By Tennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Tennessee Williams III

By Tennessee Williams

Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs. His professional career lasted from the mid 1930’s until his death in 1983, and saw the creation of many plays that are regarded as classics of the American stage. Williams adapted much of his best known work for the cinema.

About the playwright On March 26, 1911, in the small town of Columbus, Mississippi on, Thomas Lanier Williams, also know as Tennessee Williams, was born.

About the playwright At seven, Tennessee was diagnosed with Diphtheria. For two years he could do almost nothing. With this, his mother encouraged him to use his imagination to pass his time. At thirteen, his mother gave him a typewriter which is where his writing career began.

About the playwright The first college he attended was the University of Missouri. His father didn't approve of his son becoming an author, so after his first year at Missouri his father made him quit and work in the shoe business. However, all he wanted to do was write. In his case it was his form of escape from the outside world.

About the playwright He transferred to the University of Iowa where he received his Bachelors Degree. Rose, his older sister, had gotten a Frontal Lobotomy around this time. This affected Tennessee Williams for the rest of his life, knowing that his sister and good friend wasn't ever going to be the same. It is from this experience that he wrote The Glass Menagerie which has much autobiographical background to it.

About the playwright The University of Iowa is where he received the name “Tennessee. ” The boys at the University knew he came from the south and his father from Tennessee, so this quickly became his nickname and it stuck with him for the rest of his life.

About the playwright Williams lived for a time in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. He moved there in 1939 to write for the WPA. He began writing A Streetcar Named Desire here. He later finished it in Key West, Florida, where he moved in the 1940’s. While in New Orleans, Williams met and fell in love with Frank Merlo.

About the playwright Williams' relationship with Frank Merlo lasted from 1947 until Merlo's death from cancer in 1963. With that stability, Williams created his most enduring works. Merlo provided balance to many of Williams' frequent bouts with depression and the fear that, like his sister Rose, he would go insane.

About the playwright Williams died on February 24, 1983, after he choked on an eyedropper bottle cap in his room at the Hotel Elysee in New York. The police report, however, suggested his use of drugs and alcohol contributed to his death. Toxic drugs including barbiturates were found in the room, and Williams' gag response may have been diminished by the effects of drugs and alcohol.

About the playwright Williams won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for A Streetcar Named Desire in 1948 and for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1955. In addition, The Glass Menagerie (1945) and The Night of the Iguana (1961) received New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards. His 1952 play The Rose Tattoo received the Tony Award for best play. In 1980 he was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter.

Setting of the Play The action takes place between May and September in a shabby apartment building in the working-class district of New Orleans in the 1940's, shortly after World War II.

What do you know about New Orleans, Louisiana?

New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The city is named after Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France, and is well known for its distinct French Creole architecture, as well as its cross cultural and multilingual heritage. New Orleans is also famous for its cuisine, music (particularly as the birthplace of jazz), and its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably Mardi Gras. The city is often referred to as the "most unique“ in America. New Orleans is located in southeastern Louisiana, straddling the Mississippi River.

New Orleans spent nearly a century under European rule before the United States purchased it. Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, sieur de Bienville, the governor of the French colony of Louisiana, founded the city in 1718. In 1767 it was surrendered to Spain. France reclaimed sovereignty in 1800, and three years later Napoleon I sold all of the Louisiana Territory, including New Orleans, to the United States. Hence the French Creole heritage.

What do you know about New Orleans, Louisiana?

What do you know about New Orleans, Louisiana?

What do you know about New Orleans, Louisiana?

What do you know about New Orleans, Louisiana?

Stanley Kowalski The husband of Stella. Stanley is a complex character. He is loyal to his friends, passionate to his wife, sometimes violent, and heartlessly cruel to Blanche. Around thirty years of age, Stanley, who fought in World War II, now works as an auto -parts salesman. He is very practical and has no patience for Blanche’s secrets and lies. He is Polish and Blanch is shocked that her sister married such a brut of a man.

Stella Kowalski Blanche’s younger sister, about twenty-five years. Stella had the same aristocratic upbringing as Blanche, but she left home and Mississippi for New Orleans. Stella married lower-class, Stanley, with whom she shares a robust sexual relationship. She seems infatuated with her husband. After Blanche’s arrival, Stella is torn between her sister and her husband. She is much simpler than her sister and not showy.

