|
A Streetcar Named Desire is a three-act play, a rarity in
the contemporary world of one-act and two-act plays. Although the play
could could have been broken into two acts to satisfy the needs of audiences
(who are used to one intermission in between acts) Tennessee Williams wrote
the play in three acts with the specific purpose of suggesting the passage
of time. Act One opens in late spring, Act Two takes place in the summer,
and Act Three occurs in the early fall. These references to time pose a
question as to whether Blanche has overstayed her welcome (as she states
later in the play).
|
|
Blanche DuBois
A fading Southern belle from an aristocratic background. She has
just lost her ancestral home, Belle Reve, and her teaching position as
a result of promiscuity. Blanche was described by Tennessee Williams as
delicate and moth-like. She is a refined, sensitive, cultured, intelligent
woman who is never willing to hurt someone. Blanche is at the mercy of
the brutal, realistic world.
|
Stanley Kowalski
Stanley is a common, working man who is simple, straight forward
and honest. He tolerates nothing but the bare, unembellished truth and
lives in a world without refinements. Stanley views women in a limited
capacity. He could be seen as common, crude and vulgar. He is the opposing
force to Blanche’s struggles and her world of illusion.
|
Stella Kowalski
Blanche’s younger, married sister who lives in the French Quarter
of New Orleans. She has turned her back to her aristocratic upbringing
to enjoy common marriage. Stella is caught in between the two opposing
worlds of Blanche and her husband, Stanley. She is also a pawn in the struggle
between Blanche and Stanley. Stella is a passive, gentle woman.
|
|
Mitch
(Short for Harold Mitchell), is Stanley’s best friend and colleague
who went through the war with him. He is an unmarried man who lives with
his ailing mother for whom he feels a great devotion. His soft-hearted
and sensitive nature allows him to relate to Blanche and her world but
often places him in conflict with Stanley.
|
Steve & Eunice
Hubbel - Stanley and Stella’s landlords who live upstairs and are
very much a part of the Kowalski household. Steve is Stanley’s friend and
poker buddy, and Eunice acts as Stella’s confidante. This couple and the
location of their apartment adds another layer of atmosphere to the New
Orleans setting.
|
Other Characters:
Mexican Woman, Negro Woman, Pablo, A Young Collector, Nurse and
Doctor - These characters make small appearances throughout the play, but
contribute to the diverse New Orleans atmosphere. They punctuate the scenes
with their thematic dialogue and opposing viewpoints. In short, they often
serve as extensions of the lead characters.
|
