The role of Sounds in A StreetCar Named Desire

The role of Sounds in A StreetCar Named Desire

By Sabrina and Danny

Sounds in the play very much create the mood in the absence of background score or music in the movies. In the movies the background music mimics the scene such as dramatic to foreshadow an event, intense creepy music in a horror flick to create suspense and slow lilting sounds to create the tone for a romantic scene.

Tennessee Williams uses sounds effectively to create mood, set the scene, foreshadow an event, express anger, or simply show the time and place and period such as car horns depicting city life. Phonetics are very important in a play without much scenery or background.

There is an embarrassed silence (15) … silence or pregnant pause though potentially not a sound creates a mood of awkwardness and allows both the characters to allow to think and gather thoughts and allows the audience to see what is spoken with expression only not clouded with dialogue.

A cat screeches near the window (27)  and (10) creates shock, anger and suspense and fear. It also denotes the fragile mental state of Blanche whose nerves ate on edge and over reacts with nervous tension.

A chair scrapes. Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh (50)  defines the crude and low class character of Stanley devoid of manners and the niceties of up bringing. He is also shown as a man without respect for women with a cave man like attitude who objectifies women into sexual beings that can be controlled by men.

There is a sound of a blow…something is overturned with a crash (63)  shows anger and fighting which has turned somewhat ugly and physical when Stanley fights with Stella during the poker match. Again the character of Stanley is revealed as overtly macho and controlling.

Sounds of blow are heard. The water goes on full tilt (65)  The men trying to calm Stanley indicate manly methods of control among male friends in an almost animalistic way reminiscent of ape like behavior in the jungle. The water helps to disguise the ruckass created by Stanley as he is manhandled by his friends who try to sober him up. His constant slamming of doors also reveals his anger and frustration and the fact that the house has no privacy and is too small to house the three of them ( Blanche, Stanley and Stella).

Radio plays a waltz that Mitch and Blanche enjoy but Stanley is irritated by shows his lack of class and frustration that he is reminded of his lack of breeding and education.

The negro entertainers in the bar around the corner play “Paper Doll” slow and blue (65) The time period of the South with jazz is highlighted. The lyrics say “paper doll” which Stanley picks up as he cries “ my baby doll’s left me “.

An indistinguishable shrill voice is heard…Dissonant brass and piano sounds (65)  The voice of Stella or Blanche who reacts badly to the harassing phone calls by Stanley to Eunice begging Stella to come back. Stanley reacts badly throwing the telephone down showing anger and frustration followed by piano sounds that signal his failure and shortcomings.

She slams the door…the low tone clarinet moans (67)  Eunice slamming the door on Stanley is a sign of her anger not just on Stanley but on Steve and all men who hit and mistreat and show no respect for women.  The low tone clarinet follows the screams of Stanley and act as a calm balm for the next scene where Stella enters low and melancholy but come together in an embrace with low animal moans showing the primitive side of making up where words are not needed as violence is replaced with tenderness.

He coughs diffidently (69) A little embarrassed and confused Mitch coughs to cover his own insecurity as he admits his need for kindness and his weakness which is difficult for a man to admit.

There is a confusion of street cries like a choral chant (70) following the makeup Stella is calm happy and serene but Blanche is in a distressed state of the yesterday events of fighting and this is echoed in the street cries full of confusion but almost religious like.

Blanche utters a moaning cry (70) Blanche is not happy at the treatment meted out to Stella and wants her to leave him and is frustrated that she is still with him.

Outside, a train approaches. They are silent till the noise subsides…under cover of the train’s noise Stanley enters from outside. The train allows Stanley to move about like a thief in his own den without been heard as he eavesdrops on Blanche and Stella and creates location of the South but an area for the not so well heeled. The noise must be a comfort for Stanley but an annoyance that interrupts her conversation and rattles her nerves, showing the stark differences in Stanley and Blanche.

Murmur of thunder: page 90

The use of thunder here is a symbol to represent the ending to a scene of climax, which in this case, was the fight that Steve and Eunice had. As they take each other back into their arms, while Steve begins “cooing love words”, the thunder acts as a cymbal in an orchestra to resemble the finale, and the reader knows that their fight is over.

Piercing cry: page 94

At the same time that Stella is pouring Blanche her coke; they also discuss the date of when Blanche will move out of the house to leave Stella and her husband alone once again. However, the prospect of this future scares Blanche, and the rising foam represents how there will be a buildup to this moment, which will end in resistance, pain, and suffering, as represented by Blanche’s cry.

Joyous calls, trumpet and drums: page 95, 162

The trumpet and drums are the primitive sounds throughout the text that hence, represent man’s most primitive act: sex. This means that the reader must infer after Blanche faints that Stanley did indeed rape her. In combination with the joyous calls, the reader acknowledges that the subject at hand, whether or not Blanche will be able to marry Mitch, may end up successful, because of the sounds present during this conversation.

Laughter, goat-like screeches: page 96

These noises occur after the party agrees to go out for the evening, and the extreme happiness that they emit contrasts Blanche’s sadness as she doesn’t take part in any of these events.

