History Theatre / AStreetcarNamedDesire

* ActorAllusion: Creator/VivienLeigh's playing a {{Deconstruction}} of the SouthernBelle archetype [[Film/GoneWithTheWind again]], but this time taking the "mentally broken" route rather than the "just plain nasty" route. In a way, Blanche and Scarlett could be seen as {{Foil}}s to one another, complete with MeaningfulName s.

->''"In 1947, when Creator/MarlonBrando appeared on stage in a torn, sweaty T-shirt, there was an earthquake; and the male as sex object is still at our culture's center stage. In the age of Calvin Klein steaming hunks, it must be hard for'' [kids today] ''to realize that there was ever a time when a man was nothing but [[StandardFiftiesFather a suit of clothes, a shirt and tie, shined leather shoes, and a gray, felt hat]]."''

Throughout the play we start getting glimpses that Blanche ''is'' hiding something, and when her secrets are revealed, things get worse. ''Really'' worse.

Note: The title of the movie refers to old buses for public transit, streetcars, what we now call "light rail" or "trams." They were usually named for the street they ran on. And one of the streetcars ran along a street in New Orleans named "Desire." It probably sounds more exciting than "A Streetcar Named Broadway," "A Streetcar Named 42nd Street," or, definitely, "A Tram in New Orleans."

* AuthorAppeal: An entire paragraph devoted to Stanley's handsome looks, great physique and animalistic drive? Tick. Young gay man struggling with his sexual identity in a repressive society that maligned any sign of cultural or sexual diversity to the point where it was taboo? Tick. [[spoiler:Young woman with mental illness issues who finally had to go to a mental institution? Tick.]] So we've got wish fulfillment, personal projection, and taking inspiration direct from your family. Yep, it's a Tennessee Williams play, all right.

* BigWordShout: STELLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

* CloudCuckoolander: Blanche. She prefers the world of her own creation, where she still is a chaste lady of refinement and she still can win the favors of men like Shep Huntleigh (whom we never meet [[spoiler:and might not exist]]). This is highlighted when Stanley is revealing her falsehoods to Stella and Blanche is singing in the bath: "Say, its only a paper moon/Sailing over a cardboard sea/But it wouldn't be make-believe/If you believed in me." [[spoiler:Unfortunately, by the end of the play this make-believe world is the only world she can stand to live in.]]

* DreamMelody: The Varsouviana, which plays whenever Blanche is lost in her dream world.

* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: [[spoiler:Blanche is reprimanded and punished for her fling with her underage student(s),]] but doesn't serve a proper legal punishment.

* TheGhost: Shep, a former suitor of Blanche. She talks about him a lot, but we never meet him. [[spoiler:He may not exist.]]

** Stanley is TheChessmaster of this trope. While he is an overall aggressor both drunk and sober, much of what he says about Blanche is the truth which makes tearing her up more painful to watch.

* KickTheDog: Stanley enjoys revealing Blanche's DarkSecret (and in the process ruining her relationship with her sister and his friend) ''way too much'', and adds insult to injury every chance he gets. [[spoiler: Then he rapes her.]]
* ManipulativeBitch: Stanley ([[JerkassHasAPoint probably correctly]]) guesses that Blanche plays up her delicate nerves around Stella so she'll wait on her hand-and-foot; all she has to do is act upset and her sister will let her do whatever she wants (stay indefinitely, take long baths, redecorate the house, etc) and get her whatever she wants (like lemon cokes and alcohol). Blanche almost ''certainly'' manipulates men she fancies, and not for noble reasons.

* ActorAllusion: Creator/VivienLeigh's playing a {{Deconstruction}} of the SouthernBelle archetype [[Film/GoneWithTheWind again]], but this time taking the "mentally broken" route rather than the "just plain nasty" route. In a way, Blanche and Scarlett could be seen as {{Foil}}s to one another, complete with MeaningfulNames.

