A STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE (1947) – Tennessee Williams

A Street Car Named Desire (1947) – Tennessee Williams

Is an American psychological drama situated in the South of America (which is very conservative) – Louisiana state – New Orleans into the fifties of the 20th century.

The plot is placed into a shanty town[1] of New Orleans which has even if is it a poor quarter[2] some charm. The main plot takes a place in a two-floor, corner house number 632 at a street called Elysian’s fields. To be more precious, mainly in the firts floor of this house in a two rooms flat of Stanley and Stella Kowalski.                                                                                                                   It is an early evening at the beginning of May and the atmosphere is filled by tones of a „black piano“ in the background from a corner bar.

The main characters are working class people:

Blanche (Dubois) – is an American women over thirty with French roots. She used to work as a teacher of English at Gymansium in a town called Laurel. She is a „Southern Belle“[3] and a coquette[4]. She likes to put on nice dresses, plays “a theatre” and makes illusion about herself. She tries to make illusion about her age, about her virtuousness[5], primness,[6] her whole life. She never forgets to ask : „How do I look?“  Blanche changes the rules of Stella and Stenley’s family and also manipulates Stella.

Stella (Kowalski)  - is Blanche’s younger sister. Stella is 25 and is pregnant. Stella wants to leave “old tracks”of previous life. Most of the time she tries to calm down difficult situations with her husband or her sister.

Stanley Kowalski – as a Polish emigrant, housband of Stella. He is in his thirties, physically is well builded. He is independent, knows how to enjoy his life. Stenley is a strong person -  a “Macho man.” He has dominance  over Stella but he can not control Blanche. But Stanley very soon reveales [7] Blanche’s  real situation.

Eunice – a white women, their upstairs neighbour.

Steve – husband of Eunice. One of the poker players .

Pablo Gonzales - One of the poker players.

Mitch Harold – a young, serious, gallant man about thirty. He is also one of the poker players. He has seriously sick mother. 

“Another characters”

Shep Huntleigh – a mysterious lover of Blanche from Dallas

Mr Graves – a director of Gymnasium

Allan – Blanche’s former lover when they were sixteen

Mr Kiefaber – a travelling salesman from the town Laurel

House – lost house Belle Reve

Blanche came into New Orleans to visit her sister Stella. Blanche was shocked by the place where Stella and Stanley lived. Anyway, she stayed with them in their two-rooms flat plus a bathroom. 

The bathroom played a quite important role in this novel. Blanche loved frequent bathing and occupied the bathroom very often. What is more, after her bath she mentioned that she felt fresh and rested and never forgot to pour face powder around her and sprayed her perfume.                           One evening when Stanley, Mitch, Steve and Pablo played at Stanley and Stella’s place poker, Stella nad Blanche went out for dinner and drink. On their way back the man still played poker. Blanch and Stella came in, Mitch noticed Blanche and immediately fell in love with her. They started to date, but Blanche still kept illusion about her personality, moreover, she never literally showed him her real face,only in the gloom[8].                                                                                                                   That evening also happened a verbal fight between Stanley and Blanche because of the radio. This quarrel [9]escalated with fling[10] the radio through a window by Stanley. In addition, Stanley in his   fury [11]physically attacted pregnant Stella. Stella and Blanche run upstairs to Eunice’s flat to find a shelter. Poker man calmed down Stanley and disappeared. Stanley suddenly figured out what he did and run in front of the house and cried Stella’s name. Between Stanley and Stella was a sensuous[12] connection so she slowly came down and kissed and hugged each other.                                                Blanche a next day told off [13]Stella and named Stanley an animal, a stinky Polish and a prehistorical man.                                                                                                                     Meanwhile Stanley’s patience reached its top. He got sick and tired of Blanche’s manners[14], sick and tired of Blanche’s secret drinking his whiskey and what is more, he finally had an argument with Stella about lost house in Bella Reve. Stanley in his fury emptied Blachne’s suitcase and lately argued with Blanche over the “documents” of Belle Reve.                                                                          Later one late afternoon in the middle of September Blanche had a birthday. Stella made her a birthday cake. Stanley did not forget to ask Stella : “How many candles you sticked on the cake?” Stella sticked only 25. Stanley when Blanche was in the bathroom also told to Stella the real truth about Blanche. Stella did not believe him and argued, but a bit suspicion[15] appeared in her mind. They invited for a birthday dinner Mitch, but he did not come. Blanch was disappointed, but on the other hand she ask Stanley to tell them jokes. Stanley started to get angry and quickly gave Blanche his present. An envelope with a bus ticket back to Laurel. Blanche could not hide her panic. Stanley hardly tried to keep the truth about Blanche’s real life – identity and the dinner finished by smashed his plate. Blanche was still naively surprised and unexpectedly Stella got contractions. Stanley and Stella went to a hospital. Blanche stayed alone and suddenly Mitch came. He was crossed because of the truth about Blanche from Stanley.                                                                                            Stanley discovered from a travelling salesman Mr Kiefaber in Laurel that Blanche lost her job. She had an intimate contacts with many men in a hotel in Laurel. Futhermore, she had an intimate contact with a seventeen year old student at Gymansium where she taught. The headmaster Mr Graves fired her immediately. She was incapable[16] to hold this job. Blanche started to cry and explained to Mitch nearly everything about her life. She told him about her sad relationship with a boy Alan when they were sixteen. She told him about Allan’s relationship with some man and how he shot himself.                                                                                                                                                      Stanley came back from the hospital and that evening had again an argument with Blanche and finally "probably" raped her. Blanche in her played illusion started to get muddled[17]. She wore a luxury dress and told to Stanley that she got an invitation from Shep Huntleigh to join him at a cruise. She still waited for his call…                                                                                                            Stella came back from the hospital with a baby and life at house 632 continued. Blanche got mental disaster. The novel finished when a doctor and a nurse came. The man played downstairs poker, Eunice told to Blanche that she goes to vacation. Blanche was confused, but finally left the house with the doctor…

