BLANCHE: I don't see where you're going to put me!
Blanche knows that there's no place for her in Stanley and Stella's home. She knows that she doesn't belong.
BLANCHE: Wonderful, honey.
She knows that she's already complained far too much and she tones it down. The bed situation is far from wonderful or ideal but Blanche pretends that everything is fine for Stella's sake.
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Sunday, 30 October 2016
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: Stella, there's - only two rooms?
The apartment is quite claustrophobic and is too small for three people to live together. It tells us that our characters cannot get away from each other. There is no privacy. This becomes a problem later on in the play.
The apartment is quite claustrophobic and is too small for three people to live together. It tells us that our characters cannot get away from each other. There is no privacy. This becomes a problem later on in the play.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: You see I still have that awful vanity about my looks even now that my looks are slipping.
This line suggests that Blanche's vanity and narcissism is really just a facade and she doesn't think very highly of herself. It would explain why she is so desperate for compliments and for other people to tell her that she is beautiful.
This line suggests that Blanche's vanity and narcissism is really just a facade and she doesn't think very highly of herself. It would explain why she is so desperate for compliments and for other people to tell her that she is beautiful.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: I want you to look at my figure! You know I haven't put on one ounce in ten years, Stella?
This is another quote that makes Blanche seem vain and suggests that she puts a heavy amount of importance on her body. It evokes pity when we see how desperate she is for validation.
This is another quote that makes Blanche seem vain and suggests that she puts a heavy amount of importance on her body. It evokes pity when we see how desperate she is for validation.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: ... like a cherub in choir ...
This is an example of religious imagery. Blanche calls Stella's self control "beautiful" showing that she thinks Stella's purity is admirable - suggesting that she may be jealous of the way Stella appears like a cherub in choir, suggesting that she wants her 'purity' back.
This is an example of religious imagery. Blanche calls Stella's self control "beautiful" showing that she thinks Stella's purity is admirable - suggesting that she may be jealous of the way Stella appears like a cherub in choir, suggesting that she wants her 'purity' back.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: You hear me? I said stand up!
This is very demanding and Stella only complies reluctantly. This shows Blanche as controlling and Stella as submissive and weak.
BLANCHE: You messy child... you've spilled something ... you ought to have it (her hair) cut."
Blanche acts almost motherly to Stella but still vet controlling. This hints that Blanche has been trying to take control of her life. We know that she struggled with trying to be in control of Belle Reve but she hasn't been able to. She can only get Stella to do what she wants because Stella is a very weak-willed person, especially at the start of the novel.
This is very demanding and Stella only complies reluctantly. This shows Blanche as controlling and Stella as submissive and weak.
BLANCHE: You messy child... you've spilled something ... you ought to have it (her hair) cut."
Blanche acts almost motherly to Stella but still vet controlling. This hints that Blanche has been trying to take control of her life. We know that she struggled with trying to be in control of Belle Reve but she hasn't been able to. She can only get Stella to do what she wants because Stella is a very weak-willed person, especially at the start of the novel.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: You haven't said a word about my appearance.
Again, this shows Blanche's need for validation and compliments. It shows that her body and her appearance is all she feels that she has left. This explains why she finds her safety in sex - she feels her body is all she has to offer.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: You're just as plump as a little partridge!
Firstly, Stella will be putting on weight as we know she's pregnant. This makes Blanche out to be quite observant for noticing this. This shows a side to Blanche that doesn't quite match what we've seen so far. Up to this point, she's been self-absorbed and too panicked to think things through. She's been saying things without thinking and been unable to consider consequence. This is not someone who we'd expect to immediately notice the telltale signs of pregnancy. This shows us, for starters, that the stress is affecting Blanche and she wouldn't usually be as bad as she is now if not for her current situation. It also shows Blanche as a nuanced character.
Secondly, this shows that Blanche does not only pay attention to her own body but the bodies of others. She's very vain, likely due to her upbringing.
Finally, this shows Blanche's lack of boundaries. She openly comments on her sister putting on weight, which most would consider quite insulting. It contrasts against the first point. She notices enough to realize there is a baby bump but she doesn't notice that these comments are rude.
