This paper deals with the symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. In this context, I will take a closer look at the different forms of symbolism. One major part of this paper is the meaning of the different characters in the play. Blanche, Stella and Stanley are the most important characters. Therefore I will analyze their symbolic function regarding to their character in general, their names and colors. Not only the characters carry a symbolic meaning, but also the different places mentioned in the play. The city of New Orleans is the larger setting of the action. I will analyze the meaning of the Elysian Fields, of Belle Reve and of New Orleans in general.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
- The play
- The playwright
- The symbolic meaning of the protagonists
- Blanche
- Blanche DuBois: innocent and solid?
- The color white in connection to Blanche
- Stella
- Stanley
- Green and blue: strength and masculine power?
- Blanche
- New Orleans: The setting as a symbol?
- New Orleans culture and meaning in American history
- Elysian Fields
- Belle Reve
- The journey to the Elysian Fields
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the symbolism employed in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire." The analysis focuses on the symbolic significance of characters, their names, and colors. Additionally, the paper delves into the symbolic meaning of the play's setting, exploring the city of New Orleans and specific locations like the Elysian Fields and Belle Reve.
- Symbolic meaning of names and characters
- The use of colors as symbolism
- The importance of setting in the play
- The clash between the Old South and the working class
- Themes of desire, illusion, and reality
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: Introduces the topic of symbolism in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and outlines the main areas of analysis.
- A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams: Provides background information about the play's creation, production, and adaptation into a movie. It describes the play's setting, characters, and the central conflict between Blanche, Stella, and Stanley.
- The symbolic meaning of the protagonists: Explores the symbolic meaning of the names and characters of Blanche, Stella, and Stanley, focusing particularly on the symbolic nature of the color white in relation to Blanche.
- New Orleans: The setting as a symbol?: Examines the symbolic significance of the city of New Orleans as a setting, including the specific locations of the Elysian Fields and Belle Reve.
Keywords
The key focus areas of this paper include: symbolism, character analysis, names, colors, setting, New Orleans, Elysian Fields, Belle Reve, Old South, working class, desire, illusion, reality.
- Quote paper
- Anna Borsum (Author), 2005, A Streetcar Named Desire: the symbolic meaning of names, setting and colors, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/39852
