A Streetcar Named Desire Lesson Plan

Think about the way Williams describes his characters in the stage directions. What is the function of these descriptions? Do they do more than just tell the costume directors what to design?

Williams provides copious stage directions in his plays, and they are both functional and poetic. He does not simply state the necessary movements, nor does he serve as a backseat director, programming every gesture before an actor has touched the text. Rather, his directions are like a depiction of a potential performance--he provides at least the outline of the Blanche and the Stanley that he sees, but it is written in gossamer and smoke. For instance, he dictates that Blanche should...