* ActorAllusion: Creator/VivienLeigh's playing a {{Deconstruction}} of the SouthernBelle archetype [[Film/GoneWithTheWind again]], but this time taking the "mentally broken" route rather than the "just plain nasty" route. In a way, Blanche and Scarlett could be seen as {{Foil}}s to one another.

%% * TheAlcoholic: Blanche, though she'll deny it.
%% * AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Stella, [[spoiler:to the point where she denies that Stanley's rape of Blanche ever happened]].

%% * DreamMelody: The Varsouviana.
%% * DomesticAbuse: Stella explains away everything.

%% * TheGhost: Shep. [[spoiler:He may not exist.]]

%% * HotForStudent: [[spoiler:Blanche, in the backstory. He reminded her of Allen.]]

%% * InterplayOfSexAndViolence: Stella and Stanley's relationship.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Stanley is TheChessmaster of this trope. While he is an overall aggressor both drunk and sober, much of what he says about Blanche is the truth which makes tearing her up more painful to watch.

* OnlySaneWoman: Blanche is the only character sufficiently horrified and disgusted by how Stanley beats Stella.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Stanley is smarter than he lets on. He knows the laws of New Orleans like the back of his hand. Rather than simply accept Blanche into his home he does a background check, uncovering her sexual history in the process. He even manages to have Stella wrapped around his little finger and fools Blanche into thinking he is a common ape. He later reveals everything he knows about her before the [[spoiler:rape scene.]] To add insult to injury, he violently corrects Blanche verbally when she called him a [[FantasticRacism "Pollack"]] one too many times.

->''"In 1947, when Creator/MarlonBrando appeared on stage in a torn, sweaty T-shirt, there was an earthquake; and the male as sex object is still at our culture's center stage. In the age of Calvin Klein steaming hunks, it must be hard for'' {{kids today}} ''to realize that there was ever a time when a man was nothing but [[StandardFiftiesFather a suit of clothes, a shirt and tie, shined leather shoes, and a gray, felt hat]]."''

->''"In 1947, when Creator/MarlonBrando appeared on stage in a torn, sweaty T-shirt, there was an earthquake; and the male as sex object is still at our culture's center stage. In the age of Calvin Klein steaming hunks, it must be hard for'' [kids today] ''to realize that there was ever a time when a man was nothing but [[StandardFiftiesFather a suit of clothes, a shirt and tie, shined leather shoes, and a gray, felt hat]]."''

%% * InLoveWithYourCarnage: The reason Stella doesn't leave Stanley, though violence toward other people crosses the line for her. [[spoiler: Not enough to side with her sister after Stanley rapes her in the play, [[DownerEnding unfortunately]]. [[RevisedEnding In the movie, however...]]]]

* RevisedEnding: The 1951 film [[spoiler:implies that Stella has finally had it with Stanley, and that she and the baby are leaving him. Whether it'll stick or she'll end up going back eventually is another question...]]

* TheAlcoholic: Blanche, though she'll deny it.
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Stella, [[spoiler:to the point where she denies that Stanley's rape of Blanche ever happened]].

* BreakTheCutie: Despite her many flaws, Blanche has had a rough time.
* ChristmasCake: Blanche is terrified of being this.

* DreamMelody: The Varsouviana.
* DomesticAbuse: Stella explains away everything.

* {{Ephebophile}}: [[spoiler:Blanche. This is why she was fired.]]

* FreakOut: The permanent kind.
* TheGhost: Shep. [[spoiler:He may not exist.]]

* HappilyMarried: Stella insists she and Stanley are this. Blanche (and the audience) beg to differ.