Firstly, Stella will be putting on weight as we know she's pregnant. This makes Blanche out to be quite observant for noticing this. This shows a side to Blanche that doesn't quite match what we've seen so far. Up to this point, she's been self-absorbed and too panicked to think things through. She's been saying things without thinking and been unable to consider consequence. This is not someone who we'd expect to immediately notice the telltale signs of pregnancy. This shows us, for starters, that the stress is affecting Blanche and she wouldn't usually be as bad as she is now if not for her current situation. It also shows Blanche as a nuanced character.
Secondly, this shows that Blanche does not only pay attention to her own body but the bodies of others. She's very vain, likely due to her upbringing.
Finally, this shows Blanche's lack of boundaries. She openly comments on her sister putting on weight, which most would consider quite insulting. It contrasts against the first point. She notices enough to realize there is a baby bump but she doesn't notice that these comments are rude.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: No, one's my limit.
Blanche is a very confident liar, which shows how used to it she has become. It's somewhat disrespectful to move in with people, drink their liquor and then lie about it considering that Blanche wants to make a good impression on her new living mates.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: So Mr Graves - Mr Graves is the high school superintendent...
Graves has obvious links to death. Mr Graves was the one who sent her away from Laurel by kicking her out of her job and asking her to 'take a leave of absence.' This could link to how the death of her family, her families graves, are what made her leave Laurel in a broader sense - she'd have been in a better mental state and not have been so reliant on sex if her family hadn't died in her arms. It could also suggest that Mr Graves was the one pushing her towards her metaphorical grave.
BLANCHE: Oh, this buzzes right through me and feels so good!
After this, she changes the subject quickly again - back to the drink.
Graves has obvious links to death. Mr Graves was the one who sent her away from Laurel by kicking her out of her job and asking her to 'take a leave of absence.' This could link to how the death of her family, her families graves, are what made her leave Laurel in a broader sense - she'd have been in a better mental state and not have been so reliant on sex if her family hadn't died in her arms. It could also suggest that Mr Graves was the one pushing her towards her metaphorical grave.
BLANCHE: Oh, this buzzes right through me and feels so good!
After this, she changes the subject quickly again - back to the drink.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: I was on the verge of--lunacy, almost!
Blanche admits that she was already at breaking point before she arrived. She must know that Stella can plainly see how bad she's become.
Blanche admits that she was already at breaking point before she arrived. She must know that Stella can plainly see how bad she's become.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE:
You haven't asked me how I happened to get away from the school before the spring term ended.
STELLA:
Well, I thought you'd volunteer that information--if you wanted to tell me.
BLANCHE:
You thought I'd been fired?
Blanche doesn't avoid this subject at all. She doesn't want to avoid lying about anything, she wants to let Stella do know she's doing fine. She brings it up because she doesn't want Stella to think she'd been fired - because she cares a great deal about what Stella thinks of her.
You haven't asked me how I happened to get away from the school before the spring term ended.
STELLA:
Well, I thought you'd volunteer that information--if you wanted to tell me.
BLANCHE:
You thought I'd been fired?
Blanche doesn't avoid this subject at all. She doesn't want to avoid lying about anything, she wants to let Stella do know she's doing fine. She brings it up because she doesn't want Stella to think she'd been fired - because she cares a great deal about what Stella thinks of her.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: The subject is closed!
This shows that Blanche can read some social clues and that she's not totally socially unaware. Also, this shows that she doesn't really want to upset her sister. The use of the exclamation mark shows how dramatically Blanche says it and how much emphasis her actress must put on certain lines. It adds emotion to her line and, as Blanche has a lot of exclamation points at the end of her lines, shows that Blanche has a lot of emotional outbursts.
This shows that Blanche can read some social clues and that she's not totally socially unaware. Also, this shows that she doesn't really want to upset her sister. The use of the exclamation mark shows how dramatically Blanche says it and how much emphasis her actress must put on certain lines. It adds emotion to her line and, as Blanche has a lot of exclamation points at the end of her lines, shows that Blanche has a lot of emotional outbursts.
Quotes from Scene1
BLANCHE: Never, never, never in my worst dreams could I picture--Only Poe! Only Mr. Edgar Allan Poe!--could do it justice! Out there I suppose is the ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir!
This shows us how prone to exaggeration and hyperbole Blanche is but also tells us how disgusted Blanche is. She feels so strongly because of the background that the girls come from such a high class background. Blanche also repeats the word 'never' three times for dramatic effect. Never is a negative word and therefore represents Blanche's negative feelings towards the area that she's in and tells an audience how strong those feelings are.
