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David Hengst
Ms. Miller
1(A-B) Advanced Theatre Honors
5/23/2023
A Dramaturgical Analysis of A Streetcar Named Desire
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About the Playwright
Tennessee Williams (né Thomas Lanier Williams III) was born on March 26,
1911, in Columbus, Mississippi. Renowned for his contributions to American theater, his
educational experiences at the University of Missouri sparked his interest in playwriting.
A great deal of Williams’ inspiration stemmed from his family, mental health, and
sexuality. A Streetcar Named Desire stands out among his numerous works as a
timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences. Williams died on February 25,
1983.
Production History
Written in 1947, the premiere of A Streetcar Named Desire was received with
critical acclaim. On December 3, 1947, its Broadway debut marked the beginning of a
lengthy and successful run. The play, revived on- and off-Broadway numerous times,
has been shown most recently in 2014 at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York,
and in 2020 at the Young Vic in London. Acclaimed actors including Marlon Brando (as
Stanley), Jessica Tandy (Blanche), Kim Hunter (Stella), and Karl Malden (Mitch), have
starred in the play.
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Plot Analysis
In the exposition of A Streetcar Named Desire, the main characters – Blanche
DuBois, Stanley and Stella Kowalski, and Mitch – are introduced. The setting is also
established – a dilapidated apartment in New Orleans' French Quarter. The initial
incident occurs when Blanche seeks refuge with Stella, her sister, following the loss of
their family's Mississippi estate. As tensions rise and conflicts escalate, the rising action
propels the play towards its climactic moment – the violent rape of Blanche by Stella’s
husband, Stanley. In the falling action, Blanche's mental state deteriorates further as she
becomes increasingly isolated from the other characters. The resolution leaves Blanche
admitted to a mental institution, while Stella makes the difficult choice to remain with
Stanley.
Themes such as lust, deception, societal expectations, and responsibility are
present in A Streetcar Named Desire. Blanche's desire for stability and Stanley's
aggressive pursuit of dominance help to establish the play’s complex themes. The mood
of the play evolves from initial excitement and hopefulness to mounting tension and
conflict, culminating in a tragic climax.
Character Analyses
Blanche DuBois
Objective/Goal: Blanche desires security and to maintain her romanticized self-image.
She pines after a refined and cultured life, seeking to escape her troubled past and find a
stable partner.
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Tactics: Blanche’s charm and flirtatious nature aid her in achieving her goals. She
(manipulatively) creates an illusion of innocence and vulnerability to attract men.
Obstacles: Blanche faces various obstacles throughout the play including the
consequences of her past and lies. Her promiscuity and loss of her family’s estate
undermine her credibility as well as sour her reputation. Further, her diminishing
mental stability and substance abuse exacerbate her struggles.
Change in objectives: Throughout the play, Blanche's objective shifts from finding
security to maintaining her fragile sanity. She becomes increasingly desperate to escape
her harsh reality, relying more heavily on her illusions and fantasies.
Stanley Kowalski
Objective/Goal: Stanley desires to maintain his dominance and control over his
household, including his wife, Stella. He seeks a sense of power within his marriage.
Tactics: Stanley employs a confrontational and assertive approach to achieving his
goals. He uses physical strength, aggression, and intimidation to establish his authority
over others.
Obstacles: Blanche serves as Stanley’s main ‘obstacle’. She threatens his power within
the household through her deceptive and manipulative conduct. This frustrates Stanley,
leading him to expose her past and destabilize her influence.
Change in objectives: Stanley's objective remains relatively consistent throughout the
play, although he becomes increasingly aggressive and violent as his control is
undermined.
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Stella Kowalski
Objective/Goal: Stella seeks to maintain a harmonious relationship with Stanley. She
desires love and emotional security within their marriage.
Tactics: Relative to Blanche and Stanley, Stella takes a more passive approach to
achieving her goals. She often dismisses Stanley's aggressive behavior, instead choosing
to focus on the positive aspects of their relationship. By mediating conflicts between
Stanley and Blanche, she goes about creating a peaceful environment.
Obstacles: Stella is torn between reconciling with either Blanche or Stanley, as each
directly opposes one another. Despite her love for her sister, Stella feels dutifully loyal to
her husband and must decide whom she cares most for.
Change in objectives: During the play, it becomes apparent that Stella is deeply devoted
to Stanley, despite his treatment of her. Overlooking his physical abuse, she chooses to
remain with him, indicating a shift from an idealistic relationship with the love of her
life to a deliberate repression of doubts to stay with the man she once loved.
Harold “Mitch” Mitchell
Objective/Goal: Mitch wishes to find companionship and a meaningful relationship. He
longs for love and a sense of purpose in his life.
Tactics: Unlike Stanley and the other male leads in the play, Mitch possesses genuinely
admirable qualities – he wishes to have a meaningful relationship with Blanche and
thus seeks to treat her with respect and decency.
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Obstacles: Despite his best intentions, Mitch’s obstacles ultimately take form in
Blanche, as she is deceptive and has kept things from him. As he uncovers the truth
about her past, he becomes disillusioned, causing strain in their relationship.
Change in objectives: Mitch's objective changes when he discovers Blanche's
promiscuous past and her mental instability. He realizes that his initial perception of
her was misguided, leading him to break off their relationship.
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