Summer Reading Assignment Journal #1: A Streetcar Named Desire--Kristina

When I first began reading the play a Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, i was drawn into the book. Williams way of writing drew me into the book to make me imagine as if i was in the book myself. When the play first opens up Stanley and Stella seem so happy with each other regardless of where they live. On page 15 of scene one, Blanche, Stella's arrogant and self centered sister arrives. Blanche mentions how she took a street-car named Desire and then transferred to one called Cemeteries. I know that the streetcar is a big significance in the play because it is the title of the play. I find it ironic that they have a streetcar named desire but they also have one named cemeteries. I find that ironic because a persons desire would not be associated with a cemetery. What could Desire and Cemeteries possibly have in common or symbolize that is a large significance in the play?

In the first four acts of the play Blanche comes off as a stuck up southern belle. Stanley, Blanches' brother-in-law does not fall for Blanches' act. Blanche brags about all the places she has been, about her teaching career and about Belle Reve; the place where Stella and Blanche grew up. Blanche plays as if she is living better then Stella is but in reality Blanche lost Belle Reve and has no where to go but to her sister house. Williams tries to make Blanche come off as a strong, independent, self centered southern belle who is better then her sister and her brother-in-law. Stanley is not falling for Blanches' act and he knows there is something more to Blanche that she is not revealing. I agree with Stanley but I'm not exactly sure yet. Could she be trying to scheme her sister? Another thing that occurs a lot in the play is when Blanche takes her bath. Whenever Blanche is "terribly upset", she always takes a bath and sits in the bath for a very long time. To me Blanche always seems upset. I definitely think there is something Blanche is hiding from everyone and Stella does not want to admit it but Stanley is very suspicious. In scene two, we learn a little more about Blanche and how she was in love with a boy whom she was supposed to marry but he committed suicide. Maybe that plays a large part of how Blanche acts. Maybe she feels like she needs to come across as a strong woman so she doesn't feel vulnerable.