STELLA:
No, honey, those are the L & N tracks.
BLANCHE:
No, now seriously, putting joking aside. Why didn't you tell me, why didn't you write me, honey,
why didn't you let me know?
No is the first word in both of these lines. The three together go 'Never, no, no.' This is very negative. The atmosphere previous to this was positive and showed two sisters seeing each other again however it dies down very quickly due to Blanche's insults at Stella's home.
This shows us how prone to exaggeration and hyperbole Blanche is but also tells us how disgusted Blanche is. She feels so strongly because of the background that the girls come from such a high class background. Blanche also repeats the word 'never' three times for dramatic effect. Never is a negative word and therefore represents Blanche's negative feelings towards the area that she's in and tells an audience how strong those feelings are.
STELLA:
No, honey, those are the L & N tracks.
BLANCHE:
No, now seriously, putting joking aside. Why didn't you tell me, why didn't you write me, honey,
why didn't you let me know?
No is the first word in both of these lines. The three together go 'Never, no, no.' This is very negative. The atmosphere previous to this was positive and showed two sisters seeing each other again however it dies down very quickly due to Blanche's insults at Stella's home.
Quotes from Scene 1
STELLA: Stanley? Bowling! He loves it. They're having a--found some soda!--tournament...
The conversation between these characters flows naturally as if the audience were listening in to a regular conversation. This makes it feel as if we're getting to see behind closed doors and looking into private lives that we usually wouldn't get to see.
Quotes from Scene 1
[She rushes to the closet and removes the bottle; she is shaking all over and panting for breath as
she tries to laugh. The bottle nearly slips from her grasp.]
She tries to laugh which shows us that she is pretending to be okay and trying to act normal, however she is clearly distressed from her shaking and panting and cannot contain herself. It also shows us that Blanche needs alcohol as she is becoming dependent. Again, this creates wonder about her past and tells us that she's been through before she got here.
She tries to laugh which shows us that she is pretending to be okay and trying to act normal, however she is clearly distressed from her shaking and panting and cannot contain herself. It also shows us that Blanche needs alcohol as she is becoming dependent. Again, this creates wonder about her past and tells us that she's been through before she got here.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: Where could it be, I wonder?
Blanche pretends not to know where the liquor is, therefore she is pretending that she hasn't drank any of it. This is a telltale sign of alcoholism and also shows us that Blanche is accustomed to lying.
Blanche pretends not to know where the liquor is, therefore she is pretending that she hasn't drank any of it. This is a telltale sign of alcoholism and also shows us that Blanche is accustomed to lying.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: I thought you would never come back to this horrible place! What am I saying? I didn't mean to
say that. I meant to be nice about it and say--Oh, what a convenient location and such--Haa-ha!
Precious lamb! You haven't said a word to me.
This shows that Blanche speaks without thinking. Like with being rude to Eunice, she doesn't seem to be able to think of the effect of her words until after she's said them and she cannot think consequences through.
This shows that Blanche speaks without thinking. Like with being rude to Eunice, she doesn't seem to be able to think of the effect of her words until after she's said them and she cannot think consequences through.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE:
Now, then, let me look at you. But don't you look at me, Stella, no, no, no, not till later, not till
I've bathed and rested! And turn that over-light off! Turn that off! I won't be looked at in this
merciless glare!
This tells us that Blanche cares a lot about what Stella thinks of her and what Stella thinks of her appearance. When she cares about Stanley and Mitch thinking of her as being good looking we can assume that she wants them to be attracted to her or that she has experienced some attraction towards them. We know this is not the case with Stella as they are related. So this comes from a place of insecurity and a need for validation from everyone around her regardless of who it is. This tells us that Blanche's self esteem is ruined.
This tells us that Blanche cares a lot about what Stella thinks of her and what Stella thinks of her appearance. When she cares about Stanley and Mitch thinking of her as being good looking we can assume that she wants them to be attracted to her or that she has experienced some attraction towards them. We know this is not the case with Stella as they are related. So this comes from a place of insecurity and a need for validation from everyone around her regardless of who it is. This tells us that Blanche's self esteem is ruined.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: Stella, oh, Stella, Stella! Stella for Star!
Firstly, there's a great deal of repetition here of Stella's name.
"Repetition is a major rhetorical strategy for producing emphasis, clarity, amplification, or emotional effect."