T. Willams with mastery described inner experiencies of main deeply different characters, often lonely, looking for filling their desires. He used civil – the low middle class language  - connected with their work which gave the novel very realistic character. People are formed by its background and nobody respected each other feelings. T. Willams used an open ending.                                        

A Street Car Named Desire considered by many to be one of William’s greatest was awarded by the Pulitzer Price [18]for Drama in 1948.                                                                                                     In 1951 the play was adapted on a movie screen and starring Marlon Brando as Stenley Kowalski.

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[1] Chudinská čtvrť

[2] Čtvrť

[3] Jižanská kráska

[4] Koketa

[5] Ctnost

[6] Upjatost

[7] Vypátrat, odhalit

[8] Šero, přítmí, temnota

[9] Hádka, roztržka

[10] Mrsknutí, hození, švihnutí

[11] Zuřivost, vztek, divokost

[12] Smyslné, živočišné

[13] Vynadat

[14] Móresy

[15] Podezření

[16] Nezpůsobilá

[17] Popletená, zmatená

[18] The Pulitzer Prize /ˈpʊlᵻtsər/^[1] is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine and online journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States. It was established in 1917.                                                                                           Wikipedia

OF MICE AND MEN - John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck

The plot is placed into thirties years of the 20th century at a farm in a Salian valey in California - America during  the Great Depression in the United States.[1]

Two impecunious[2] men – farming workmen try to get a job at the farm in the Salian valey and at the same time they dream about their own small property – a house – houskeeping, agriculture, breeding[3] of pigs, a caw, but most of all about breeding rabbits.

Both of them are completely different. While George Milton is a protective and foresighted[4] man, Lennie Small, his companion, as a feeble - minded[5] ( a bit special ) strong man.

Physically, George is rather short, moving, with a dark – skinned[6] face, restless eyes, firm features. On the other hand, Lennie is a giant with a shapeless face, big pale eyes and with clumsy[7] movement.

Lennie do everything after George. Lennie grew up with his auntie Clara, but after her death George took care of him.

As for the plot…An agency "Muray – Ready" in Weed arranged for George and Lennie jobs at the farm in the Salian valey in California. They got in a trouble at a former farm, to be more precious, Lennie got into the trouble with some girl. Lennie tried only caressed[8] some girl, touched her dress, but the girl was affraid of him and he hold her until her scream – yell. And the problem arose.

Lennie was also passioned by mice. He caressed them with no gentleness and all of them he more by accident than by design,[9] killed.

Before they got at the farm in the Salian valey by foot, they stopped in nature next to a small green pool[10] with willow trees. This place George marked as a meeting point – pre – arranged – secret place if something bad happen. They got at the farm in the morning and went into a house for workmen with eight beds. There they met an old workman called Candy and also their keeper – owner of the farm. The owner questioned George and Lennie, but Lennie got a ban form George not to speak at all. George called Lennie his cousin even it was not true. George also described to the owner Lennie’s mental disability, but he swore he is a strong workman.

