A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is a southern gothic tragic drama. It is written in the form of a play, containing numbered scenes, dialogue lines, and stage directions.
The play begins with Blanche DuBois, a disillusioned woman who seeks refuge in New Orleans with her younger sister and brother-in-law, Stella and Stanley Kowalski, after losing her remaining relatives and their ancestral home. Blanche moves into Stellaās apartment indefinitely but struggles to accept the non-aristocratic way of living. The disdain she possesses and her aristocratic background earns the distrust and dislike of Stanley. In the early scenes in the drama, Blanche is seen as a dignified woman who is well dressed and educated. However, while Blanche tries to start a new life in New Orleans, her troubled past and undignified personality surface. Telling lie after lie to try and recreate her own fantasy, tensions skyrocket and spark conflict between her illusions and Stanleyās harsh reality. The conflict intensifies, leading to a series of dramatic confrontations and ultimately to Blanche’s tragic downfall.
While I do not enjoy reading plays as much as other types of reading, I personally thought that this drama was very interesting. The play explores themes such as social class, dependence on men, and fantasy versus reality. These themes were very apparent and simple to understand, making the story become more comprehensive. I found the main plot to be unique and different because of its tragic decline. Most stories I have read often have the main characters gradually climb up the social ladder rather than fall down. The aspects of this book that stood out to me the most were its tragic plot, character description, and powerful themes. Even though I do not really enjoy reading plays that much, this play was actually very easy to read and I finished it in one sitting. Ultimately, the drama is one that keeps you hooked in and has plenty of surprises.
Readers who have liked other well-written plays by Tennessee Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Glass Menagerie, may also enjoy this play because of his clever writing style and implementation of similar themes. I would rate this drama a 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend trying out this play for yourself.
Reviewed by Madelyn L.
