TENNESSEE WILLIAMS
Reading Guide: A Streetcar Named Desire
I don’t want realism. I want magic! (Blanche, A Streetcar Named Desire)
SCENE 1
1. Explain the title of the play.
2. What is the significance of the epigraph from the poem by Hart Crane?
3. What is the setting in time and place? Note sounds and smells. What association do you
have of New Orleans?
4. What is Elision Fields? How is the name ironic? (Think of Greek mythology.)
5. Note the introduction of Stanley. What is he carrying? Why is this symbolic?
6. Describe your first encounter with Blanche. Note the stage directions for her entrance.
7. Note Blanche’s directions to her sister’s house. What is the significance?
8. What is Belle Rive? How is it a symbol?
9. Note Blanche’s first drink. Catch her in her first deception.
10. What does the name Stella stand for? How is the name used ironically?
11. Note that Blanche is very concerned with her appearance. Why? Is this a psychological
abnormality?
12. What early conflict between Blanche and Stella do you detect? Note that this conflict
may go back to their youth.
13. Why has Blanche arrived in New Orleans? How is the name of her high school
superintendent symbolic?
14. Note than when Blanche decides to take one more tiny nip, she turns the subject to Belle
Reve.
What does “belle reve” translate to in English?
15. What will the sleeping arrangement be?
16. Is Blanche apprehensive about meeting Stanley? What are the concerns about him so far?
Note that even Stella refers to Stanley as a “species.”
17. How does Blanche react when Stella describes how she (Stella) feels when Stanley is
gone? How does this reaction point up a major contrast between Blanche and Stella?
18. Note Blanche’s paranoia when the subject turns to Belle Reve.
19. Read Blanche’s long speech to Stella about life at Belle Reve. What is the subject matter
of this speech? Why does Stella cry?
20. What in particular do you note about Mitch from his first lines?
21. Read the lengthy description about Stanley. What important words does Williams use to
describe him? How does he treat women?
22. Stanley is on to Blanche’s lies almost immediately. Give proof of this.
23. Give proof of Stanley’s crudeness. Note that he even says of himself that he is the
“unrefined type.”
24. Note Blanche’s last lines in Scene 1. Why is she going to be sick?
SCENE 2
1. What is Blanche doing at the beginning of the scene? Why is this action significant?
2. Why does Stella ask Stanley not to mention the baby?
3. Rather than discuss the sale of Belle Reve, what does Stella want Stanley to sat to
Blanche?
4. Note Stanley as he rummages through Blanche’s trunk. Why is he irritated?
5. Even though Stella tries to convince Stanley that Blanche’s possessions are old and
cheap, what kind of dress is Blanche wearing when she enters this scene?
6. What does Blanche ask Stanley to do? Comment on this action. What is she doing to
him?
7. According to Blanche, how has she accumulated her fox pieces? Comment on Stanley’s
reaction.
8. When Blanche calls Stanley a “little on the primitive side,” she attempts to instruct him
how to interest a woman. How does Stanley react?
9. What does Blanche ask Stella to do for her? This request reveals what their childhood
relationship was probably like. Explain.
10. Note that Blanche says to Stanley, “I have an idea that she [Stella] doesn’t know you as
well as I do. Do you find it interesting that Blanche thinks she know Stanley better after
one day than Stella who is married to him? Explain
11. What does Blanche do when Stanley attempts to explain the Napoleonic code? Explain
the significance. Again prove that Stanley is on to Blanche.
12. Blanche makes a startling revelation about herself and her ability to tell the truth. What is
it?
13. How does Blanche react when Stanley grabs her love letters?
14. How does Blanche explain to Stanley how she lost Belle Reve?
15. After Stella has requested that Stanley not tell Blanche about the baby, what does he do at
the end of Scene 2? Why?
16. Not Blanche’s comments about the pregnancy.
17. As the two sisters leave for their night out, what does Blanche ask Stella? Why is the
question significant?