* HeroicBSOD: Literally! The lighting changes, the music swells, [[spoiler:and Stanley carries Blanche off to the bedroom]].
* HotForStudent: [[spoiler:Blanche, in the backstory. He reminded her of Allen.]]
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Blanche, though the play and movie subvert it by having Blanche compare her time as a hooker to being a tarantula, preying on the flesh of men. She was being sarcastic, because she was angry at Mitch.
* TheIngenue: How Blanche tries to present herself.
* InLoveWithYourCarnage: The reason Stella doesn't leave Stanley, though violence toward other people crosses the line for her. [[spoiler: Not enough to side with her sister after Stanley rapes her in the play, [[DownerEnding unfortunately]]. [[RevisedEnding In the movie, however...]]]]
* InterplayOfSexAndViolence: Stella and Stanley's relationship.

* {{Jerkass}}: Stanley fits the bill; he's definitely worse than a Jerkass by the end of the play.

* ANounReferredToAsX: ''A Streetcar Named Desire''

* RapeLeadsToInsanity: [[spoiler:Blanche after Stanley rapes her (though she was pretty unstable already)]].
* ReallyGetsAround: [[spoiler:Blanche, that's why she lost her job.]]

* TheReveal: Oh, so many. Interestingly, few -- if any -- of them serve as a climax: rather, they are used to both forward the plot and build up to the actual climax.

* SayMyName: If you got two guesses, you'll only have one.

* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Mitch and Stanley.
* {{Sexophone}}: The scene of the film where Stella walks down the stairs. The music was changed by the censors, but the the scene with the original music is available on the DVD.

* SouthernBelle: Blanche is a SouthernBelle in the 20th century, a fading relic of a bygone age.

Note: The title of the movie has nothing to do with human emotion. Back before there were buses for public transit, there were streetcars, what we now call "light rail" or "trams." They were usually named for the street they ran on. And one of the streetcars ran along a street in New Orleans named "Desire." It probably sounds more exciting than "A Streetcar Named Broadway," "A Streetcar Named 42nd Street," or, definitely, "A Tram in New Orleans."

-->'''Stanley''' ''[drunk]'': And when he gets home he'll deposit [the five dollar bills] one by one in a piggy bank his mother gave him for Christmas.

-->--'''Creator/GoreVidal'''

Most people are familiar with the 1951 movie directed by Creator/EliaKazan and starring Creator/VivienLeigh, Creator/MarlonBrando, and Kim Hunter, which was of course Oscar-tacular.[[note]]Although the best remembered performance - Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski - was passed over on Oscar night in favour of Creator/HumphreyBogart in ''Film/TheAfricanQueen''.[[/note]] But there have been many other adaptations, including a 1995 MadeForTVMovie starring Creator/AlecBaldwin and Creator/JessicaLange, an opera, and even a ballet. Stuffed full of imagery and complex characters, it may be considered Williams' best known work, and the character of Blanche has been considered the most difficult female role in all of English literature.

** Another example is Williams' direction for Stella's kimono in the Act 4, Scene 1 - it should be bright blue, a departure from her usual color scheme. This is just after ''[[EveryoneCanSeeIt that]]'' scene, which implies that Stanley and Stella have just had sex.

** Blanche [=DuBois=] means "white of the woods" in French - a dreamlike and old-world scene.
** Belle Reve is French, too - for "beautiful dream." Also, Belle is feminine whereas Rêve is masculine (it should be "Beau Rêve").

-->'''Blanche''': Yes, I flirted with your husband, Stella! ''[...]'' He's just not the sort that goes for jasmine perfume!

--> '''Stanley:''' [[PunctuatedForEmphasis I! AM NOT!! A POLLACK!!!]] People from Poland are Poles, not Pollacks!! But what I am is 100% American, born and raised in the greatest country on Earth and proud as hell of it, so don't ever call me a Pollack.

* TheReveal: Oh, so many. Interestingly, few - if any - of them serve as a climax: rather, they are used to both forward the plot and build up to the actual climax.

* SoundtrackDissonance: The Varsouviana is a happy, upbeat polka tune. It is Blanche's "crazy music" and plays whenever she is losing it and[[=/=]]or her [[spoiler:husband's suicide comes up]].

