70 pages • 2 hours read
Tennessee WilliamsA Streetcar Named Desire
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1947A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Tennessee Williams's play A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche Dubois arrives at her sister Stella's home in New Orleans, where she clashes with Stella's husband, Stanley. Blanche's troubled past surfaces, causing tension. Stanley eventually exposes her secrets, leading to conflict and Blanche's mental breakdown. Sensitive topics include sexual violence and mental health issues.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire is lauded for its intense characterizations and poignant exploration of human fragility. Critics praise the complex dynamics and psychological depth but note that its depiction of gender roles and mental health may feel dated to modern audiences. Overall, it remains a powerful and essential piece of American theater.
Who Should Read A Streetcar Named Desire?
Fans of complex character studies and Southern Gothic themes will appreciate A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. This reader enjoys the psychological depth of characters in works like Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and the social commentary found in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
NP0LBook Details
Southern Gothic
Values/Ideas: Music
American Literature