A Streetcar Named Desire

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Summary: streetcar
Review: The new society portrayed through Stanley challenges Blanche and her Old Southern ways. Both of these characters are stubborn in keeping their own traditions, and Williams does a magnificent job of keeping tension between them from beginning to end. The two characters have many confrontations, and usually another conflict arises before resolving the previous one. The building up of these conflicts leads to many bursts of heated arguments and violence until it reaches one large explosion in the end followed by the sudden collapse of everything in the loser's world. The reader feels compassion for Blanche and her mental disintegration. The symbolism of the polka music escalating in her mind shows rise to her pain and sorrow, which assist in her moving towards insanity. Although many readers finish the book hating the brutish Stanley, I believe that one truly needs to appreciate the artwork Williams uses in creating him. Stanley Kowalski was meant to be written the way he was: a physical and sexual character who did not understand anything besides how to pride himself in his masculinity. He responds to situations he dislikes by throwing objects and yelling, and it the few times he does seem happy is when he reminisces on his capabilities to have sex however he pleased before Blanche's arrival. The play may seem offensive, but the issues of lust, promiscuity, and homosexuality are all present today. Perhaps readers become offended because a certain discomfort arises when Williams assigns the issues personalities and names. I believe that was his intention. By labeling these issues with characters, the reader feels sympathy for Blanche and her traditions, disgust towards Stanley and his primitive ways, and even confusion for Stella and her being trapped in the middle. Despite all the technicalities meticulously woven in this novel, I enjoyed the simplicity of how the characters relate to everyday people. At first, I found it difficult to read about such extreme characters. After NOT thinking about it, I realized that Blanche is just a woman who wants to be happy, but she is trapping herself with her own ideals of the perfect lady. And Stanley although crude in many ways, does have a caring side for Stella that he is not always able to express. His hostility towards Blanche is provoked by her constant criticism of his stupidity. Williams's characters can be identified in very particular ways and also very universal ways. His intense plot drives through the play, and even though this was an English project, I really enjoyed the book.

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Summary: A Streetcar Named Desire: A Book Review by Lauren Sager
Review: Elysian Fields in New Orleans, sweaty, sultry, and steaming, embodies the perfect setting for A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, a play centering on the themes of desire, domination, and destruction. Blanche DuBois epitomized the fading Southern belle, so obsessed with her aging beauty that she refuses to be seen in the glaring light and invents a "make-believe world" where her values endure. Stanley Kowalski represents the brutish, ape-like animal who thrives on women, alcohol, poker, and bowling. Stella Kowalski portrays the gentle sister and wife, torn between her worship of her husband and her loyalty to her fragile sister, Blanche. The action begins as Blanche arrives unexpectedly at the Kowalski's apartment. Immediately, the reader can observe the sexual tension between Blanche and Stanley. The play focuses on the conflict between these two characters, symbolizing the struggle between the gentility of the old Southern values and the brute force of the new, Northern values and also the battle between the nonconformist and conventional society. These themes so often surfaced in Williams's life that before perusing the play, the reader should scan a biography of Tennessee. The reader would be amazed at the incredible similarity between the family and acquaintances of Williams and the characters in his plays. Also, after finshing the play, the reader should rent the 1951 film version, which won the Best Picture Oscar and showcased vibrant, memorable performances by Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh, offering a different, more happy ending to the drama. I highly recommend this play not only for its beautiful prose, but for its lasting presence in written classics and its creation of unforgettable characters to which all can relate. This drama would attract the reader who enjoys the local color of New Orleans, violence, biting comedy, insanity, and suspence, for the play constantly keeps the reader guessing at the real reason that Blanche arrived at Elysian Fields and at what will finally happen between Stanley and Blanche. Thus, I advise that the reader follow Blanche and "take a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at ---Elysian Fields!"

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Summary: This is the best play I have ever read! Read This Book!
Review: This book is amazing. The inter-relationships are expertly done. Stanley and Blanche's clear hate of each other, and how Stella reacts to that hate -- between two people whom she loves very dearly is vivid and simple, and for that reason, effective. Read this book if you haven't. In my opinion, it should be a required book for being American. If you don't like it, e-mail me and argue, and I'll argue right back. This review is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to themes. read it!

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Summary: Such Treasures One Can Find in the Classroom
Review: I have read many plays in my short 18 years of living, ranging from Shakespeare to Ibsen to Wilde, and of course Williams. Streetcar is quite possibly the best play I have ever read. (keep in mind I'm a huge Shakepeare freak, so this is quite a statement for me) I am enrolled in advanced placement literature at my high school, and every six weeks we have to read a play or novel and write up a paper on it. This six weeks, I chose Streetcar because it was short. Boy was I suprised how much Williams could pack into those 140-some pages. It was one of the first pieces of literature that has shocked me with some of the scenes. I didn't expect that much out of a play from the 40's that was a required reading in my classroom. This is a definite must-read for anyone. The references from it in pop culture and other pieces of literature is amazing. This is more than just the "STELLAAAAAH!" or "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers" play...it is a classic that will be enjoyed from now on into the future. How corny =)

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Summary: Brilliant
Review: This is an intense play, with poetic dialogue. If you can't comprehend marginal characters, you're going to just be turned off by the characters in this play. But they are desperate characters, and unforgettable characters. Tennesee Williams' big flaw for me, was that he wasn't really able to comprehend affection in romantic relationships, but only lust. When Stanley talks about getting "them colored lights going" again when Blanche moves out, Williams reveals that he can't comprehend three-dimensional romances. But that is the only flaw in the play, and the rest of it is truly brilliant. You do need an attention span to read this, since plays are basically made up of long speeches. I once rented the Brando-film video to watch with a friend, and he looked at me like I'd forced him to eat sawdust. His idea of drama was a Jon Claude Van Damme film. So, if your idea of entertainment is mainly dopey action films and MTV, stay away. But if you have patience, and a love of intense literature, you'll take an emotional journey when you experience this play. (The Brando movie has a relatively happy ending, but the written play, that Brando starred in on Broadway, has an unhappy ending. They both have their strengths, so I'd recommend you see/read both endings).

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Summary: The best book I ever read!
Review: I like this play because it's very interesting and full of tension. It contains more or less everything you wane read about (tragedy, sex and crime...). For that reason I read it several times till now and I can imagine doing this again and again. But you have to read it by yourself (it' s an easy one) and because of that I won't tell you anything more about it's contents. A student(21)from Aarau, Switzerland

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Summary: Somebody help please me till sunday!
Review: I need a quite long essay about Blanche's character;how she is at the beginning,how she got crazier by time(the forces acting on her and how she responds),and finally the defeat and spiritual death of her.(By using examples) Please Heeelllppp! MY adress:[e-mail]

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Summary: A Wonderful Classic!
Review: This is a wonderful novel! It has a little bit of everything in it. It was very enjoyable reading it. Also, it was very entertaining. If you love classic stories, you will LOVE this one. A must read and a must buy!

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Summary: Desire falls into many catogories
Review: In a streetcar named desire I belive the theme would have to be that desire can leed you down to paths one of absolute blish and joy and another of depression axziety and insanityt and i think tenesse really grasps that prospect. well I love Nick with all my hart and i want him. Samatha if anyone has any coments please e-mail me at [e-mail]

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Summary: Great
Review: Read this book, you wont regret it, its easy to read to, no fluff