Stoleru Ioana – Ancuța
English A, 3rd year
The Function of Music in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Music has always played an important role in arts, but when found in literature, it can either function as a means of characterization (speaking volumes about certain characters) or as a mood setter, helping the reader adjust to the atmosphere of the literary work. “Music is so much a part of our lives that its presence in literature can help readers relate to fictional situations and characters.” (Astor)
In “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams, music appears in three forms: the “blue piano” (present in scenes of great intensity), the The Varsouviana polka (pointing to Blanche’s inner turmoil, her frail mental state) and “Paper Moon” (revealing important clues about Blanche’s personality).
The “blue piano”
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[Finally, Stanley stumbles half dressed out to the porch and down the wooden steps to the pavement before the building. There he throws back his head like a baying hound and bellows his wife's name: “Stella! Stella, sweetheart! Stella!”] (Williams 59)
• “STANLEY: You think I'll interfere with you? Ha-ha! [The "blue piano" goes softly. She turns confusedly and makes a faint gesture. The inhuman jungle voices rise up. He takes a step toward her, biting his tongue which protrudes between his lips.] STANLEY [softly]: Come to think of it-maybe you wouldn't be bad to—interfere with ...” (Williams 129) o The Blue Piano sets the mood, helping the reader get in the atmosphere of the play, evade the mundane, as Tennessee Williams himself held in the stage directions at the beginning of the play: “This "Blue Piano" expresses the spirit of the life which goes on here.” (Williams 13).
The Varsouviana polka o The Varsouviana polka is the music no one but Blanche can hear, which speaks volumes about her mental problems, all stemming from her husband’s suicide, engendered by her reaction to finding out about his sexual orientation
English A, 3rd year
The Function of Music in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Music has always played an important role in arts, but when found in literature, it can either function as a means of characterization (speaking volumes about certain characters) or as a mood setter, helping the reader adjust to the atmosphere of the literary work. “Music is so much a part of our lives that its presence in literature can help readers relate to fictional situations and characters.” (Astor)
In “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams, music appears in three forms: the “blue piano” (present in scenes of great intensity), the The Varsouviana polka (pointing to Blanche’s inner turmoil, her frail mental state) and “Paper Moon” (revealing important clues about Blanche’s personality).
The “blue piano”
o …show more content…
[Finally, Stanley stumbles half dressed out to the porch and down the wooden steps to the pavement before the building. There he throws back his head like a baying hound and bellows his wife's name: “Stella! Stella, sweetheart! Stella!”] (Williams 59)
• “STANLEY: You think I'll interfere with you? Ha-ha! [The "blue piano" goes softly. She turns confusedly and makes a faint gesture. The inhuman jungle voices rise up. He takes a step toward her, biting his tongue which protrudes between his lips.] STANLEY [softly]: Come to think of it-maybe you wouldn't be bad to—interfere with ...” (Williams 129) o The Blue Piano sets the mood, helping the reader get in the atmosphere of the play, evade the mundane, as Tennessee Williams himself held in the stage directions at the beginning of the play: “This "Blue Piano" expresses the spirit of the life which goes on here.” (Williams 13).
The Varsouviana polka o The Varsouviana polka is the music no one but Blanche can hear, which speaks volumes about her mental problems, all stemming from her husband’s suicide, engendered by her reaction to finding out about his sexual orientation