I had certain preconceived notions. Just from the overly friendly name "Tennessee Williams" and the cute titles of his plays like "Streetcar Named Desire" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", which sounded more like musicals, I thought these works would be light-hearted and part of the pop culture. In the game of misinformation in pop culture, all I ended up hearing was Marlon Brando yelling "STELLA!", which seemed rather silly to me.

However, that was the wrong impression. This play is actually quite dark.

I truly love the blend of realism and poetry in it. Stanley is almost always presented realistically, in the style of other 20th-century playwrights, speaking words that real people might utter. But Blanche is all about poetry, Shakespearean even. (And she has the best lines; most of the quotes I provided below are from her. The first one is from Stella.) Williams weaves these two styles together masterfully; it's one of his greatest achievements.

Here's where I'm confused about the message. I'm not sure what to make of it. At first, I sympathized with Stanley when he appeared because he seemed down-to-earth. Then I sympathized with Stella as Stanley was quickly revealed to be a violent man. Next, I sympathized with Blanche who just wants a fresh start. And then with Stanley again because he's trying to tell the truth. In the end, Stella fades into the background, becoming an insignificant character - not Williams' fault; it's his creative decision. And Blanche emerges as the person one can most empathize with. So... is the message that the upper classes degrade themselves, are traumatized by homosexuals (which Williams was) and then raped by the emerging, grounded lower classes who are angry at their shallow lies? And are then led away in defeat and insanity? Hrmf, that doesn't seem right to me. I'd like to read more of Williams' plays as I think there might be more to it than that. I mean, I think part of his point is clearly that people are too complex to be simply categorized as heroes or villains - but still, everyone has a perspective and... I'm not sure I fully understand his.

But I really liked this play. I thought it was complex, gritty, and progressive. I gained a lot from reading it.

Here are some of the lines that stood out to me:

Act I scene 4: "There are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark - that sort of make everything else seem - unimportant."

Scene 5: "When people are soft - soft people have got to court the favor of hard ones, Stella. Have got to be seductive - put on soft colors, the color of butterfly wings, and glow - make a little - temporary magic, just in order to pay for - one night's shelter!... I've run for protection, Stella, from under one leaky roof to another - because it was storm - all storm."

"I want to deceive him enough to make him - want me... Blanche, do you want him? I want to rest! I want to breath quietly again! Yes - I want Mitch... very badly!"

Scene 6: "I made the discovery - love. All at once and much, much too completely. It was like you suddenly turned a blinding light on something that had always been half in shadow... but I was unlucky." Holy shit! That next passage is unexpected.

Scene 9: "I'll tell you what I want. Magic! Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don't tell truth, I tell what ought to be truth. And if that is sinful, then let me be damned for it! - Don't turn the light on!"

[Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge: 22/339]

➸ 3

·˚ ༘♡.Thoughts

╰✎ Now, was Blanche a pedophile? The answer is yes. However, it's also important to note that she yelled at her sister to get out of a toxic relationship because she deserved better. And I found myself yelling too because, on my momma, I truly wanted to transport into these pages and smack Stanley upside the head. Stanley's actions and behavior were just so infuriating. Blanche, despite her flaws, had a moment of clarity when it came to her sister's well-being. It shows the complex nature of the characters in this story. We have Blanche, who is not without her faults, but also has moments of kindness and concern. And then there's Stanley, who is the source of so much pain and turmoil. It makes for a very engaging and thought-provoking read.

He is of medium height, around five feet eight or nine, and his build is strong and compact. The animal joy within him is evident in all his movements and attitudes. Since his earliest manhood, the core of his life has revolved around pleasure with women, both giving and taking it. Not with weak indulgence or dependency, but with the power and pride of a richly feathered male bird among hens. Branching out from this complete and satisfying center are all the secondary channels of his life. For example, his heartiness with men, his appreciation of rough humor, his love of good drink, food, and games, his car, his radio, everything that belongs to him and bears his emblem of the gaudy seed-bearer. He sizes up women at a glance, categorizing them sexually, with crude images flashing into his mind and determining the way he smiles at them.