Blanche Du. Bois Stella’s older sister, who was a high school English teacher in Laurel, Mississippi, until she was forced to leave her position. Blanche is a loquacious (talkative) and fragile woman around the age of thirty.

Characters Harold Mitchell (Mitch) Mitch is one of Stanley’s friends but he is the complete opposite of Stanley. He is gentle, kind, and a bit of a Mama’s boy. He becomes a love interest of Blanche.

Characters Eunice & Steve Hubbell Eunice and Steve are a married couple that lives upstairs from Stanley and Stella. They are very good friends with Stanley and Stella. They fight with one another often.

The Movie http: //www. imdb. com/title/tt 0044 081/

1) 2) 3) 4) pay attention to the signs that Blanche is mentally ill. try to put together Blanche’s past from what she shares and see if it adds up. decide whether you believe Stanley is good or evil. analyze the relationship between Stanley & Stella and decide if it is healthy or unhealthy, true love or infatuation.

References to light, both in the dialogue and the stage direction: 1) What color does Williams say illuminates the stage at the start of the play? 2) What does Blanche say to Stella about the light in the opening scene?

The sound of the Blue Piano and the Polka Music: 1) When is the blue piano music heard in the opening scene? 2) Is there more to it than just setting a “New Orleans” mood? 3) Look for the first mention of the Polka Music and note when it is heard in the play.

The loss of Belle Reeve – how exactly was it lost and who was it lost to? Blanche’s condition – what is the cause of her antic disposition? Blanche’s “leave of absence” from teaching – are her “nerves” the true and only reason she is not working? Was she truly given a leave of absence by the superintendent? The relationship between Stanley and Blanche – how will they take to one another?

Scene One Questions How would you describe Blanche’s disposition in the first scene? What does she do or say that tells you this? How does Blanche say that she was able to leave school during the school year? What does Blanche claim happened to their family home, Belle Reve? What small lie does Blanche tell Stanley when they first meet? What does it say about her? What question does Stanley ask Blanche that makes her physically ill? What sound does the stage direction indicate after this question?

Scene 3 Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. What two lies does Blanche tell Mitch? What does Blanche ask Mitch to hang in the bedroom and why? Describe the relationship between Stella and Stanley. What do you think of their marriage? How does Blanche react to the incident between Stella and Stanley? What does the description of the way Stella comes back to Stanley tell us about their relationship? What do Blanche and Mitch have in

Let’s Discuss. . . Why do you think women stay with men who are physically abusive towards them? Do you think this is more common or less common today than it was years ago? Do you think that Stella and Stanley will still be together by the end of the play? Why do you think this?

Before Reading Scene 4… Do you think Stella should leave Stanley? Explain your answer. Why do you think she stays with him? How do you think the incident between Stella and Stanley will affect Blanche?

Scene 5 1) 2) 3) 4) What do you make of Blanche’s telegrams to Shep Huntleigh? Are they truthful? Are they real? Explain. Between Stanley’s comments about Shaw & the Flamingo Hotel and Blanche’s comment to Stella about how she “wasn’t so good the last two years” what do you think Blanche has been up to…? Put these thoughts together. What does Blanche say she needs the paper lantern over the light for in this scene? What “act” does Blanche say she is putting on for Mitch? What does she want from Mitch?

In your own words, explain what happened to Blanche’s young husband. Explain how he died and what the circumstances were. What effect do you think this incident had on Blanche? Explain how it connects to the behavior and actions we have seen from her thus far. What do Blanche and Mitch provide for each other? Why are they together? Do you think they truly care for one another?

The Paperboy… How does the paperboy scene make you feel about Blanche? What do you think it is that attracts her to the paperboy? How can we relate this scene to: Her teaching job Her dead husband Her relationship with Mitch

The Story of Blanche’s Husband What truth did she discover about her husband? How does she confront him? How does he react? What affect do you think this has on Blanche? Connect this incident to what we know about her now. Analyze Blanche’s relationship with Mitch. What do they have in common? What do they fulfill for each other?