In this, the repetition has been done for emotional effect. It shows Blanche's excitement to see her sister. The way she speaks is described as "with feverish vivacity." This makes us think that Blanche has not seen her sister in a long time and also paints a very positive relationship between these two sisters. It also shows instability in Blanche as she cannot at all control her emotional outbursts - hers is much more extreme than her sisters - and that she repeats herself a lot through the course of the play. Blanche shows a deal of minor symptoms early on suggesting that she may not be in a good place mentally and this acts as foreshadowing for later on when her symptoms grow worse. It also makes her mental decline more realistic.
Blanche calls her Stella for Star because Stella means Star in Latin. This is quite simple but the meaning of her name has been mentioned and highlighted by Williams for a reason. Stars are considered to be very beautiful and positive. They also have a lot of connotations with predicting the future in astrology - whether positive or negative. This could be ironic as, at this point, neither Blanche or Stella can predict what is about to happen later on. Stars also have heavy connotations with dreams and wishes - wishing upon a star. This links to Blanches fantasy's and Stella living her dream life. A 'star' may also be a successful person or a famous person or someone who is excellent at a certain thing (eg. a star football player), this is, again, ironic as Stella seems to have no ambition beyond living with her husband and being a housewife. The further into the past you go, the more 'successful' this would seem for women. Most people within a modern audiences would not be inclined to see this as totally successful. Streetcar was written in 1947 when women could work and had the right to vote yet attitudes would have varied on this and sexism was still prevalent. Regardless of audience interpretation. Stella sees herself a successful and living her dream life, having all she's ever wanted.
Firstly, there's a great deal of repetition here of Stella's name.
"Repetition is a major rhetorical strategy for producing emphasis, clarity, amplification, or emotional effect."
In this, the repetition has been done for emotional effect. It shows Blanche's excitement to see her sister. The way she speaks is described as "with feverish vivacity." This makes us think that Blanche has not seen her sister in a long time and also paints a very positive relationship between these two sisters. It also shows instability in Blanche as she cannot at all control her emotional outbursts - hers is much more extreme than her sisters - and that she repeats herself a lot through the course of the play. Blanche shows a deal of minor symptoms early on suggesting that she may not be in a good place mentally and this acts as foreshadowing for later on when her symptoms grow worse. It also makes her mental decline more realistic.
Blanche calls her Stella for Star because Stella means Star in Latin. This is quite simple but the meaning of her name has been mentioned and highlighted by Williams for a reason. Stars are considered to be very beautiful and positive. They also have a lot of connotations with predicting the future in astrology - whether positive or negative. This could be ironic as, at this point, neither Blanche or Stella can predict what is about to happen later on. Stars also have heavy connotations with dreams and wishes - wishing upon a star. This links to Blanches fantasy's and Stella living her dream life. A 'star' may also be a successful person or a famous person or someone who is excellent at a certain thing (eg. a star football player), this is, again, ironic as Stella seems to have no ambition beyond living with her husband and being a housewife. The further into the past you go, the more 'successful' this would seem for women. Most people within a modern audiences would not be inclined to see this as totally successful. Streetcar was written in 1947 when women could work and had the right to vote yet attitudes would have varied on this and sexism was still prevalent. Regardless of audience interpretation. Stella sees herself a successful and living her dream life, having all she's ever wanted.
Saturday, 29 October 2016
Quotes from Scene 1
STELLA [calling out joyfully]:
Blanche!
[For a moment they stare at each other. Then Blanche springs up and runs to her with a wild cry.]
The first interaction between the two sisters in very positive and shows that the sisters love each other very much. This raises certain questions. Why was Blanche so nervous before? What's she so afraid of? They don't seem to have seen each other in a while, why is that? This makes an audience curious and want to watch on - sustained interest.
[For a moment they stare at each other. Then Blanche springs up and runs to her with a wild cry.]
The first interaction between the two sisters in very positive and shows that the sisters love each other very much. This raises certain questions. Why was Blanche so nervous before? What's she so afraid of? They don't seem to have seen each other in a while, why is that? This makes an audience curious and want to watch on - sustained interest.
Quotes from Scene 1
"Blanche sits in a chair very stiffly with her shoulders slightly hunched and her legs pressed close
together and her hands tightly clutching her purse as if she were quite cold. After a while the
blind look goes out of her eyes and she begins to look slowly around."