Stanley Kowalski is the male equivalent of Faulkner’s Dewey Dell who proclaims “I feel like a wet seed wild in the hot blind earth”. Here, we have raw, primal, lustful sexuality that pulses and seduces the reader (or audience).

“Stell-lahhhhh!’”

The poker scene was made famous by Brando’s performance and Kazan’s brilliant direction. But before the 1951 award-winning film, there was Tennessee Williams’ masterful scene of primitive love and attraction.

“I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers”

Blanche DuBois is an archetypal feminine tragic figure on the literary scale, similar to Hemingway’s Lady Brett. However, while Brett is the domineering, tyrannical alpha female, Blanche’s contribution to our dramatic culture is that of the damaged, broken woman, who has lost both literally and metaphorically.

Tennessee Williams’ New Orleans play, with the “blue piano” and polka music playing in the background, is one of our most powerful dramas. It is a must-read, but like all plays, it must also be seen.

In 2018, I watched the 1951 film recently and was again amazed at the theatrical tension the play produces, especially when acted out by such talented actors. Interestingly, and sadly, Vivian Leigh, who suffered from bipolar disorder, later in life had trouble distinguishing her real life from that of her character Blanche DuBois. Also, Leigh was paid more than Brando for her performance. Both had previously played these roles on the stage.

From BBC Radio 3 - Drama on 3:

Anne Marie Duff leads an outstanding cast in a remarkable new production of Tennessee Williams's iconic play. It vividly portrays the story of a disastrous encounter between fantasy and reality, personified by the characters of Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski.

Blanche DuBois unexpectedly shows up at the doorstep of her sister Stella and her volatile brother-in-law Stanley. During a hot and humid New Orleans summer, Blanche's delicate exterior gradually collapses, causing chaos in Stella and Stanley's already tumultuous relationship. Embodying the upheaval and drama of a changing nation, "A Streetcar Named Desire" strips Williams's tormented characters of their illusions, leaving a trail of destruction.

Tennessee Williams's 1947 play is rightfully one of the most beloved and renowned stage plays of the 20th century. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award in 1948. Three years later, when it was adapted for the screen with mostly the same cast, it won four Oscars. When it premiered in London, the Public Morality Council condemned it as "salacious and pornographic", yet it was sold out for nine months.

Anne-Marie Duff (Blanche) is an Olivier-winning actress who will soon appear in DC Moore's "Common" at the National Theatre. Matthew Needham (Stanley) has previously played the title role in Mark Ravenhill's "Candide" at the RSC. Pippa Bennett-Warner (Stella) recently appeared in "The Beaux' Stratagem" at the National Theatre and in "River" on BBC One. John Heffernan (Mitch) has played titular roles in "Macbeth" at the Young Vic Theatre and "Oppenheimer" with the RSC.

Broadcast by arrangement with the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08k4s1p

3 Stars *:･ﾟ✧

BLANCHE: I feel so hot and frazzled. Wait till I powder before you open the door. Do I look done in?
STELLA: Why no. You are as fresh as a daisy.
BLANCHE: One that's been picked a few days.

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I've grown to appreciate this one more for its comedic value and its comedic value only. Well actually not really, I also actually appreciated the exploration of Blanche's character. I mean just look at this shit.

STELLA: No. Stanley's the only one of his crowd that's likely to get anywhere.
BLANCHE: What makes you think Stanley will?
STELLA: Look at him.
BLANCHE: I've looked at him.
STELLA: Then you should know.
BLANCHE: I'm sorry, but I haven't noticed the stamp of genius even on Stanley's forehead.

I love her your honour. I can't help it when she insults men with such grace.

BLANCHE: What sign were you born under?
STANLEY [while he is dressing]: Sign?
BLANCHE: Astrological sign. I bet you were born under Aries. Aries people are forceful and dynamic. They dote on noise! They love to bang things around!