18. Note the vendor’s voice in the background. Comment on it.
SCENE 3 “The Poker Night”
1. Note the stage descriptions of the setting. Especially note the references to light and
color. What significant (and symbolic) details do you detect?
2. Once again Mitch turns the conversation to what subject that obsesses him?
3. What does Mitch say will happen to him when his mother dies? Contrast this statement to
what Blanch tells Stella in Scene 1 before Blanche admits that she “is not well.”
4. After meeting Mitch, how does Blanche size him up? What questions does she have
about him for Stella?
5. Note the conversation between Blanche and Mitch when Mitch offers her a cigarette.
What is the history of his cigarette case?
6. Catch Blanche in her many lies to Mitch.
7. What does the name “Blanche” mean? How is the name symbolic?
8. What does Blanche ask Mitch to do with the paper lantern? The lantern is highly
symbolic and gives you much insight into Blanche’s personality.
9. What does Stella call Stanley after he throws the radio out of the window?
10. When Stanley calls after Stella, she soon returns. Why does she return after such abuse?
Note the stage directions when she returns? How do they act?
11. At the end of Scene 3, what mask does Blanche continue to perpetuate in front of Mitch?
What does she thank him for?
SCENE 4
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Describe Stella at the beginning of Scene 4. Note the details of her honeymoon.
When Blanche admonishes Stella to move out, how does Stella respond?
What is odd about Blanche’s taking a vacation in Miami? How does she justify her trip?
What does Blanche think that Shep Huntleigh can do for them? How does Blanche start
her telegraph to him? How does Stella respond?
What is ironic about Blanche’s line “I’ll take to the streets” when Stella offers her some
pocket money?
What is ironic about Blanche’s line “And that is your job – not mine!”?
What does Stanley overhear Blanche call him? Note that Stella agrees. What is Blanche
trying to do to Stella (as Stanley listens)? Note further references to Stanley’s animal
nature.
At the end of the scene, what is Blanche’s admonition to Stella? Some readers think that
this admonition is the theme of the play.
Note Stanley’s grin to Blanche over Stella’s shoulder. What does this grin signify?
SCENE 5
1. What confession does Blanche make at the beginning of the scene as she writes a letter to
Shep?
2. When Blanche says she will jot down “That rotting hunk” in her notebook, how does
Stanley respond? Explain
3. What astrological sign is Stanley? Blanche? What is the significance?
4. What does Blanche say about the Hotel Flamingo? Stanley catches her in a lie. Note the
lines.
5. How much did Blanche pay for her cologne?
6. Note that in this scene, Blanche faces the truth about herself. What is her confession to
Stella?
7. Note that Blanche is very nervous in this scene. Note especially what happens when she
spills some Coca Cola on her dress.
8. How has Blanche been treating Mitch? Why?
9. Note the scene with the paper boy. Note Blanche’s pun on the word “star”. (What is
Stella doing?)
10. What does Blanche try to do to the young man? What motivates this shocking scene?
11. Note her line about keeping he hands off of children. What is the significance?
12. Note Mitch’s entrance. What does she ask him to do? Why? Contrast this last bit of
action with the scene involving the paper boy.
SCENE 6
1. In the stage directions, Williams describes Blanche as having a “neurasthenic
personality.” Define the term.
2. What is Mitch carrying? Where did he win it? Is this of any significance?
3. Note another reference to the hot tamale man. Where did you encounter him before?
4. What is significant about Blanche’s asking Mitch how he will get home?
5. Not that Blanche says to Mitch “I spoiled it for you.” Explain the circumstances here.
6. What did Blanche do when Mitch kissed her on a previous date?
7. What kind of atmosphere does Blanche create once they enter Stanley’s apartment? Note
her desire to light a candle.
8. What does Blanche say in French to Mitch? Also note their idle chit-chat.
9. Note Mitch’s reference to his weight. In spite of the fact that she likes delicate types, how
does he excite Blanche?
10. When Mitch makes advances to her, Blanche deceives him with what lie?
11. Blanche confides to Mitch that she thinks Stanley hates her. What did Blanche think to
herself the first time she saw Stanley? (Also recount her first actions to him when they
first met in Scene 1.)
