A Streetcar Named Desire: Structure

‘A Streetcar Named Desire’: Structure

Sequential Structure:

‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ follows a chronological structure, which allows the narrative to progress logically, reinforcing the inevitability of Blanche’s decay.

Scene Divisions:

The play is divided into eleven scenes instead of acts, which offers a cinematic feel, and is reflective of Williams’ desire to incorporate filmic elements into his plays.

Use of Flashbacks:

Blanche’s past is revealed through hints, innuendos, and flashbacks, which contribute an air of mystery and suspense, allowing the tension to build gradually.

Narrative Progression:

The steady revelation of Blanche’s past and increasing intensity of the confrontations between Blanche and Stanley create a consistent plot progression.

Symbolic Structure:

The play’s structure follows a symbolic journey, as represented by Blanche’s travel from the plantations of the rural South (symbolic of old-world values) to the industrial, urban New Orleans (emblematic of new, harsher realities).

Foreshadowing:

Early scenes foreshadow later events, such as Stanley’s early aggression hinting at his eventual sexual assault of Blanche, which adds a level of dramatic irony to the plot.

Use of Music and Lights:

Williams uses stage directions to include the use of specific music and lights, which heighten the drama, create an intense atmosphere, and help demonstrate characters’ moods and feelings.

Ending:

The resolution of the play is bittersweet, with Blanche’s departure to the asylum representing the failure of sensitive individuals against brutal, realist people like Stanley.

Utilise these observations to develop a thorough understanding of the structural components in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and their impact on the storyline and characterization.