AS LL STREETCAR AND TIME

AS ENGLISH LITERATURE

MODERN DRAMA – A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

REVISION – THE PLOT - TIME

The progress of the play can be divided into three main time periods. Scenes one to six are concerned with the arrival and settling in of Blanche into New Orleans life. The seeds of conflict are sown. Scenes seven to ten all take place on the same evening and night. The relationship between Blanche and Stanley deteriorates.  Finally scene eleven, brings together ideas and issues raised from throughout the play. This scene offers synthesis and resolution to the conflict between Blanche and Stanley.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE AND TIME

SC	TIME	EVENT/TITLE	COMMENT	TIME PERIOD
1	May early evening	Blanche’s arrival	Introductions to all three characters, first impressions and the establishing of relationships	Early May Spring time – associated with youth, romance and fertility. These scenes are concerned with Blanche’s arrival and settling in to Elysian Fields. The seeds of conflict and trouble are sown between Blanche and Stanley, to be reaped later in the play. The characters of Blanche and Stanley are introduced and established here. Relationships set for decline
2	The following evening	The Interrogation	Blanche’s life packed into a box, like a coffin? Her life is examined under the scrutiny of Stanley.
3	Later the same night 2.0 am	The Poker Night Stanley hits Stella. Blanche and Mitch meet.	Stanley dominates the apartment. This is all his space he controls it with bullying and physical violence.
4	Early next morning	Aftermath. Stanley overhears the conversation between Blanche and Stella	From this point on Stanley decides to take revenge on Blanche. He begins his investigation and his explicit cruelty.
5	Possibly the next day but likely a week or so later. This is not their first date.	The couples prepare to go out. Blanche and young man! Shaw is mentioned.	Blanche is scared. She knows Stanley is determined to hurt her. She confesses to Stella about her life in Laurel.
6	That night 2.0 am	After Blanche and Mitch’s first date. Suddenly God	Mitch awkward, unromantic and self conscious. Blanche accepts him. Not for love but rest, and security. Action towards marriage.
7	Mid September afternoon	Birthday preparations and The Bus Ticket	Dramatic contrast between Blanche’s song and Stanley’s report of Blanche’s life in Laurel. Culminates in the irony of the bus ticket.	Mid September Autumn – associated with old age, decay and harvest. These scenes are concerned with Blanche’s conflict with Stanley and departure from Elysian Fields. The consequences of conflict are shown. The play reaches resoloution.
8	About an hour later	The Birthday Party. Stella rushed to hospital	Stanley’s slow and tortuous revenge dominates. Awkward and painful dinner party. Mitch is absent. The bus ticket.
9	Later that evening	Blanche and Mitch. FIRE!	Confrontation between Mitch and Blanche, fuelled by Stanley. Falling action away from marriage. Blanche’s respectable escape is stopped.
10	A few hours later	The Rape	Confrontation between Blanche and Stanley. Blanche defends herself with lies. He attacks her with truth and cruelty. Blanche’s retreat into breakdown.
11	Some weeks later	This game is seven card stud	Stanley the victor. Celebrates this with the Poker party, his cruelty to Blanche, his economic power, his sexual prowess.	Early October? Blanche’s departure from Elysian Fields. The men dominate the apartment. It is their space. Stanley’s victory over Blanche is complete but life will never be the same again now that he has a son. Who will dominate the apartment in the long term do you think?