"She pours a half tumbler of whiskey and tosses it down. She carefully replaces the bottle and washes out the tumbler at the sink. Then she resumes her seat in front of the table."
Blanche's body language tells us that she's very scared and very out of place and uncomfortable. An audience may wonder what she has to be afraid of in her own sisters home. Her response here is to seek comfort in alcohol and have a drink. This shows dependency straight off the bat. She takes the whiskey back with no problem, it seems, so she must be accustomed to drinking liquor and accustomed to taking it straight. Not only this, but she knows to hide the evidence that she's drank by carefully replacing the bottle and washing the tumbler she drank from. These are telltale signs of alcoholism which makes us, again, curious about her backstory and situation and what made her the way that she is.
"She pours a half tumbler of whiskey and tosses it down. She carefully replaces the bottle and washes out the tumbler at the sink. Then she resumes her seat in front of the table."
Blanche's body language tells us that she's very scared and very out of place and uncomfortable. An audience may wonder what she has to be afraid of in her own sisters home. Her response here is to seek comfort in alcohol and have a drink. This shows dependency straight off the bat. She takes the whiskey back with no problem, it seems, so she must be accustomed to drinking liquor and accustomed to taking it straight. Not only this, but she knows to hide the evidence that she's drank by carefully replacing the bottle and washing the tumbler she drank from. These are telltale signs of alcoholism which makes us, again, curious about her backstory and situation and what made her the way that she is.
Quotes from Scene 1
EUNICE: I think she said you taught school.
BLANCHE: Yes.
...
B:ANCHE: What I meant was that I'd like to be left alone.
Blanche gives short snappy answers in this scene which are quite rude. When analyzing this scene, we can wonder what Williams intentions were. Did he want us to like Blanche when she is portrayed as rude in the first scene? Was she made this way to make her seem more like a real person with real flaws? She tells Stella that she's brought nice clothes to meet her friends in - suggesting she wants to make a good impression - however, she doesn't try here with Eunice. This seems as if Blanche is not aware of the consequences of what she says - not realizing the impression this will make on Eunice.
BLANCHE: Yes.
...
B:ANCHE: What I meant was that I'd like to be left alone.
Blanche gives short snappy answers in this scene which are quite rude. When analyzing this scene, we can wonder what Williams intentions were. Did he want us to like Blanche when she is portrayed as rude in the first scene? Was she made this way to make her seem more like a real person with real flaws? She tells Stella that she's brought nice clothes to meet her friends in - suggesting she wants to make a good impression - however, she doesn't try here with Eunice. This seems as if Blanche is not aware of the consequences of what she says - not realizing the impression this will make on Eunice.
Quotes from Scene 1
EUNICE: Por nada, as the Mexicans say.
Firstly, Blanche associated the 'Mexican Woman' with death so this is not a welcoming statement and would not stir positive emotions with Blanche.
Firstly, Blanche associated the 'Mexican Woman' with death so this is not a welcoming statement and would not stir positive emotions with Blanche.
Quotes from Scene 1
EUNICE: She wasn't expecting you?
BLANCHE: No, not tonight.
Blanche showed up early out of desperation. We can tell that Blanche had no choice but to come early and we wonder what forced her to do this. This creates interest about her backstory and her situation.
BLANCHE: No, not tonight.
Blanche showed up early out of desperation. We can tell that Blanche had no choice but to come early and we wonder what forced her to do this. This creates interest about her backstory and her situation.
Quotes from Scene 1
EUNICE: .. You want to leave your suitcase here an' go find her?
BLANCHE: No.
Blanche wants to go in and sit down initially because she is tired and she wants to be alone. It also probably has something to do with vanity and not wanting anyone to see her when she's not powdered. Conversely, Blanche is scared of being alone and wants Stella. This shows that Blanche doesn't seem to know what's best for her and that her needs are conflicting. She says later that she needs to be around someone and that's why she won't put up in a hotel but she'd rather be alone in this scene than go join a group of people in the bowling alley.
BLANCHE: No.
Blanche wants to go in and sit down initially because she is tired and she wants to be alone. It also probably has something to do with vanity and not wanting anyone to see her when she's not powdered. Conversely, Blanche is scared of being alone and wants Stella. This shows that Blanche doesn't seem to know what's best for her and that her needs are conflicting. She says later that she needs to be around someone and that's why she won't put up in a hotel but she'd rather be alone in this scene than go join a group of people in the bowling alley.
