A Streetcar Named Desire
Theme: Sexuality
Activity 1
Tennessee Williams was gay at a time of great prejudice towards homosexuals and, in particular,
homosexual men. He confronts this prejudice head-on and courageously in the story of Blanche’s
marriage to Alan Grey, a homosexual and (in Stanley’s word and the prejudiced language of the
time), a “degenerate”.

Re-read Scene VI, in which Blanche tells Mitch the story of her marriage. Working
individually, in pairs or groups, make notes on the following points.
When you have finished, bring your ideas to a whole class discussion.
1.
How does Williams write about Alan’s homosexuality? Quote and analyse the language
Blanche uses.
2.
Blanche says: “All I knew was that I'd failed him in some mysterious way and wasn't able to
give the help he needed but couldn't speak of!”

In what ways has she “failed” Alan?
3.
Look at the end of the scene and Mitch’s last line. How much do you think Mitch has
understood? Very little, or all of it, or understood it on a simple, empathetic, animal-like
level? Why does he not comment directly on the story?
Now watch the equivalent scene in the 1951 movie. Explain how the scene has been changed under
pressure from the censors.

To what extent is the story of Blanche’s marriage still clear?

What are your thoughts and opinions about such censorship?
Re-read Scene VII and then Scene IX. Work in pairs or groups and bring your ideas to a whole class
discussion. Discuss and make notes in the following points:
4.
What do we learn from Scene VII about Blanche’s sexuality and promiscuity? How does
Stanley feel about revealing this information to Stella? Quote from the text to support your
answer.
5.
In Scene IX, Blanche gives her own side of the story when Mitch confronts her with these
allegations. What do we learn about the reasons for her promiscuity? To what extent is the
audience invited to sympathise with her?
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6.
At the end of scene ix, Mitch says he wants from Blanche “What I been missing all
summer…You're not clean enough to bring in the house with my mother.”
Is he right to say so and to treat her in such a way?
How do you react to him?
7.
How might a conservative 1940s audience react to him? At the end of scene ix, Mitch says
he wants from Blanche “What I been missing all summer…You're not clean enough to bring
in the house with my mother.”
Is he right to say so and to treat her in such a way? How do you react to him?
How might a conservative 1940s audience react to him?
8.
Critics have often suggested that Williams uses Blanche to write, in a disguised way, about
homosexuality. Promiscuity is a form of sexuality that can be a homosexual or heterosexual
lifestyle: because of the censorship and attitudes of the time, Williams would be unable to
write directly about a promiscuous, sensitive homosexual man, so instead he writes about a
promiscuous, sensitive, heterosexual woman: but the latter represents the former. Discuss
this view of the play. Is it tenable?
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