I hope to add to this later on, please feel free to suggest concepts to add. You may have to zoom in on the picture.
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A Streetcar Named
Desire
Tennessee Williams-
1947
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The Heidi
Chronicles
Wendy Wasserstein-
1988
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Hedda Gabler
Henrik Ibsen- 1890
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Oleanna
David Mamet-1992
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Characters
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Characters
· Stanley Kowalski
· Stella Kowalski
· Blanche DuBois
· Negro woman
· Eunice Hubbell
· Steve Hubbell
· Harold Mitchell(Mitch)
· Mexican Woman
· Pablo Gonzales
· A Young Collector
· Nurse
· Doctor
· Prostitute and drunkard
Ghost characters:
· Mike’s mother
· Allan Grey
· Shep Huntleigh
· Shaw
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Characters:
· Heidi Holland
· Scoop Rosenbaum
· Susan Johnston
· Chris Boxer
· Mark
· Ray
o Young doctor working with Peter
· TV attendant
· Peter Patrone
· Debbie, Lisa, Denise, Clara
· Fran, Jill, Molly, Betsy
· April
· Waiter
Ghost Characters:
· Woman with fishnets
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Characters
· Hedda Gabler
· Jorgen Tesman
· Thea Elvsted
· Brack
· Aunt Julle
· Ejlert Lovborg
· Berte
Ghost characters
· Mademoiselle Diana
· Mrs. Elvsted’s husband
· General Gabler
· Aunt Rita
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Characters
· John
· Carol
Ghost characters
· Group (inferred to be feminist)
· Tenure committee
· Son
· Jerry
· Grace
· Real estate agent
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Topics
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Old South vs. New
South
Society’s
condemnation of Blanche
Changing times
People struggle to
adapt to changes in society, and cannot function in one they are not
accustomed to.
Romantic vs.
Realistic
Compensating/masking
insecurity
People may project
the ideal version of themselves in order to cover their past/changes.
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Humans struggle to
create their own identities.
Identity is
paradoxical.
Feminist movement.
Humanist
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Freedom, free
spirit
Aristocratic vs.
Bourgeoisie
Female/male dynamic
People strive for
freedom by breaking societal expectations
Power, beauty
Class differences-
aristocratic vs. bourgeoisie
Traditional woman
vs. independent modern woman.
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Communication
· Miscommunication
· Insinuation
· Misinterpretation
Female/male relationship
· Inferred feminist group
· Wife – “baby”
· Diction
· Action
· Setting
Student/teacher
· Notebook
· John’s book
· Setting
· Higher education
· Diction
o
Vague,
complicated words
§ Transformation
Political
Correctness
· “according to the law”
· Feminism
Interruptions
· Proves he has a life, she doesn’t
· Impeding on communication
· Doesn’t like education, but using it
to get his job.
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Settings
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Confined, one set
· Bathroom
· Kitchen
· Poker table
· Bedroom
· Balcony
· Alcohol cabinet
Confined
· Causes tensions between characters
Blanche’s changes
to the set:
· Addition of lamp shades
· adding decorations
Inside vs. Outside
Belle Reve
· Change of setting from rural to urban, contrast to Old
South
· an escape of Blanche’s problems
Laurel
Bowling alley
Elysian Fields, New
Orleans
Flamingo, tarantula
Asylum
· Blanche is put there as an esacpe to problems
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Setting changes
time and place: transitory- progression of Heidi attempting to define
herself.
1965- 1989
Heidi’s art
lectures
Wedding
Lisa’s house.
Hedda’s house.
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Confined
· Confined by her role as a traditional woman but never
leaves the house
Mademoiselle
Diana’s Boudoir
The inner room
· past
· portrait of general gabbler
· pistols
· dark, enclosed by curtains
· piano
The living room
· piano
· writing desk
· couch
· fireplace
Brack’s place
Back garden
Hedda’s change of
the set:
· Closes curtains
· Gradually gets darker
· Expulsion of flowers.
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Power dynamics
· His classroom
· Behind his desk
His office
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Important language and phrases and
why?
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“I can’t stand a
naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action.”
“Poker should not
be played In a house with women”.
“moth”
“Pollack”
“I don’t want
realism. I want magic!”
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“I’m a humanist”.
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“what do you think
of that?”
“I’m thinking”
“feather in her
hat”
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“educational
hazing”
“I don’t
understand”
“Do you see?”
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Important Stage Directions, and why?
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Extensive stage
directions
· Appearance
· Movement
· Setting
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Appearances
· Hair color/appearance
o light
§ Tesman, Thea, Aunt Julle
o dark
§ Hedda,
§ Lovborg,
Hedda always
separating herself from others, distancing.
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Little/no stage
directions:
· Focus on communication
· Use of words
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Symbolism and Motifs
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Poker
· masculinity
Paper lantern
Blanche’s dresses
· false clothing- Blanche’s illusions, escape
Alcohol
Mitch’s lighter
· “I shall but love thee better after death”.
· Elizabeth Browning
Color
· Blanche: white
· Allan: grey
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Burning lingerie
· feminist movement
Judy
· Heidi’s hope for the future
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Pistols
· past and masculinity
· destructive and playful
o treat her as a child
Fire
· desire, emotion, passion
o contrast to Hedda’s usual demeanor
o burns the manuscript
Vine leaves in the
hair
· Dionysus- wine and fertility
o Lovborg’s alcoholism
o wants him to be drunk, under her control
Child
· family vs. success
Light vs. dark
(curtains)
Family
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Notebook
John’s book
Phone
House
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Other devices (sound, etc.)
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Music
· Blue piano
o past
· Varsouviana Poka
o Remembers Allan grey
o ends with gunshot
· Paper doll (slow and blue, by negro entertainers)
o Stanley misses Stella
· Animal music
· Wien, Wien, nur du allien (radio)
Blanche’s singing
· Cleansing her sins
· contrast between her ans Stanley
· It’s only a paper moon
Train sounds
Neighbor noises
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Music
Art: forgotten
feminist artists
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Wild piano tune
· contrast with somber mood
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Phone ringing
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