Streetcar: Context

• Where is it set?

  French Quarter, New Orleans
• What is significant about Streetcar being set in the French Quarter of New Orleans?

  Most famous section of New Orleans
• What restaurant mentioned in the text was frequented by Williams?

  Galatoire's
• What is the significance of the Kowalski's living in Elysian Fields?

  Ironic mythological associations - Kowalski apartment antithesis to this
• What is the 'American South' referred to as?

  Melting pot of America
• What was the role of the husband?

  Protect
• What was the role of the wife?

  Household chores/childcare
• What was the role of children?

  Highly valued for chores
• What type of society was it?

  Patriachal
• Where did social status/self-worth come from?

  Family
• How was the 'Old South' seen in 1930?

  Golden age of chivalry and romance, time of prosperity
• What were Southern Ladies seen as in 1930?

  Belles
• Who does Blanche represent?

  The Old South
• What key historic event devastated the Old South?

  American Civil War (1861-1865)
• What was the effects of the American Civil War on the Old South?

  Devasted it socially and economically
• What does Stanley represent?

  The American Dream
• What did Tennessee Williams suffer with?

  Depression
• What was Tennessee William's father?

  An alcoholic
• What quote did Williams say about himself?

  "We have no deaths in our family, but slowly by degrees something was happening much uglier and more terrible than death"
• What genre is Streetcar?

  Southern-Gothic / Modern Tragedy
• What type of play is Streetcar?

  Realist
• What is Streetcar described as?

  "One of the most perfect marriages of acting and playwriting"
• What is the economic context of Streetcar?

  America just emerged from Great Depression
• When was Streetcar written?

  1947
• What poem does the character of Blanche draw parallels to by Williams?

  Lament for Moths