-->JUST CUT THE REBOP!

* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: Averted. While she doesn't go to jail, [[spoiler:Blanche is reprimanded and punished for her fling with her underage student(s).]]

Creator/TennesseeWilliams' ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a PulitzerPrize-winning 1947 play about a hundred different things: reality versus the imaginary, the old U.S. versus the new, social class, insanity, abuse, violence, appearances, purity, etc.

Note: The title of the movie has nothing to do with human emotion. Back before there were buses for public transit, there were streetcars, what we now call "light rail" or "trams." They were usually named for the street they ran on. And one of the streetcars ran along a street in New Orleans named "Desire." It probably sounds more exciting than "A Streetcar Named Broadway," or "A Streetcar Named 42nd Street."

* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: Averted. While she doesn't go to jail, Blanche is reprimanded and punished for her fling with her underage student.

** Another example is Williams' direction for Stella's kimono in the Act 4, Scene 1 - it should be bright blue, a departure from her usual color scheme. This is just after ''[[EverybodyKnowsThat that]]'' scene, which implies that Stanley and Stella have just had sex.

Creator/TennesseeWilliams' ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a PulitzerPrize-winning 1947 play about a hundred different things: reality vs. the imaginary, the old U.S. versus the new, social class, insanity, abuse, violence, appearances, purity, etc.

Creator/TennesseeWilliams' ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a 1947 play about a hundred different things. Reality vs. the imaginary, the old U.S. versus the new, social class, insanity, abuse, violence, appearances, purity, etc. Most people are familiar with the 1951 movie directed by Creator/EliaKazan and starring Creator/VivienLeigh, Creator/MarlonBrando, and Kim Hunter, which was of course Oscar-tacular.[[note]]Although the best remembered performance - Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski - was passed over on Oscar night in favour of Creator/HumphreyBogart in ''Film/TheAfricanQueen''.[[/note]] But there have been many other adaptations, including a 1995 MadeForTVMovie starring Creator/AlecBaldwin and Creator/JessicaLange, an opera, and even a ballet. Stuffed full of imagery and complex characters, it may be considered Williams' best known work, and the character of Blanche has been considered the most difficult female role in all of English literature.

Creator/TennesseeWilliams' ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a 1947 play about a hundred different things. Reality vs. the imaginary, the old U.S. versus the new, social class, insanity, abuse, violence, appearances, purity, etc. Most people are familiar with the 1951 movie directed by Creator/EliaKazan and starring Creator/VivienLeigh, Creator/MarlonBrando, and Kim Hunter, which was of course Oscar-tacular.[[note]]Although the best remembered performance - Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski - was passed over on Oscar night in favour of Creator/HumphreyBogart in ''Film/TheAfricanQueen''.[[/note]] But there have been many adaptations including a made for TV movie starring Creator/AlecBaldwin and Creator/JessicaLange, an opera and even a ballet. Stuffed full of imagery and complex characters, it may be considered Williams' best known work, and the character of Blanche has been considered the most difficult female role in all of English literature.

Creator/TennesseeWilliams' ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a 1947 play about a hundred different things. Reality vs. the imaginary, the old U.S. versus the new, social class, insanity, abuse, violence, appearances, and purity. Most people are familiar with the 1951 movie directed by Creator/EliaKazan and starring Creator/VivienLeigh, Creator/MarlonBrando, and Kim Hunter, which was of course Oscar-tacular.[[note]]Although the best remembered performance - Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski - was passed over on Oscar night in favour of Creator/HumphreyBogart in ''Film/TheAfricanQueen''.[[/note]] But there have been many adaptations including a made for TV movie starring Creator/AlecBaldwin and Creator/JessicaLange, an opera and even a ballet. Stuffed full of imagery and complex characters, it may be considered Williams' best known work, and the character of Blanche has been considered the most difficult female role in all of English literature.

