P2+Kaitlin+S+and+Bridget+M


 * Varsouviana Polka**

By Kaitlin Schneider

The Varsouviana Polka is the song that always plays in Blanche’s head when she thinks of her deceased husband. Blanche had found her husband in bed with an older man. The three pretended nothing had happened and went out dancing. While they were out, “Blanche suddenly told Allen that he disgusted her”. He proceeded to leave and shoot himself, because he was overcome with shame (“The Significance of the Music..”). Throughout the play, the polka is “distorted” in a way that makes it full of tension. The tension and sadness represents how she feels about the memories of her husband’s death. In effect, the polka represents tragedy in Blanche’s life (“Language and Style”).

Works Cited -"Language & Style." //Under Construction//. Web. 07 Jan. 2010.

-"The Significance of the Music in "A Streetcar Named Desire" -." //Associated Content –

associatedcontent.com//. Web. 06 Jan. 2010.


 * Tragedy**

By Kaitlin Schneider

Tragedies are defined as a type of story that illustrates one’s downfall. It originated with Aristotle who analyzed it. It usually involves questions of human existence such as “Why are we here?” Throughout out the centuries, there have been different themes emphasized. The 17th century emphasized violence and conflict with love. The 18th century emphasized drama based around middle-class characters. 19th century focused more on romance. There are four main types of tragedy. Classical tragedy portrays heroes falling due to an error of judgment. Romantic tragedies tend to focus more on characters rather than plot. Today’s tragedy combine classical and romantic tragedy and tend to focus on common people. Tragicomedy is a plot that does not usually end in disaster and uses humor, especially satire.

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Thomas Lanier Williams was born on March 26, 1911 in Columbia, Mississippi. Williams father was from Tennessee, so in 1939 Williams moved to New Orleans where he changed his name to “Tennessee” after his father. Tennessee has been claimed as “One of America’s greatest playwrights, and certainly the greatest ever from the south” (Cash). When Tennessee was young his father favored his younger brother, Dakin, his mother was borderline hysteria, and his sister, Rose was diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age. Rose was put in an institution and later had a surgery that incapacitated her for the rest of her life. Despite all the depression in his life, Tennessee found motivation from his family problems. He used his experiences for inspiration and put himself in his stories. This is one reason why Tennessee Williams is considered one of the greatest playwrights. Tennessee’s success started at the early age of 16 when he won third place for an essay, “Can a Good Wife Be a Good Sport?” He continued to write and by 1935 his work was produced by a community theater in Memphis, Tennessee. Tennessee moved around a lot, and while he was in New Orleans in the 40’s he found Frank Merlo, whom he fell in love with and married. Merlo died of caner in 1963, but while she was living she provided stability for Tennessee and during this time is when he created some of his most enduring works. On February 24, 1983 Tennessee Williams choked to death on the bottle cap from his eye drops. Tennessee’s body was buried in St. Louis Missouri and his literary rights were left to The University of the South to honor his grandfather who had attended the university. Williams writing live on and in 1989 he was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.======

Works Cited:
- Cash, Eric W. "Tennessee Williams." The Mississippi. 29 Nov. 2007. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. - "Tennessee Williams -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 10 Jan. 2010.

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The Napoleonic Code originated in Europe as a French civil code. The code was created under Napoleon I in the 1800’s and had a major impact on the civil legal system. This Code prevented privileges based on birth, and permitted freedom of speech. The Napoleonic Code also made it so that government jobs were given to the most qualified. The Code was enacted on March 21, 1804, and is a contributing factor in establishing the rule of law. The Napoleonic Code has been referred to as “one of the few documents which has influenced the whole world” (Napoleonic). The foundation for the Napoleonic Code was taken from Roman law as well as Justinian’s Corpus Juris Civil. Previously, laws in France were not clear and for the most part based on status. Napoleon was determined to make the law more clear; the Napoleonic Code is complied of three parts, the law of persons, the law of property, and acquisition of property. The Napoleonic Code was one of the first organized form of law to rule France and is part of the base for the government France has now.======

Works Cited:
- "Napoleonic code -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 10 Jan. 2010.

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New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana and also a major U.S. Port. In the 40’s and 50’s New Orleans experienced a time of economic trouble as well as a civil right struggle. New Orleans went through a lot of changes that started around the 60’s, but the 40’s and 50’s was the time of the old Orleans. The popular and historical means of transportation in New Orleans are the streetcar lines. By the 50’s only three streetcar lines remained; St. Charles Avenue, Canal Street, and the Desire Streetcar and out of those three only the St. Charles line still stands. New Orleans streetcars “were also featured in the Tennessee Williams play, A Streetcar Named Desire. The streetcar line to Desire Street became a bus line in 1948” ("New Orleans"). Williams used the old Orleans culture and experiences in his play that “deals with a culture clash between two ionic characters” ("A Streetcar Named Desire"). Williams uses New Orleans as an example of the ‘Old South’.======

Works Cited:

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- "A Streetcar Named Desire (play) -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. - "New Orleans -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. - "Streetcars | At New Orleans." At New Orleans French Quarter, Jackson Square, attractions, Mardi Gras, artists, museums, maps, plantations. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. ======
 * Elysian Fields**

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Elysian Fields/plains is a mythological term. In Greek Mythology Elysian Fields is located in Elysium, which is referring to a section of the underworld. The Elysian Fields “were the final resting place of the souls of the heroic and the virtuous” ("Elysian Fields"). The name Elysium evolves from a place or person struck by lightning. In Greek mythology this could be a reference to Zeus who is the god of lightning. In other words, the word Elysium could mean, “the person was blessed (struck) by Zeus (lightning)” ("Elysian Fields"). Scholars have also suggested that the term may have derived from an Egyptian term that is a reference to a paradisaical land. In the play “A Streetcar Named Desire” Elysian Fields is the purgatory where Blanche Dubois's sister lives, referred to as "paradise beyond death" ("A Streetcar Named Desire"). Blanche goes there to save herself from a misery she has brought upon herself. It is a symbolism showing how Blanche is trying to save herself from the misery and remorse she has been feeling.======

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- "A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)." Greatest Films - The Best Movies in Cinematic History. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. ======


 * Belle Reve**

By Kaitlin Schneider

Belle Reve literally means ‘beautiful dream’ in French. In the play A Streetcar Named Desire, this term refers to a family estate left to Blanche and Stella, two orphaned girls. Due to unnecessary spending, the mansion and property are lost to the girls (“WikiAnswers…”). After that, the estate truly is a dream to Blanche Dubois, who runs off to live with her sister. There, she is shocked by the urban culture in which her sister lives (“A Streetcar Named…”). As Blanche tells her sister how “distasteful” she finds her sister’s living conditions, she also blames her for the loss of the estate. Blanche says she “abandoned the family home and left Blanche to struggle alone” (A Streetcar Named…Study Guide”). Much of the play involves Stella’s husband trying to find out the truth about Blanche and what happened to Belle Reve.

Works Cited

-"WikiAnswers - What is Belle Reve in a streetcar named desire?." WikiAnswers - The

Q&A wiki. Web. 06 Jan. 2010.

-"A Streetcar Named Desire (play) -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 11 Jan.

2010.

-"A Streetcar Named Desire: Study Guide." Imagi-nation.com. Web. 11 Jan. 2010.