Overview of Scene One from A Streecar named Desire

Notes from John Lahr

• All of us are actors to the degree that we must be to survive.

- 'Temporary magic just in order to pay for one night's shelter!' (Blanche is unable to find any good in the world, so she'll do anything to survive in it. Shell put on an act to protect herself, this act is when she pretends to be pure and modest so men will find her more attractive.)

• Confrontation from Stanley and Stella has caused her to open up about surviving.
• Blanches speeches are ordered, detailed, detached and over exaggerated which shows they are planned and rehearsed.

The inspiration of Blanche was made from his mother as both have similar aspects to their personality.


Notes from John Mcrae

• Long stage directions which give clues to the play's themes.
• The play is set within the summer period (May-September) This is a key aspect of the play as the intense heat affects the characters relationships, this is why most scenes are set in the evening as its cooler and darker.
• The play has a mixed community in which any gender and ethnicity is welcome. It is a Multi-cultural, Multi-coloured and Multi-vocal society.
• The play links and communicates to the audiences sense. The scene with the man who's selling 'red hots.'
• Integration of society in New Orleans is advanced compared to other American states.
• The play has an emotional under current e.g. the background music of the 'Blue Piano.'
• The special effects (the background music/sounds which are played within Blanche's head, etc...) create a scene before any character enters or speaks.
• Characters are defined by money, the odds and relationships.

Money
Stanley: A man who follows the Neapolitan code and believes that what his wife owns, he owns and the other way round. This is highlighted in scene 2 when he thinks Blanche has 'swindled' Stella. 'And I don't like to be swindled.' illuminates Stanley's anger to losing money and the importance of it to him.
Stella: A wife and soon to be mother who is trapped by the lack of money. Although she believes she loves Stanley, it is mainly sexual desire which holds their relationship together which is why she won't leave him. However she can not provide for herself and her baby which is why she must stay in Elysian Fields. Stanley is considered in charge and gives Stella money when she asks for it or to make up for a bad act e.g. when he hit her.
Blanche: A woman who has a lack of money and will pretend she can survive with imagination and the power of sexual attention. She believes she can gain money from a married man named 'Shep Huntleigh.' Blanche is trapped in poverty and can not provide for herself. 

• 'Funerals are pretty' Blanche will try to find the beauty in all aspects of life so she can pretend she fits into a modern society.
• Stanley is a strong character who thrives on his masculinity. 'Stanley carries his bowling jacket and a red-stained package from a butchers'
• Williams sexuality is pressed within the book, there's a theory that he found Stanley attractive which is why Blanche is attractive and repelled by him.
• KEY QUOTE FOR STANLEY: 'Since earliest manhood the centre of his life has been pleasure from women, the giving and taking of it, not with weak indulgence, dependently, but with the power and pride of a richly feathered male bird among hens.'-Highlights his Alpha male personality
• KEY QUOTE FOR STANLEY: 'His love for good drink and food and games, his car, his radio, everything that is his, that bears his emblem of the gaudy seed-bearer. - American society that now believes in capitalism, materialism, integration. A representation that Blanche cannot fit into the new world.