Candy – the workman without one hand had an old, stinky, shepherd’s dog with a grey muzzle, pale-blind eyes and unhealthy fur.

An another character in this novel was Curley – the son of the owner. Curley was a thin young, small man with a dark-skinned face, thick hair. He was a former nimble[11] boxer. Curley had a wife who, generally speaking, loved men. The workmen called her whore[12] and express into a guod.[13] Curley was extremely jealous and every single man was in huge danger with him.

Curley’s wife had no name in this novel. She was a young woman who provoked men, she was a temptress.[14] As for her appearence – she made up her full lips, made up her eyes, her nails were red and her hair remainded sausages. When she met with George and Lennie, Lennie looked at her with amazement but George warned him strongly.

Slim was an another workmen at this farm. He worked as a coachman[15] and had a calm, sensible character. He was also an owner of a female dog with new born puppies. Lennie got a promise to have on of five puppies. Lennie spent one evening in a stable[16] with new born puppies until he got warning from Slim not to touch them so early.

Carlson was a fat workman with a gun. He persuaded an old Candy to kill his old stinky dog and got a puppy from Slim. Candy finally refused to kill his loved dog so Carlson did it one evening outside with his gun. He shot Candy’s loved dog.

Crooks was an another character. He was a black man – horseman[17] , physically disabled, who was separated – isolated from other workmen and had a small room in a stable.

There was an accident one evening when Curley looked for her wife. He got into workmen’s house, argued with them and finally Curley attacted Lennie. Lennie was injured in his face, but Curley got from this fight mashed his hand. Lennie mashed Curley’s hand simply in his fist. Curley was forced by the workmen to tell his father and his wife that he put his hand into a machine.

The novel escalated one Sunday afternoon. The workmen played outside with a horse shoe when Lennie was in the stable and looked at a dead puppy which he killed by accident. Suddenly Curley’s wife came into the stable and found Lennie with the dead puppy. Lennie caressed the dead body of the puppy and spoke with it. Curley’s wife tried to cough Lennie’s attention and finally she did it. She spoke about her hair and let him to touch her soft hair. Lennie enjoyed it but he did it without gentleness. Curley’s wife started to yell and Lennie in fear covered her mouth with his hand. She still yelled and begged him to let her go but he got angry and unexpectedly broke her back of a neck. Lennie covered half of her dead body with hay and disappeared with the dead puppy to their meeting point – secret – pre-arranged place in nature – place with the small green pool and willow trees. Candy went into the stable, looked after Lennie and in horror he found Curley’s wife with the broken neck.[18] He called George and later other workmen and also Curley came. What is more, Carlson’s gun disappeared. All the workmen with Curley went to find Lennie. George went for sure into their secret place. Meanwhile Lennie had an imaginery – magic speech with her dead aunt Clara and then with a big rabbit. When George got at their secret place Lennie yelled his name. George calmly sat next to Lennie and told him to look over a river and just to listen to him. Lennie often ask George to tell him about their future the small house, farming, rabbits, an idea of freedom etc…Lennie loved to visualize this idea and calmed himself down. George took slowly the Carlson’s gun and put it on Lennie’s nape[19]….. and shot him. Lennie fell into sand. He was dead. Suddenly Slim’s voice called George…they found him dejected[20]…and Slim offered George a shot…

Soledado  was a nearest town with pubs and prostitutes. The workmen spent most of their money and days off in this town in a cathouse[21] owned by Susana. Women spoiled men’s  dream.

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[1] The Great Depression began in August 1929, when the United States economy first went into an economic recession. Although the country spent two months with declining GDP, it was not until the Wall Street Crash in October 1929 that the effects of a declining economy were felt, and a major worldwide economic downturn ensued. The market crash marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging farm incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth and personal advancement. Although its causes are still uncertain and controversial, the net effect was a sudden and general loss of confidence in the economic future. Wikipedia

[2] Nemajetný, bez peněz

[3] Chování, šlechtění

[4] Prozíravý

[5] Mentálně zaostalý, slabomyslný

[6] Snědý

[7] Neohrabaný

[8] Pohladit, laskat

[9] Spíš náhodou něž úmyslně

[10] Tůňka

[11] Mrštný

[12] Děvka, kurva

[13] Basa, kriminál, lapák

[14] Pokušitelka, svůdkyně

[15] Kočí

[16] Stáj

[17] Koňák

[18] Zlomený vaz

[19] Zátylek

[20] Sklíčený, zkroušený, skleslý

[21] Nevěstinec