Compare the presentation and functions of the openings of two plays you have studied.

Both the openings of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire(1947) and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman(1949) are effective in providing details regarding their plays’ settings and character intentions, whilst also adumbrating to later dramatic events.  However, the evident contrasts between the two openings must be noted as Williams uses the initial opening of his play to establish Blanche’s displacement in the “cosmopolitan city” of New Orleans, whereas, Miller uses it to portray Willy’s exhaustion and failure of the typical American Dream. Despite these differences, both Tennessee and Williams utilise varied lighting, music and properties to initially establish their plays’ key themes, tensions and relationships. Interestingly, both playwrights utilise the opening of their plays to provide a clear setting for dramatic effect, for instance, Streetcar’svibrant New Orleans and Salesman’surban New York City.    
During the opening of scene one, Williams draws upon the juxtaposition between the initial setting of the stage and Blanche’s extravagant appearance and costume consisting of a “white suit with a fluffy bodice”. The apparent contrast between the two is played upon to first present Blanche’s inevitable demise due to her lack of belonging within the fast paced, “cosmopolitan city” of New Orleans. Specifically, music is employed by Williams and used to construct the atmosphere of the vibrant, unconventional city which is then greatly contrasted to Blanche. This is shown as the play opens with “the music of the ‘blue piano’” which is “played with the inflated fluency of brown fingers”, expressing “the spirit of life”. The interesting and specific reference to “brown fingers” within this stage direction, establishes a great sense of cultural diversity and integration within the city. In terms of Blanche, Williams first describes her upon arriving in New Orleans as “incongruous to this setting”, therefore implying, through her costume, that Blanche’s “fluffy”, “delicate beauty” will not survive in the ever-changing atmosphere of the city. This simple yet effective juxtaposition between the physical appearance of New Orleans and the characterisation of Blanche, therefore, foreshadows to the audience Blanche’s alienation and lack of belonging in New Orleans, thus adumbrating to her demise.