.1.1Scene One - Quotations

8.1.2Scene Two - Quotations

8.1.3Scene Three - Quotations

8.1.4Scene Four - Quotations

8.1.5Scene Five - Quotations

8.1.6Scene Six - Quotations

8.1.7Scene Seven - Quotations

8.1.8Scene Eight - Quotations

8.1.9Scene Nine - Quotations

8.1.10Scene Ten - Quotations

8.1.11Scene Eleven - Quotations

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