How does Williams present conflict between old and new in Scene Two of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’?
How does Williams present conflict between old and new in Scene Two of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’?
Williams presents the conflict between old and new in Scene Two in different ways, such as the manner in which Williams portrays the three characters Blanche, Stanley and Stella, as well the added tension through the structure of the scene, and finally in the stage directions. Through the use of these techniques, an atmosphere of tension is seen and felt by the audience, and the contrasts of the characters motifs are clearly highlighted.
The conflict between old and new is demonstrated clearly by a statement made by Stanley, which really shows the audience how contrasted the two families in the play are, ‘The Kowalskis and the Du Bois have different notions’. The Kowalskis represent the new world; post World War Two, as Stanley is an immigrant from Poland and represents the new values as mentioned in the description of him in Scene One, ‘with the power and pride of a richly feathered male bird’. The Du Bois however embody the old values, such as Belle Reve, the upper class and a plantation owner’s lifestyle, comprised of daily parties and a rich lifestyle. Blanche is also shown to the audience to be the very opposite of Stanley’s powerful ‘male bird’, as she as described as being very delicate, like a moth, and having a nervous disposition. This nervousness is shown throughout the play, such as at the end of Scene Two when Blanche ‘utters a sharp frightened cry and shrinks away’ after a vendor calls out his wares.
The characters of Scene Two can be compared to Williams’ own family. Stanley is based on his father, Cornelius Coffin Williams, a womaniser and an alcoholic who had little respect for women. These properties are identical to the attitudes portrayed by Stanley to the audience throughout the play. Blanche however represents Williams’ mother, Edwina Dakin, a caring but very sensitive and fragile woman, who too was a Southern Belle but suffered greatly
Williams presents the conflict between old and new in Scene Two in different ways, such as the manner in which Williams portrays the three characters Blanche, Stanley and Stella, as well the added tension through the structure of the scene, and finally in the stage directions. Through the use of these techniques, an atmosphere of tension is seen and felt by the audience, and the contrasts of the characters motifs are clearly highlighted.
The conflict between old and new is demonstrated clearly by a statement made by Stanley, which really shows the audience how contrasted the two families in the play are, ‘The Kowalskis and the Du Bois have different notions’. The Kowalskis represent the new world; post World War Two, as Stanley is an immigrant from Poland and represents the new values as mentioned in the description of him in Scene One, ‘with the power and pride of a richly feathered male bird’. The Du Bois however embody the old values, such as Belle Reve, the upper class and a plantation owner’s lifestyle, comprised of daily parties and a rich lifestyle. Blanche is also shown to the audience to be the very opposite of Stanley’s powerful ‘male bird’, as she as described as being very delicate, like a moth, and having a nervous disposition. This nervousness is shown throughout the play, such as at the end of Scene Two when Blanche ‘utters a sharp frightened cry and shrinks away’ after a vendor calls out his wares.
The characters of Scene Two can be compared to Williams’ own family. Stanley is based on his father, Cornelius Coffin Williams, a womaniser and an alcoholic who had little respect for women. These properties are identical to the attitudes portrayed by Stanley to the audience throughout the play. Blanche however represents Williams’ mother, Edwina Dakin, a caring but very sensitive and fragile woman, who too was a Southern Belle but suffered greatly