Creator/TennesseeWilliams' ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a 1947 play about a hundred different things: reality vs. the imaginary, the old U.S. versus the new, social class, insanity, abuse, violence, appearances, and purity. Most people are familiar with the 1951 movie directed by Creator/EliaKazan and starring Creator/VivienLeigh, Creator/MarlonBrando, and Kim Hunter, which was of course Oscar-tacular.[[note]]Although the best remembered performance - Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski - was passed over on Oscar night in favour of Creator/HumphreyBogart in ''Film/TheAfricanQueen''.[[/note]] But there have been many adaptations including a made for TV movie starring Creator/AlecBaldwin and Creator/JessicaLange, an opera and even a ballet. Stuffed full of imagery and complex characters, it may be considered Williams' best known work, and the character of Blanche has been considered the most difficult female role in all of English literature.

Creator/TennesseeWilliams' ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a 1947 play about a hundred different things. Reality vs. the imaginary, the old U.S. versus the new, social class, insanity, abuse, violence, appearances, and purity. Most people are familiar with the 1951 movie directed by Creator/EliaKazan and starring Creator/VivienLeigh, Creator/MarlonBrando, and Kim Hunter, which was of course Oscar-tacular.[[note]]Although the best remembered performance - Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski - was passed over on Oscar night in favour of Creator/HumphreyBogart in ''Film/TheAfricanQueen''.[[/note]] But there have been many adaptations including a made for TV movie starring Creator/AlecBaldwin and Creator/JessicaLange, an opera and even a ballet. Stuffed full of imagery and complex characters, it may be considered Williams' best known work, and the character of Blanche has been considered the most difficult female role in all of English literature.

Creator/TennesseeWilliams' ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a 1947 play about a hundred different things. Reality vs. the imaginary, the old U.S. versus the new, insanity, abuse, violence, appearances and purity. Most people are familiar with the 1951 movie directed by Creator/EliaKazan and starring Creator/VivienLeigh, Creator/MarlonBrando, and Kim Hunter, which was of course Oscar-tacular.[[note]]Although the best remembered performance - Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski - was passed over on Oscar night in favour of Creator/HumphreyBogart in ''Film/TheAfricanQueen''.[[/note]] But there have been many adaptations including a made for TV movie starring Creator/AlecBaldwin and Creator/JessicaLange, an opera and even a ballet. Stuffed full of imagery and complex characters, it may be considered Williams' best known work, and the character of Blanche has been considered the most difficult female role in all of English literature.

The plot revolves around Blanche [=DuBois=] - a beauty in her youth who has now begun to fade - coming to stay with her pregnant sister Stella in New Orleans. Blanche has lost the women's ancestral home, Belle Reve, due to the financial strain of caring for their dying relatives, and has quit her job as a school teacher due to her nerves. Blanche meets Stella's husband Stanley and the two develop an almost instant disliking. Blanche finds Stanley vulgar and common, while Stanley hates Blanche's continual snobbery, despite the fact she is now just as poor as them. He is also suspicious of his sister-in-law, thinking that Blanche may have cheated Stella out of her share of the inheritance.

Creator/TennesseeWilliams' ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a 1947 play about a hundred different things. Reality vs. the imaginary, the old US vs. the new, insanity, abuse, violence, appearances and purity. Most people are familiar with the 1951 movie directed by Creator/EliaKazan and starring Creator/VivienLeigh, Creator/MarlonBrando, and Kim Hunter, which was of course Oscar-tacular.[[note]]Although the best remembered performance - Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski - was passed over on Oscar night in favour of Creator/HumphreyBogart in ''Film/TheAfricanQueen''.[[/note]] But there have been many adaptations including a made for TV movie starring Creator/AlecBaldwin and Creator/JessicaLange, an opera and even a ballet. Stuffed full of imagery and complex characters, it may be considered Williams' best known work, and the character of Blanche has been considered the most difficult female role in all of English literature.