by Fionnuala Jones

Created on: April 30, 2009   Last Updated: May 03, 2009

Like most of Tennessee William's plays, A Streetcar Named Desire is set in the Deep South of America, in this case in New Orleans. It is full of symbolism and complex characterisation but any study of the play should begin with an understanding of the main events. These are perhaps best broken down scene by scene. This is a synopsis of the plot line and is not intended to approach the text on a more analytical level.

- Scene 1 Evening in early May, outside a two storey building, Elysian Fields, New Orleans

Two neighbours are out on the doorstep enjoying the evening air. One is Eunice who owns the house along with her husband, Steve. The central family of the play, the Kowalskis, comprising Stella and her husband Stanley, rent an apartment here. Stanley passes by the apartment with his buddy Mitch and, after throwing a parcel of meat to his wife, shouts that he is heading to the bowling alley. As they continue on their way Stella's elder sister, Blanche, arrives, daintily dressed and described to be like a moth. Eunice invites her in to wait while the other neighbour rushes off to retrieve Stella. The sisters embrace but it is clear that there is an element of unease between them. When Blanche is introduced to Stanley the situation is similar, as each one sizes up the other.

- Scene 2 Six o'clock the next evening, inside the Kowalski apartment

Blanche is bathing, supposedly to quiet her nerves, before Stella takes her out for the evening while Stanley hosts a poker party. It emerges that Stella and Blanche's house in the country, Bell Reve, has been lost somehow. While Stella does not enquire much Stanley seems suspicious of the circumstances of this loss. Once Blanche emerges from the bath Stanley confronts her, demanding to see the papers relating to the sale. He pulls out her trunk to search for them but is humbled when he realises he has found her letters from her dead husband. He bashfully explains that any inheritance would be important because Stella is expecting a baby.

- Scene 3 Later that night, the apartment

When the sisters return the poker party is still going. Blanche becomes interested in Stanley's shy friend, Mitch. There is an argument between Blanche and Stanley about the radio, which ends in him throwing it from the window. When Stella objects he hits her, prompting a horrified Blanche to pack their things to go upstairs to stay with Eunice. The rest of the guys, meanwhile, have calmed Stanley down but he savagely cries for his wife before she

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