Slaps her hand, doorbell: page 96, 139

Immediately after Blanche is left alone, she realizes that she fears solitude and uses the chair arm to vent her frustration, which in turn also ends up being a signal for a relief. The bell that rings alerts Blanche that there is someone at the door and this also alerts the reader, as we know that it is a young man, the exact status that Blanche has an affinity for. Mitch also rings the doorbell, conveying that it could be a symbol for Blanche to meet another man.

Shuffling, coughing, hands in pockets, clearing throat: page 102, 108

The awkwardness that Mitch produces also shows that he isn’t as direct and crude as the other men in the play. He fulfills the gentleman role, and acts polite, which is why he becomes nervous when he asks Blanche if he is permitted to kiss her. He shows these signs of embarrassment before asking such questions that carry more effect than usual, so that perhaps he could receive an answer due to his manners towards Blanche. He also does these nervous gestures when asked heavy questions, such as the ones concerning his mother.

Laughter: page 103, 122, 123

Blanche’s laughter is abundant throughout the play, and is used to represent her brushing off during conversations where she is the subject. Regardless of whether she is present or not, whenever her story features, or personality are talked about, she laughs as a sign of nervousness. This is as if to say, “no of course that isn’t true”, through the means of a simple action, which also implies that Blanche does have a lot that has been left unsaid, and perhaps the lies that Stanley has mentioned are in fact true.

Bathroom door is opened, closed: page 123, 124, 127

During the time that Blanche is in her bath, Stanley has been relaying the information he discovered concerning Blanche. In order to pause for the revelations that both Stella and the reader receive, the bathroom door signifies a lapse so that not too much information is crammed into their heads. This gives the reader time to think if they believe the stories to be true or not, and with the closing on the bathroom door, it signifies that the time for thinking is up, and the Stanley has more to tell.

Tinkles her highball glass: page 128

This signifies that she is going to have to drink a lot in order to retreat from the state of mind she will be in when she receives the news from Stella. She drinks throughout the play in order to do this, and because an entire pack of lies was just revealed to Stella, this resembles the massive amounts of drinking that Blanche will do later on.

Negro entertainers: page 131

After Stanley has had his outburst of rage, the blue piano, as played by the Negro entertainers, is heard. This symbolizes the sadness that Stella now faces, as she now knows that Blanche will find out what Stanley told her.

Grunts: page 132

This sound is used to show Stanley’s assimilation to an ape, and exactly how primitive he acts to assert his masculinity.

Phone: page 134, 160

The phone is a symbol for Blanche’s escape, as every day she expects a call from Shep Huntley, if he even exists. This call will take her away, away from the apartment that she’s trapped in and away from the era she’s trapped in, considering how Shep is an old friend. When Blanche is in the presence of Stanley before he sexually assaults her, the phone makes a clicking and rasping noise, symbolizing how her only chance at escaping has died.

Coughing, gagging: page 136

As Blanche finds out that she is going to be sent out of New Orleans, she proceeds to vomit as she was unprepared for the inevitable. Hence, the extremity of how hopeless Blanche is shown by displaying her sickness as she learns of her future departure.

Murmuring indistinguishably: page 138

This shows a new side to Stanley, as opposed to his usual loud and boisterous self, he has begun murmuring in an incomprehensible manner. This emphasizes the change that will take place when Stanley receives his child, and how he is excited in his anticipation to become a father.

Frightened gasp, cries out: page 144, 145

As the paper lantern comes off, her fear of being seen in the light rises. She doesn’t want to be seen for who she truly is, both literally and metaphorically. When the light comes off, the cry she emits shows her pain as she is seen clearly and plainly, without any protection to hide her.

Mexican flower vendor: page 147-149

The Mexican flower vender represents how her story and motivation is about to die, considering how the flowers being sold are for the dead. The death will be shown as Blanche orders Mitch to leave the house, which ends any prospect of them getting married. As she slams the door on the vendor’s face, this conveys a futile attempt to again, try and avoid the inevitable.

Mirror cracking, murmuring, moans, honky tonk music: page 151

The setting of this scene shows how Blanche has gone slightly deranged after sending Mitch out. As she begins talking to no one, the slamming of the mirror so that it cracks symbolizes how she has cracked, both mentally, meaning that she’s beginning to go insane, and in terms of her persona, as she will no longer be able to keep up her natural, cheery self. The honky tonk music symbolizes the upcoming slow and intimate conversation that she and Stanley will have, which will result in tragedy.

Struggle with prostitute and drunkard: page 159

This struggle will represent the events that are about to take place in the bedroom. However, neither of the two emerges victorious, as the policeman whistles in order to break it up. This leaves the reader to wonder if the struggle between Blanche and Stanley will end up resolved due to an unknown savior, or if it will go in favor of one of the combatants. The sight of the struggle realizes that what’s happened may happen to Blanche, causing her to speak in the phone in a hoarse whisper.

Cathedral bells: page 170

These bells signal the end for Blanche, as it is time for her to finally leave Stella’s apartment. Usually, these bells are used for telling the time, but in this case, the particular time is the one that indicates Blanche’s departure.