IndependentNovel4AStreetcarNamedDesire

=plot=

The story is about a school teacher from the south named Blanche Dubois. She arrived at New Orleans to stay with her sister, Stella, for a very long while. Blanche confesses to her sister that she managed to lose the house that she obtained through her dead relatives and she even had to quit her teaching job because she had bad nerves. Blanche does complain though that Stella's house is too small, since she lived in an apartment and it was noise. Blanche's complaining and personality causes an immediate dislike of her from Stella's husband, Stanley, who works as an auto supplier. Stella was happy that she left her social backgrounds for Stanley and now she is pregnant. Stanley starts to gain a huge mistrust for Blanche, and we find out that she has a drinking problem that she tries to hide from them. Stanley and Stella don't exactly have a perfect marriage though. One night he hosted a drunken game night and Blanche went into a bedroom with one of Stanley's friends (Mitch), he was infuriated. He charged in there and started breaking things and when Stella tried to stand up for her sister, Stanley would beat her. Stella and Blanche stay at their neighbor's house that night. That same day Stanley goes to Stella and apologizes dearly and she takes him back. The next day Blanche tries to convince Stella to leave Stanley for another man who is socially the same as Stella. Stanley walks in on their conversation talking about him and he lets her know it. One night Blanche was sitting in her room waiting for Mitch to come pick her up for a date. A newspaper boy comes and asks for pay but Blanche has no money so she gives him a kiss instead. Blanche confesses to Mitch that her husband committed suicide after she found out he was gay and Mitch also lost a lover. A month later, Stella, Stanley and Mitch gather for Blanche's birthday. Stanley announces the news that he found out about Blanche: that after she lost the house she moved to a motel which she got kicked out of because of her numerous sexual intercourses and she actually got fired from teaching because she had an affair with a 17 year old. Blanche is worried that Mitch knows. Mitch never arrives to her birthday dinner and as a present he gives her a bus ticket back to her home town. Stella hates Stanley's cruelty but her going into labor stops them from fighting. Later on, Blanche and Mitch are both drunk and talking about what Stanley has said. Mitch said he could never marry Blanche and he even tries to have sex with her but Blanche yells "Fire!" so people would be worried. Blanche goes to the hospital since she's so drunk and she says she's going back home. Stanley is so excited but when Blanche tries to step past him, he wouldn't move. She got scared and broke a bottle to use it as a weapon. Stanley ends up raping Blanche. A while later, on a normal day a doctor arrives to take Blanche to an insane asylum.

=characters=

Blanche- Stella's older sister who was a teacher from Mississippi until she was forced to leave. She is a small woman around the age of 30. After she loses her family home, she arrives in New Orleans to live with Stella. She has drunken nights and strong sexual urges and she has had many partners before. Stanley finds out about Blanche's past and he tells people so she can't have any future relationships. She ends up in an insane asylum.

Stella- Blanche's younger sister and she is about 25 years old. She left her lifestyle early in her late teens for her husband Stanley who is lower class than her. When Blanche comes to stay with her, Stella is torn between her and her husband who don't get along.

Stanley- Stella's husband who is a loyal friend and loves Stella. He doesn't like Blanche at all and he wants to destroy her reputation. We find out how he's actually not all good throughout the novel. He beats his wife who is pregnant and at the end of the novel he rapes Blanche who is his sister in law.

Mitch- Stanley's good friend from a long time ago. They often play poker together which is how Mitch and Blanche found each other. They've been dating for a while until Stanley finds out about Blanche's past and tells Mitch about it. Although they aren't a comfortable match, they both lost a loved one in their past.

=motifs and themes=

light Through the novel Blanche tries to avoid the light especially in front of Mitch. She tries to avoid light because it reveals her aging and another reason is because it's like her past. It symbolizes how she can't go into the light to reveal her history to Mitch.

overcoming reality Her past has messed up the situation with her and Mitch and now he would never take her to his house and live with his mom.

death The death of Blanche's husband caused her to do crazy sexual things and has led her to where she was at now and ended her up in an insane asylum.

=lit elements=

symbols- music: Blanche listens to music which reminds her of her lost husband. She found out that her husband was cheating on her with men and he committed suicide. -flowers: refers to the lust and the destruction that it causes