Quotes from Scene 1
EUNICE: You noticed that bowling alley around the corner?
BLANCHE: I'm - not sure I did.
Blanche dismissed the area straight away. She did not give Elysian fields a chance because she viewed it as being beneath her and too different from what she was used to. Blanche's upbringing taught her that she was better than the people in Elysian fields and she doesn't know how to come down from her pedestal or how to change at all. She's very much stuck in her way of seeing things.
BLANCHE: I'm - not sure I did.
Blanche dismissed the area straight away. She did not give Elysian fields a chance because she viewed it as being beneath her and too different from what she was used to. Blanche's upbringing taught her that she was better than the people in Elysian fields and she doesn't know how to come down from her pedestal or how to change at all. She's very much stuck in her way of seeing things.
Quotes from Scene 1
BLANCHE: [with faintly hysterical humor] They told me to take a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks...
Firstly, this is Blanche's first speaking line and she is already hysterical. This sets a first impression of Blanche as someone who is emotional and also hints that she may be struggling with her mental health. She also tells us that Desire leads to Cemeteries. The most obvious interpretation is that this refers to Blanche's own sexual desire and the relationships that she had. Blanche did use sex to find safety and it was her promiscuity that lead her to ruining her reputation in Laurel. Leaving Laurel was what lead her to come to Elysian Fields and meet Stanley, which lead to her metaphorical death. Thus - her desire lead her to her grave. The other interpretation was that this refers to Stanley's desire, which is highlighted in his introduction that tells us that he views women sexually and imagines them in crude situations in the very first time he meets them. It can be interpreted that Stanley sexually desires Blanche. Or, it could be Stanley's desire for power that leads to Blanche's death. Stanley's desire for power and desire for control over Blanche is what leads him to rape her. The sexual element of his violence may have come from his sexual desire for her but rape is primarily an act of violence rather than an act of passion or lust. Rape has a history of being a punishment and a way of controlling women and this is how Stanley uses it. His desire to control her leads him to rape her, which leads to her metaphorical death. Desire leads to cemeteries.
Firstly, this is Blanche's first speaking line and she is already hysterical. This sets a first impression of Blanche as someone who is emotional and also hints that she may be struggling with her mental health. She also tells us that Desire leads to Cemeteries. The most obvious interpretation is that this refers to Blanche's own sexual desire and the relationships that she had. Blanche did use sex to find safety and it was her promiscuity that lead her to ruining her reputation in Laurel. Leaving Laurel was what lead her to come to Elysian Fields and meet Stanley, which lead to her metaphorical death. Thus - her desire lead her to her grave. The other interpretation was that this refers to Stanley's desire, which is highlighted in his introduction that tells us that he views women sexually and imagines them in crude situations in the very first time he meets them. It can be interpreted that Stanley sexually desires Blanche. Or, it could be Stanley's desire for power that leads to Blanche's death. Stanley's desire for power and desire for control over Blanche is what leads him to rape her. The sexual element of his violence may have come from his sexual desire for her but rape is primarily an act of violence rather than an act of passion or lust. Rape has a history of being a punishment and a way of controlling women and this is how Stanley uses it. His desire to control her leads him to rape her, which leads to her metaphorical death. Desire leads to cemeteries.
Quotes from Scene 1
[They all laugh; the COLORED WOMAN does not stop. STELLA goes out.]
The play starts out with laughter among the women and everyone is very happy. This all changes when Blanche arrives. The laughter at the beginning contrasts against the tears at the end.
The play starts out with laughter among the women and everyone is very happy. This all changes when Blanche arrives. The laughter at the beginning contrasts against the tears at the end.
Quotes from Scene 1
STANLEY: Meat!
In terms of gender roles, there are a lot of sayings regarding men and meat. "Putting the meat on the table," "bringing home the bacon," Stanley does this literally. He hurls a package of meat at Stella. This scene paints them in their typical gender roles with her waiting for him to come home from work (we know this because he's in work clothes and she's in the house but comes running when he calls.)
In terms of gender roles, there are a lot of sayings regarding men and meat. "Putting the meat on the table," "bringing home the bacon," Stanley does this literally. He hurls a package of meat at Stella. This scene paints them in their typical gender roles with her waiting for him to come home from work (we know this because he's in work clothes and she's in the house but comes running when he calls.)
