Abstract
A paper which examines the theme and structure of Tennessee Williams' influential play "A Streetcar Named Desire," and relates its development to the playwright's own history and to the times in which it was written. Its evolution from stage play to film was a singularly significant one, as by doing so it captured an enormous and highly receptive audience for Williams' message. It continues to be one of the most consistently revisited dramas of the twentieth century, on stage, remade as a film, as made-for-television movies, and even as opera. This paper explains both its historical significance and its seeming timelessness.

From the Paper
"Williams drew heavily on his own experiences and his family;s problems as subject matter for his plays, while not specifically making the material autobiographical. He created original, distinctive characters, then placed them in a familiar setting: the South at a time when the antebellum aristocratic culture was fading and being replaced by a crude, vigorous, entrepreneurial society. His thematic structures were intrinsically tragic, and like Greek tragedy, the downfall of the protagonist is due to a tragic flaw, some form of hubris."

Tags:Kazan, Blanche, Stanley, The, Glass, Menagerie

Abstract
The paper compares the characters of Blanche in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and Amanda in "The Glass Menagerie" and how they and the other characters deal with reality and illusion. The paper depicts how Blanche represents the world of fantasy and illusion while Stanley, her brother in law, represents the harsh reality of the world. The paper then shows how each of the Wingfield's are unable to cope with the reality of their poor living situation and each withdraws into a private world of fantasy. The paper highlights how Tom and Amanda each try to force the other to accept their version of reality, while Laura retreats into her world of the menagerie.

From the Paper
"A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, tell the stories of women unable to accept the reality of a changing world. Blanche Dubois in Streetcar and Amanda Wingfield in Menagerie are women out of step with the current times; they insist on clinging to a past that is no longer relevant, and lose what joy there could be in their lives. Both Blanche and Amanda are faded southern belles. This appears to be a favorite character type for Williams. Usually a Williams' belle is from a once great Southern family, that has fallen on hard times. These women had the finest of upbringing and expected to live a life of luxury. Unfortunately times and finances change. Neither Blanche or Amanda can adjust to a working-class life. They cling to the manners and customs of the past attempting to relive there days of glory."

Tags:fantasy, withdrawal, Blanche, Stanley, Tom, Laura, Amanda

From the Paper
"The purpose of this paper is to compare two plays by Tennessee Williams, "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "The Glass Menagerie". We will compare the two characters, Amanda Wingfield, and Blanche Dubois, two people who are living in the world of illusions. We will look at the symbolism that is most common in the two plays. We will compare the plots of the two plays, the themes in the two plays, and look at Tennessee Williams' intentions as a playwright in the two plays.

In contrast to Tom, who sets the mood in Glass Menagerie, Amanda Wingfield is a mover, the major character who sets the story into motion. Basically, she is the play's main character. Throughout the course of the play, Tom, Laura and Jim react to Amanda's stimulating and complicated personality. Even Amanda's husband, who has run away from her, showed a definite and ... "

Abstract
The paper discusses how the play "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams depicts sexuality and class struggles in relation to American society in the 1940s. By understanding the polar extremes of both Kowalski and Blanche, the paper explains that there is an irreconcilable difference between the two that result in tragedy. In this manner, the paper discusses that the theme of sexuality and class struggle is central to the importance of this play as it relates the honest intensity of life in America.

From the Paper
"In this dramatic study, the play "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams will be analyzed to reflect the importance of sexual freedom and societal barriers that are broken down in this masterpiece. By accessing parts of the play, as well as critical views on sexual liberation in William's perspective, this play was important and innovative in depicting male/female relationships in the atmosphere of the 1940s theater. The play "A Streetcar Named Desire" became the basis for modern playwrights to formulate new opinions about sexual behaviors and how men and women interact. The difficulties associated with other romantic plays of this time period, relate the overly dramatic and unrealistic views of life for working class people."

