A review by giuliana_ferrari
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Really torn in how to rate this book. In one hand, literature classics are classics for a reason; Williams' deconstruction of the human psique is worthy of the recognition this book got over the decades. In the other hand, I'll always have problems recommending books that contain racial slurs and 
a not explicit but clear rape scene, even though one could argue the scene is important for the transformation of Stanley into the fully fledged villlain of the story and Blanche's ultimate downfall into madness
. It was in some instances a subtle study on mental illness, with shadows and clever directions to indicate Blanche's downwards spiral into a dark place of hysteria and delusion. But the hysteria on itself can feel tired and misogynistic. In the end, I decided to increase 0.25 points to the score to allow for a reread in the future that might make me better understand the brilliance of William's play.
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