She's been judging these men by their zodiac signs!!

There is a crash; then a relative hush.
BLANCHE [brightly]: Did he kill her?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN \\"brightly\\" LMAO.

BLANCHE: We are going to be very Bohemian. We are going to pretend that we are sitting in a little artists' cafe on the Left Bank in Paris! [She lights a candle stub and puts it in a bottle.] Je suis la Dame aux Camellias! Vous etes Armand! Understand French?
MITCH [heavily]: Naw. Naw, I-

This girl was putting in the work, trying to stress out these men to the max.

STANLEY: I have a lawyer acquaintance who will study these out.
BLANCHE: Present them to him with a box of aspirin tablets.

I'm sorry but she's so real.

STELLA: Blanche, you saw him at his worst last night.
BLANCHE: On the contrary, I saw him at his best! What such a man has to offer is animal force and he gave a wonderful exhibition of that! But the only way to live with such a man is to - go to bed with him. And that's your job - not mine!

BYE.

━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━

"Um Eléctrico Chamado Desejo" by Tennessee Williams is an iconic title with a famous line: "I don't know who you are, but... I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."

I don't look like Blanche Dubois, and her story has nothing to do with mine, but perhaps I am a little like her.

We can all put ourselves in the place of a great literary character: we always find a point, a gesture in common.

I recognize that I depend more and more on the kindness of strangers.

Just being surrounded by people is not enough to not be alone.

In our daily lives, we often encounter situations where we need the help of others. Sometimes, it is from those we know well, but other times, it is from complete strangers. This reliance on the kindness of strangers can be both humbling and heartwarming. It shows that despite the differences and distances between us, there is still a basic human connection and a willingness to help one another.

Maybe like Blanche, we all have moments when we feel lost and alone, and it is the unexpected kindness of a stranger that can give us hope and a reason to keep going.

The characteristics of this play are so human and vivid that it is really impossible to judge them or classify them into the common categories of "good" and "bad". The hero "Williams" is just like that, telling ordinary stories of ordinary people's lives, and you can't take your eyes off the book. For this book, which I think, this sentence plays a role in my mind: nothing is in its proper place!

This play presents a realistic portrayal of human nature and life. The characters are complex and multi-faceted, not simply good or bad. They have their own desires, fears, and dreams, just like real people. The story of "Williams" is relatable and engaging, making the reader unable to put the book down. It makes us think about the meaning of life and the role we play in it.

In conclusion, this play is a masterpiece that challenges our traditional观念 of good and evil and makes us look at life from a different perspective. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in human nature and the human condition.

Marlon Brando is an iconic figure who is so closely associated with this particular play. In fact, it has become almost impossible for me to read the play without vividly imagining him screaming "Stella" right in my ear. His portrayal of the character has left an indelible mark on the play's history.

However, despite Brando's powerful performance, this happens to be one of my least favorite plays by T. Williams. There are certain aspects of the story and its themes that simply don't resonate with me on a deep level. Perhaps it's the complex and often tortured relationships between the characters, or maybe it's the overall atmosphere of the play that feels a bit too heavy and压抑 for my taste.

Nonetheless, I can't deny the significance and impact that this play has had on the world of theater. It continues to be studied, performed, and analyzed, and Marlon Brando's performance will always be remembered as one of the greatest in the history of the stage.

Whoa.

I must admit that I didn't consume this play in the way it was originally intended. Let's be honest here, you're not really supposed to just read a play. I'm sure any high school English teacher would agree, but still. Tennessee Williams didn't write this with the thought in mind that "Hopefully in sixty years a girl will read this alone in her room in one sitting so she can fulfill her goal of reading a classic every month." That simply wasn't his ideal.

However, that being said.

THIS MADE ME FEEL SO MUCH.

Of course, a play is meant to be acted out. Reading it can lead to a less emotional portrayal, with less fully developed characters, in an imagined version of what should be a concrete setting. It's definitely a lesser experience, much like reading a screenplay. (Cough cough, f*ck you JK Rowling, cough.)

