Exploring the Blue piano

Music and sound play an important role in Tennessee William’s telling of A Streetcar Named Desire. The most notable of devices used in the sounds of the play is the “Blue Piano.” The Blue Piano makes its appearance in multiple scenes in the play. The first appearance is on page 3 where the stage notes indicates, “this blue piano expresses the spirit of life which goes on here.” The spirit of life is obviously the ways of living in the New South. The integration of minorities, other races, depression and indulgence of vices all make up the New South as it is set in New Orleans. The Blue Piano also makes another appearance in the exchange between Blanche and Stanley “The barely audible ‘blue piano,’ begins to drum up louder… the sound of it turns into a roar of an approaching locomotive.” Although not expressly said, the Blue Piano can be inferred as symbolic of the “New South.” Consider the context when the Blue Piano is playing. The Blue Piano is seen playing in the stage notes whenever Stanley is present. On page 4, Stanley is seen coming around the corner to his flat as the Blue Piano is playing. Stanley is considered the character that embodies the “New South,” because of his mannerisms, who he is (immigrant roots), and serving as a foil for Blanche who represent the Old South.  The description of the sound represents the energy of the scene also. In the scene when Stanley is seen turning the corner the piano is presumed to be rather mellow and soft. However, on page 160 right before the climax of the rape scene, the energy in the scene is at an all time high. The piano is described in the stage notes as loud as an “approaching locomotive.” William’s is trying to tell us that the New South is at its strongest at this point. It’s interesting to note that Blanche doesn’t have any instruments to signify her presence. Another interesting aspect about the piano is that it is “blue,” a very calming or sometimes referred to as depressing color.