12. Note how the conversation turns to Blanche’s age and loneliness. Why does Mitch ask
her age?
13. Blanche gives the details of her first marriage. What happened? Note the sound of the
locomotive outside. Read the stage directions, Note the references to light.
14. Comment on Blanche’s last line of this scene.
SCENE 7
1. What event is happening at the beginning of this scene? What is its significance?
2. What is Blanche doing as the scene opens? Why?
3. As Stanley gives Stella the low down on Blanche, what does Blanche sing in the bathtub?
Not the words to the song. What is their significance?
4. What happened at the Hotel Flamingo?
5. Why was Blanche fired from her job? What motivated her behavior?
6. Note how Stella comes to Blanche’s rescue when Stanley reveals her past. Deos she try to
justify Blanche’s behavior?
7. Why does Stanley tell Mich about Blanche’s past?
8. What does Stanley say about Blanche’s future? Is he right?
9. Note the piano music at the end of Scene 7.
SCENE 8
1. What is the atmosphere in the apartment as Scene 8 begins? Why?
2. What is Stanley doing as Blanche tells her joke? What does Stella call him?
3. Note the references to the candles on the cake. What is the significance here? Where else
in the play did you read about candles?
4. How old does Blanche say she is?
5. What does Stanley give Blanche for her birthday? How does Blanche react?
6. What does Stanley say in Blanche’s defense? What do we learn about her past at Belle
Rive?
7. Stella demands to know why Stanley sabotaged Blanche’s relationship with Mitch. Does
he answer?
8. How does the scene end?
SCENE 9
1. Describe Blanche at the beginning of the scene. What color is her robe? What music does
she hear in her mind?
2. What are her first actions when Mitch arrives? Note her lie to Mitch about the alcohol in
the apartment. Notice how she pretends to look for the bottle. Note her line “Here’s
something. Southern Comfort! What is that, I wonder?” How does he catch her in the lie?
3. Note the light images in this scene. Note what Blanche says about the dark. Why does he
tear off the paper lantern? How does she react?
4. Read Blanches lines about realism. Some readers find a theme of the play here. Others
feel that Blanche is speaking for Tennessee Williams’ own view of his role as a
dramatist. What do you think?
5. Read Blanches lines about Tarantula Arms. How does she justify her life? What do you
make of her line “I never lied in my heart.”?
6. How does the flower vendor function in this scene? How does Blanche react to her?
7. According to Blanche, what is opposite of death?
8. Why does Mitch want to marry Blanche? Note these lines carefully.
SCENE 10
1. How is Blanche dressed as the scene opens?
2. What is ironic about Stanley’s mentioning of an invitation to a fireman’s ball?
3. What lie does she tell Stanley about Shep Huntleigh?
4. What clothes does Stanley put on? Why? What’s on his mind?
5. What animal imagery does Blanche use before Stanley?
6. What lies does Blanche tell Stanley about Mitch?
7. How does Stanley catch her in her lies?
8. Note the references to shadows and lights in this scene. What do they reveal?
9. What does Blanche use as a defense weapon before Stanley?
10. What are Stanley’s last lines as the scene closes. Interpret them. Does he rape her?
SCENE 11
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Describe the setting now. Account for the changes.
How does Eunice insult the poker players?
How is Blanche treating Stella again?
Does Stella believe Stanley’s story about Blanche?
Note the conversation on Blanche’s clothes (again – her appearance). What is Della
Robbia blue?
6. How does Blanche say she will die? How will she be buried?
7. What is Blanche’s comment to the poker players? How is this line ironic?
8. Note the reflections on the wall and the sound effects used here. What is the significance?
9. Note that once again the paper lantern is torn off the light bulb. Who tears it off? Explain
the significance here. Note how she cries out. Overall, how many times in the play is the
paper lantern torn down?
10. What does the matron want to do to Blanche? Why? How would this action be symbolic?
11. What is Blanche’s last line in the play? Stanley’s? Steve’s?