And yet, this was still incredible! Blanche, Stella, and Mitch were all so heart-rending. There's an enormous amount of tension in this play, and the revelations, the moments of climax, and the action are just unreal. I don't even know what else to say beyond whoa.

Maybe I should've just stopped this review after the first word.

Bottom line: FANTASTIC FANTASTIC FANTASTIC. This reading-a-classic-a-month thing is hands down the best thing I'm doing this year. It's opened my eyes to the power and beauty of these literary works, even when experienced in a less than ideal way. I can't wait to see what the next classic has in store for me.

**A Mixed Review of the Play**

\\n   **3.5 stars**

“Some things are not forgiveable. Deliberate cruelty is not forgiveable. It is the most unforgiveable thing in my opinion, and the one thing in which I have never, ever been guilty.”\\n

Going into a highly popular play with numerous adaptations without any prior knowledge is a challenge, yet I managed to do so. And I must say, the experience was rather shocking. While you can anticipate the general direction of the plot after a certain point, I was still unprepared for the events in the penultimate scene.

The portrayal of toxic patriarchal dominance and the submissive nature of women under oppression was quite classical. Williams' use of three different female characters to展示 the various ways one might respond to domestic abuse was a tactical choice.

\\n   “What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it's curved like a road through mountains.”\\n

However, the play was not without flaws. On more than one occasion, the conversations felt superficial, and I had difficulty connecting with the characters. With the exception of Blanche DuBois, the characters were tediously written and one-dimensional. Their lack of an arc didn't necessarily detract from the motifs and purposes, but it didn't help that most of them devolved into clichés by the end.

Blanche's character, too, had its issues. She seemed like a combination of Joan from Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc and Tiffany from Silver Linings Playbook (despite the latter's recent release), which was interesting. But as we delved deeper into her story, it became clear that she had areas of complexity that could have been explored further. Why her character ended up more like Radha from Deep Jweley Jai rather than Evelyn from Chinatown is a mystery to me.

Either way, it would have added to the bleakness that Williams intended. Perhaps it's just my perspective, but the story could have been so much more if there had been a less classicist approach and a more modernist one.

\\n   “And funerals are pretty compared to deaths.”\\n

Streetcar seemed to this tired reader to be significantly better than Glass Menagerie. In Streetcar, the fallen aristocrat encounters the primal phallus in a tawdry musical. Oh, cruel Muse! The music is sporadic and all in Blanche's mind. It's a 9th Ward fantasy about the fall of the Reich to the Mongol Hordes.

The play is astonishingly vivid when it comes to taboo concepts like homosexuality and statutory rape. A child is born unaware of madness and male brutality. The fates will smile, and Katrina will wash it into the Gulf.

Streetcar has a raw and unflinching quality that makes it a powerful and memorable work. It delves into the darker aspects of human nature and society, exploring themes that are often overlooked or avoided.

Glass Menagerie, on the other hand, while beautifully written, seems a bit more tame in comparison. It focuses more on the internal struggles of the characters and their relationships, rather than on the larger social and political issues that Streetcar tackles.

Overall, Streetcar is a play that demands to be seen and heard. It challenges our assumptions and forces us to confront the reality of the world we live in.

Blanche DuBois is from my hometown, Laurel, MS. I have a deep affection for it.

Interestingly, Blanche's story is so in tune with what we now refer to as "toxic masculinity," especially in the American South. It's quite remarkable that this aspect was so prominent in her narrative over 6 decades before the term even came into existence.

Her experiences and the interactions she has with the male characters in the story vividly illustrate the harmful effects and manifestations of this concept. It shows how the traditional notions of masculinity in that particular context could lead to oppression, manipulation, and the destruction of relationships.

The way Blanche navigates through this environment and the challenges she faces due to the presence of toxic masculinity make her character all the more complex and engaging. It serves as a powerful commentary on the social and cultural dynamics of that time and place.