Tennessee Williams uses italics as a author would use imagery. He uses his italics to paint pictures for the reader of the play, in ways that most plays do not. Williams uses the italics to make sure that no small detail is left untouched by the reader's mind. He uses them to draw scenes through sound, scent and sight. He sets up mood and stage directions in ways that wouldn't be expected from a play script, but from a director.
First of all, Williams uses his italics to give us insight into the characters that, as a reader, we wouldn't get. Plays are mostly written to be watched, and through that logic, it is likely that we will never see physical attributes of characters, or how the playwright wanted them to be seen. This means that we lose some of the idea that the playwright had behind some of the characters. Williams makes it possible for us to see his every intention for what the characters looked like. This allows a reader, who hasn't seen the play, to understand what Williams intends to be seen on stage. This helps the reader to understand the play so much more, especially in a play that is as character driven as Streetcar.
Not only this, but Williams uses the italics to show what each character can smell, hear and see, something that makes the play more easily read, something which is integral to the way Williams presents the play. Not only does it help the play's readability, but it also helps a director to stage the play, how Williams would have wanted it to be. Again, this shows how much care Williams had towards his plays. He never directed a play, and therefore felt that by writing stage directions down in such detail, he was able to get across the message that he wanted to be seen by the audience, something which would have normally been difficult without directing the play himself.
First of all, Williams uses his italics to give us insight into the characters that, as a reader, we wouldn't get. Plays are mostly written to be watched, and through that logic, it is likely that we will never see physical attributes of characters, or how the playwright wanted them to be seen. This means that we lose some of the idea that the playwright had behind some of the characters. Williams makes it possible for us to see his every intention for what the characters looked like. This allows a reader, who hasn't seen the play, to understand what Williams intends to be seen on stage. This helps the reader to understand the play so much more, especially in a play that is as character driven as Streetcar.
Not only this, but Williams uses the italics to show what each character can smell, hear and see, something that makes the play more easily read, something which is integral to the way Williams presents the play. Not only does it help the play's readability, but it also helps a director to stage the play, how Williams would have wanted it to be. Again, this shows how much care Williams had towards his plays. He never directed a play, and therefore felt that by writing stage directions down in such detail, he was able to get across the message that he wanted to be seen by the audience, something which would have normally been difficult without directing the play himself.
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