Aristotle’s Three UnitiesAristotle’s Three Unities

Unity of action Tragedy should follow a single action, from start to finish

Unity of time Tragedy usually takes place over one day: “Tragedy

endeavours, as far as possible, to confine itself to a single revolution of the sun, or but slightly to exceed this limit”

Unity of place Aristotle says little about this, but later scholars interpret

his work as suggesting Classical Tragedy should be confined to one location. Contextual reasons for this…?

What are the importance of time and place in Streetcar?

The setting of the playThe setting of the playKey questions:Key questions:Where and when is this play set?Where and when is this play set?What is the significance of time What is the significance of time

and place here?and place here?

Elysian fields - Elysian fields - in Greek mythology, the final in Greek mythology, the final resting places of the souls of the heroic and resting places of the souls of the heroic and the virtuousthe virtuous

L&N tracks – Louisville & Nashville rail built in 1855 and expanded to New Orleans in 1881 to transport products in and out of US

River – The Mississippi

Streetcar Historical backgroundStreetcar Historical backgroundWilliams was working on the play during the Second Williams was working on the play during the Second World War; the play is set in the immediate post-War World War; the play is set in the immediate post-War years. We discover that Stanley served in WWII.years. We discover that Stanley served in WWII.

The play is set in the American south, in New Orleans.The play is set in the American south, in New Orleans.

What are the importance of time and place in Streetcar?

The Deep SouthThe Deep SouthWhat do you know of the “Deep South”?What do you know of the “Deep South”?

Pre-Civil War (1861-65), the American South Pre-Civil War (1861-65), the American South was to a great extent representative of the was to a great extent representative of the stereotypical image of the country – with stereotypical image of the country – with cotton plantations, a landed elite who cotton plantations, a landed elite who flaunted their inherited wealth and gentility flaunted their inherited wealth and gentility and a and a slavery systemslavery system based around the based around the flourishing industries of tobacco and cotton.flourishing industries of tobacco and cotton.

What are the importance of time and place in Streetcar?

Slavery and The Civil WarSlavery and The Civil War While slavery was unpopular in the Northern States, the Southern While slavery was unpopular in the Northern States, the Southern

States regarded it as essential for their tobacco and cotton States regarded it as essential for their tobacco and cotton industries.industries.

When Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860 he promised When Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860 he promised (in a bid to keep the Union from breaking up) that slavery would (in a bid to keep the Union from breaking up) that slavery would continue to be legal in states where it already existed – this continue to be legal in states where it already existed – this divided the country.divided the country.

At first the Northern half of the United States wanted only to stop At first the Northern half of the United States wanted only to stop slavery spreading to other states, but gradually as abolitionist slavery spreading to other states, but gradually as abolitionist (anti-slavery) feeling grew stronger, the total abolition of slavery (anti-slavery) feeling grew stronger, the total abolition of slavery became the declared aim of the North.became the declared aim of the North.

The Civil War (1861-65) occurred when the Southern States tried The Civil War (1861-65) occurred when the Southern States tried to separate from the Union in order to protect their “state rights” – to separate from the Union in order to protect their “state rights” – amongst them the right to practice slavery.amongst them the right to practice slavery.

The American Civil War ended with the Confederate surrender in The American Civil War ended with the Confederate surrender in April 1865. As the Southern States had lost the war, many April 1865. As the Southern States had lost the war, many Southerners looked back wistfully to the plantation life that had Southerners looked back wistfully to the plantation life that had characterised the antebellum (pre-Civil War) south.characterised the antebellum (pre-Civil War) south.

The American DreamThe American Dream As the traditional South As the traditional South

declined, the Northern declined, the Northern States prospered. Industry States prospered. Industry flourished and immigrants flourished and immigrants from all over the world from all over the world arrived to make America arrived to make America their new home in a bid to their new home in a bid to achieve the American achieve the American Dream...Dream...

But what is “the American But what is “the American Dream”?Dream”?

Immigration into the USAImmigration into the USA Chinese Exclusion Act 1882 – capped number of Chinese people

allowed to immigrate into the US. By 1907, a government commissioned report found that

European immigration into the US had shifted from NW Europe to SE Europe

Influx of southern and eastern Europeans became known, from 1880s on, as the “ New Immigration.”

Between 1880 and 1924, in excess of 2 million eastern Europeans arrived in US. Primarily, these from Poland, and were either Catholic or Jewish.

Immigration was restricted by the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924, designed to curb the tide of New Immigration.

A literacy requirement was also made mandatory in 1917; this was designed to restrict the number of “ unskilled” immigrants.

New OrleansNew Orleans

The New The New Orleans Orleans SettingSetting

New Orleans was once the New Orleans was once the major city of its region.major city of its region.

It is a port town; as such, it It is a port town; as such, it was an incredibly was an incredibly multicultural placemulticultural place

In particular, a distinct In particular, a distinct Louisiana Creole culture Louisiana Creole culture emerged from the mix of emerged from the mix of French, Haitian, and French, Haitian, and Spanish settlersSpanish settlers

In the C19, there were a large In the C19, there were a large number of free black people in NO. number of free black people in NO.

But the city, as a major port, also But the city, as a major port, also boasted the region’s largest slave boasted the region’s largest slave market.market.

In the C19, the city had black In the C19, the city had black elected representatives, and an elected representatives, and an integrated school system – but this integrated school system – but this latter would be reversed by latter would be reversed by Democrats in the C20.Democrats in the C20.

(Democrats/Dixiecrats/(Democrats/Dixiecrats/Republicans/Civil Rights Republicans/Civil Rights movement) movement)

The New Orleans SettingThe New Orleans Setting N.O. is known for its N.O. is known for its

festival season, especially festival season, especially Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday” Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday” – Shrove Tuesday)– Shrove Tuesday)

The religious/spiritual The religious/spiritual culture of the area is culture of the area is syncreticsyncretic – a blend of – a blend of Catholicism (from France Catholicism (from France and Span) and African and Span) and African religious practicesreligious practices

N.O. is associated with N.O. is associated with Voodoo – this is different Voodoo – this is different from, but related to, from, but related to, Haitian Vodou, and Haitian Vodou, and HoodooHoodoo

Haitian culture has Haitian culture has affected N.O. – many affected N.O. – many Haitians immigrated to the Haitians immigrated to the areaarea

N.O. is also known for N.O. is also known for its cuisine, especially its cuisine, especially Gumbo – again, a Gumbo – again, a culturally mixed dish, culturally mixed dish, drawing on French, drawing on French, Spanish, and African Spanish, and African traditionstraditions

For many, N.O. is also For many, N.O. is also the home of jazz the home of jazz music – many notable music – many notable jazz musicians hail jazz musicians hail from NO; the show from NO; the show TremeTreme is in many is in many ways a showcase for ways a showcase for current jazz talent.current jazz talent.

Brief history of jazz & Brief history of jazz & blues...blues...