Tags:williams, streetcar, play

Abstract
The paper discusses how the greatest debate among critics of "A Streetcar Named Desire" may be about who the hero of the play is, Stanley or Blanche. The writer proposes that both are heroes and that the play is a classical tragedy. The paper explores how both Blanche and Stanley fit the pattern for a classical tragic hero. They both have goals, which they themselves compromise because of a tragic flaw. The writer argues that what is unique to "A Streetcar Named Desire" is that there are two heroes, rather than one. The paper examines how their two tragic flaws have to combine in order to create the downfall of each of the heroes.

From the Paper
"Stanley conforms almost exactly to the idea of a tragic hero. Not only does he have a clearly defined goal, but that goal mirrors the goals of the heroes that have come before him. Stanley's goal is the preservation of his kingdom and protecting it from outside threats. Of course, Stanley's kingdom is somewhat smaller than other heroes in literature; rather than an empire, Stanley's kingdom is a two room walk-up apartment in New Orleans. In addition, rather than ruling over thousands of subjects, Stanley rules over Stella. Therefore, Blanche's threats to Stanley's kingdom take on an almost petty cast; she drinks his liquor and takes up too much space in his small apartment."

Tags:protagonists, personal, weakness, rape, violence

Abstract
This paper depicts Tennessee Williams's life from birth to death. It also summarizes and analyzes two of his most famous plays and relates them to Williams's life.

From the Paper
"Tennessee Williams wrote some of America's most famous plays. His life was riddled with obscurity and pain. He had an absent father, an eccentric mother, and a mentally ill sister. Tennessee used his writing as a form of escape and reflection of his life. Two of his most famous plays, "The Glass Menagerie" and "A Streetcar Named Desire", are perfect examples of his literary talents and use of incorporating his own life into his scripts."

Tags:outcasts, thomas, lanier, playwright, the, poker, night, homosexual, st., louis, wingfield

From the Paper
"This paper will compare and contrast the fantasy worlds in Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" and "A Streetcar Named Desire". In The Glass Menagerie, Laura is an extremely shy girl who must wear a brace on her leg. Her demanding and insensitive mother wants her to get married as soon as possible. However, Laura's insecurities and shyness make it difficult for her to function in the real world. When she is rejected in romance by Jim, her childhood idol, Laura retreats into a world of fantasy. In A Streetcar Named Desire, the character Blanche experiences a number of personal losses. Her first husband shoots himself when she refuses to accept his affair with a man. Later, many of her older relatives die, and she loses the family fortune as well as her country home. When she comes to her sister's home for refuge, Blanche has become almost anti-social with her drinking ... "

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Abstract
Tennessee Williams had an arduous life, living with a dysfunctional family. This paper overviews his family life and explains how it gave birth to two of the greatest plays in American history, "The Glass Menagerie" and "A Streetcar Named Desire".

From the Paper
"Tennessee Williams wrote some of America's most famous plays. His life was riddled with obscurity and pain. He had an absent father, an eccentric mother, and a mentally ill sister. Tennessee used his writing as a form of escape and reflection of his life. Two of his most famous plays, The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire, are perfect examples of his literary talents and use of incorporating his own life into his scripts."

Tags:american, desire, gay, glass, homosexual, lanier, menagerie, named, play, playwright, script, streetcar, tennessee, theater, thomas, williams

Abstract
This biography includes details of childhood, family life, professional life, personal life and drug addictions, successes and failures, criticisms, and connections between his personal life and his works, namely how his characters were inspired by his family members. Also included are quotes from Williams himself.

From the Paper
"Some authors, throughout their lifetimes, continue to produce good novels and publications until their death. Tennessee Williams, however, wrote a few good plays, including The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire. After 1962, Williams wrote very little that earned him money or respect. Although critics were nearly unanimous in later years with negative criticism, Williams was still considered to be a great American writer. His career could be justified by analyzing his family background and the "emotional currents" in his life, as well as the events in his life that led to such unsuccessful writing ("Williams, Tennessee" DISCovering Biography)."

Tags:desire, glass, menagerie, named, play, streetcar