Making a Prediction In Scene 6, Blanche says to Mitch: “The first time I laid eyes on him I thought to myself, that man is my executioner! That man will destroy me. ” This line is an obvious foreshadowing. In a full paragraph, explain what you think Blanche means by this and predict what will happen to her in the last section of the play. Be as specific as possible with your prediction and use details seen in the play thus far to back up your prediction.

Scene 8 1. How would you describe the mood of Blanche’s birthday dinner? 2. Does Mitch attend Blanche’s birthday dinner? Why do you think this is? 3. What do Stella and Blanche do to get Stanley angry in this scene? 4. What does Blanche seem afraid of in this scene? 5. How does Blanche react to Stanley’s birthday present, the bus ticket? 6. Where are Stella and Stanley headed at the end of the scene? 7. Throughout this scene, whom does Stella seem to “take sides” with? Stanley or Blanche.

Before Reading Scene 10 1) Do you believe Blanche has become increasingly unstable as the play progressed? Explain. 2) Do you think there is any hope for Blanche and Mitch? 3) What do you think the blind Mexican woman foreshadows?

Climax – Stanley rapes Blanche WHY does Stanley rape Blanche? In 1 -2 paragraphs, do your best to explain why he does this and what it means.

Where is this going? At this point in the story, what questions do we have? What issues have arisen that you believe will lead up to the climax?

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) In your own words, explain why you think Stanley rapes Blanche. What do you think this incident does to Blanche mentally? What do you expect from Blanche in the next scene? Does this scene change your feelings for Stanley? If so, how? How do you think Stella is going to react to this situation? What do you think is going to happen to Blanche and Stanley & Stella?

Outlook on Life Alcohol Intake Need for Love Education Strengths Work Ethic Weaknesses Independence

Writing Assignment 3 paragraphs, typed and double spaced on one of the following topics: 1. Describe light as it applies to Blanche in the play. Explain what it means to her and explain 2 specific references to it from the play. 2. Analyze the relationship between Blanche and Mitch, explaining why they are attracted to one another and why Blanche feels she needs Mitch. 3. At the end of the play, Blanche is taken to an insane asylum. Explain whether or not Blanche is truly insane and support your claim with specific examples from the play.

Light It seems as though light represents Truth and Love. It is obvious that when something is brought into the light you see it for what it truly is. This is why Blanche always avoids the light; she avoids truth. Also, Blanche describes falling in love as: "you suddenly turned a blinding light on something that had always been half in shadow, that’s how it struck the world for me. " When she caught her husband with another man, later confronted him, and discovered his suicide, she claims: "the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that’s stronger than this — kitchen — candle…"

Paper Lantern Blanche makes a big deal out of never being seen in direct light. She uses a paper lantern like a shield to block out the strong light of the naked bulb in the Kowalski apartment. The obvious conclusion is that she’s getting older and doesn’t want anyone – particularly Mitch – to see that she’s no longer youthful. Actually, Mitch says it best: "I don’t think I ever seen you in the light. That’s a fact! You never want to go out in the afternoon. You never want to go out till after six and then it’s always some place that’s not lighted much. Blanche flinches when Mitch rips the paper lantern from the bulb as if he is exposing her truth.

Blanche’s Baths Blanche’s excessive bathing in a hot steam bath is odd considering it is extremely hot in New Orleans during the summer months. Obviously, her baths are symbolic. They are symbolic of her trying to wash away her sins, cleanse her soul. She knows what she has done in her past and feels guilt over it.

Music Polka Music - Blanch explains that her husband killed himself while the Varsouviana Polka was playing. She can’t escape the guilt of feeling like she caused his suicide. She can’t escape her husband’s death, so she can’t escape the music, either. Blanche’s Singing - The song "Paper Moon" that Blanche sings while she’s in the bathtub in Scene 7 illustrates the fantasy world she lives in. These lines – all sung by Blanche – are interwoven with Stanley and Stella’s argument: "Say, it’s only a paper moon, Sailing over a cardboard sea —But it wouldn’t be make-believe If you believed in me! It’s a Barnum and Bailey world, Just as phony as it can be— But it wouldn’t be make-believe If you believed in me!”

Flowers The woman selling the “flores para los muertos” or flowers for the dead, is a foreshadowing of the death that is about to occur. Though Blanche does not literally die, a part of her is killed by Stanley. Her spirit and her mind are killed when Stanley rapes her.