Summer Reading Assignment : A Streetcar Named Desire Journal # 3--Kristina

When I finished the play, I began to feel bad for Blanche. Even though Blanche lied about why she came to live with Stella, I began to relate to her. I would feel ashamed and embarrassed if I was in Blanches' shoes. Who would want to tell people I found my husband with another man or I was fired from my job because I had an affair with a student. At the end of the play I did not like Stanley at all. Stanley, who once dislkied Blanche, ends up rapping her. Stanley was never a "good man" like Stella made him out to be. I didnt realize that until the end of the play.

I also figured out how desire plays a major theme in the play. Blanche had a desire to be wanted. After finding her husband with another man, Blanche most likley felt that there was something wrong with her so she flirted with men to feel wanted and to boost her confidence. Blanche had an affair with a student because that student made her feel wanted at that moment. Blanche did not care if it was wrong or right but it made her feel good. Stellas desire was to be wanted by her husband and for her life to be perfect. Stella did not want to admit that her husband was a drunk or an aggressive man. Stella did not want to admit that her sister lied to her or that there was something seriously wrong with Blanche. Stella also refused to believe Blanche when she told Stella that Stanley rapped her.

I really liked the play because Williams shows the reader that nothing is perfect and no one lives a perfect life. I also loved the way he shows that everyone has desires of some sort. Even though some events that occured in the play were not everyday events such as Blanche finding her husband with another man, he also includes events that are not as rare such as a drunk husband. Williams shows the hardships of life and how people deal with them. People have choices in life and they can choose to better themselves or to continue living their life the way they are. The play shows that life is not just black and white but there are grays in between. It shows how feelings play an important role on peoples lives. Even if the reader was never in such situations I think that Williams still was able to connect the reader to his play.


On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 2:09 PM, Kristina Vrettos wrote:

Summer Reading Assignment : A Streetcar Named Desire Journal # 2

After reading the middle of the book, Williams starts to reveal Blanches' secrets. As Blanches secrets are being revealed, Blanche is having a little fling with Stanley's friend Mitch. I did get a little confused when Blanche told Stella that she wanted Mitch but then Blanche started flirting with the young man. I think Blanche has something wrong with her. I feel as if she is never satisfied or she is trying to fill a hole inside of her. On page 95 of scene six, Blanche opens up to Mitch about her young husband who died. At this part I felt as if Blanche became vulnerable to Mitch because she endured a life changing event. Even though Blanche is not my favorite person, I felt a little sympathy for her because of the fact she went through a hard situation.
Stanley learns that Blanche was stayed at a hotel in Laurel and was putting on an "act" at the hotel. Blanche was forced to leave the hotel and practically forced to leave Laurel. Another lie that Stanley came upon was of Blanche "resigning" from the teaching job. Blanche did not resign but was let go from her job because of an affair she had with a student. I did not feel that Stanley was trying to be rude or mean towards Blanche but i felt Stella was being naive about the situation. Stella did not want to admit or even believe any of Stanley's stories. I understand why Stella would react the way she did because Blanche is her sister and Stella loves her. This is where i realized that loves is a major theme in this play. The love that Stella has for Blanche and Stanley. The love that Blanche once had for her young husband and the love that Blanche is trying to seek from every other man she is with.

Summer Reading Assignment : A Streetcar Named Desire Journal # 2--Kristina

After reading the middle of the book, Williams starts to reveal Blanches' secrets. As Blanche's secrets are being revealed, Blanche is having a little fling with Stanley's friend Mitch. I did get a little confused when Blanche told Stella that she wanted Mitch but then Blanche started flirting with the young man. I think Blanche has something wrong with her. I feel as if she is never satisfied or she is trying to fill a hole inside of her. On page 95 of scene six, Blanche opens up to Mitch about her young husband who died. At this part I felt as if Blanche became vulnerable to Mitch because she endured a life changing event. Even though Blanche is not my favorite person, I felt a little sympathy for her because of the fact she went through a hard situation.
Stanley learns that Blanche was stayed at a hotel in Laurel and was putting on an "act" at the hotel. Blanche was forced to leave the hotel and practically forced to leave Laurel. Another lie that Stanley came upon was of Blanche "resigning" from he teaching job. Blanche did not resign but was let go from her job because of an affair she had with a student. I did not feel that Stanley was trying to be rude or mean towards Blanche but i felt Stella was being naive about the situation. Stella did not want to admit or even believe any of Stanley's stories. I understand why Stella would react the way she did because Blanche is her sister and Stella loves her. This is where i realized that loves is a major theme in this play. The love that Stella has for Blanche and Stanley. The love that Blanche once had for her young husband and the love that Blanche is trying to seek from every other man she is with.

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.