Quotes from Scene 1
NEGRO WOMAN [to EUNICE]: .... she says St Barnabas would set out his dog to lick her and when he did she'd feel an icy cold wave all up an' down her.
This is the first speaking line in the play. The first effect of this line is that it adds nothing plot-wise. It's simply us as the audience overhearing a conversation between two minor characters. This was done so it would feel more as if we were just looking into everyday life in an average area. This creates an intimate and personal feel - as if were are just overhearing this accidentally. It's also worth noting that St Barnabas was a saint who spent his entire life defending his way of life against Judaizers and died as a martyr. This is how Stanley sees himself and how Stanley would describe his actions so it is an interesting choice and a way of subtle foreshadowing. The negro woman is also never named - showing that even though races intermingle, there is still some racism as the negro woman is not seen as anything OTHER than her race and gender.
This is the first speaking line in the play. The first effect of this line is that it adds nothing plot-wise. It's simply us as the audience overhearing a conversation between two minor characters. This was done so it would feel more as if we were just looking into everyday life in an average area. This creates an intimate and personal feel - as if were are just overhearing this accidentally. It's also worth noting that St Barnabas was a saint who spent his entire life defending his way of life against Judaizers and died as a martyr. This is how Stanley sees himself and how Stanley would describe his actions so it is an interesting choice and a way of subtle foreshadowing. The negro woman is also never named - showing that even though races intermingle, there is still some racism as the negro woman is not seen as anything OTHER than her race and gender.
Setting in Scene 1
"The exterior of a two-story corner building on a street in New Orleans which is named Elysian
Fields and runs between the L & N tracks and the river. The section is poor but, unlike
corresponding sections in other American cities, it has a raffish charm. The houses are mostly
white frame, weathered gray, with rickety outside stairs and galleries and quaintly ornamented
gables. This building contains two flats, upstairs and down. Faded white stairs ascend to the
entrances of both.
It is first dark of an evening early in May. The sky that shows around the dim white building is a
peculiarly tender blue, almost a turquoise, which invests the scene with a kind of lyricism and
gracefully attenuates the atmosphere of decay. You can almost feel the warm breath of the brown
river beyond the river warehouses with their faint redolences of bananas and coffee. A
corresponding air is evoked by the music of Negro entertainers at a barroom around the corner.
In this part of New Orleans you are practically always just around the corner, or a few doors
down the street, from a tinny piano being played with the infatuated fluency of brown fingers.
This "Blue Piano" expresses the spirit of the life which goes on here.
Two women, one white and one colored, are taking the air on the steps of the building. The white
woman is Eunice, who occupies the upstairs flat; the colored woman a neighbor, for New
Orleans is a cosmopolitan city where there is a relatively warm and easy intermingling of races
in the old part of town.
Above the music of the "Blue Piano" the voices of people on the street can be heard overlapping."
Comments:
- From what we know about this era, race relations weren't considered very easy in most places. People are quite accepting and aren't prejudiced around this area. This sets Elysian Fields apart from the rest of the world.
- Williams tells us it is May, summer, but that the lighting is blue and cold and that it is dark. This is not a very summery atmosphere. This is to show us how out of touch Elysian Fields is with the rest of the world. Just like the race relations, it does not seem to follow the rules of the outside world.
- The stage set-up allows us to see the exterior of the upstairs flat and the interior and exterior of the downstairs flat. This is a very flexible layout. This lets us see scenes like the one where Stanley is listening to Stella + Blanche and it allows us to see Mitch + Blanche flirt during the poker scene. The audience can see everything going on which clues us in on things that the characters do not know. This is how dramatic irony is created.
- The "lyricism" that "gracefully" reflects the decay is a representation of Blanche's mental state at the same time as being a factor contributing to her mental decline - (Blanche tries to stay beautiful and put up an air of grace despite the fact she is succumbing to mental illness/her mental state is worsened by being in such poor conditions and by the change in her social status)
- Elysian fields provides contrast to the dream world of Blanche Dubois. It is dirty and poor and made for the working class - which makes her feel out of place. This dissonance creates a feeling that she is "the other" in this setting. The setting plays a part in this narrative.
- The stairs being "rickety" means that they could easily break - you can't run down them. This makes the apartment feel trapped off.
- Elysian fields is a paradise for fallen heroes after they've died. This is ironic because none of the main characters are typical "heroes." Stanley is an abusive rapist, Blanche has slept with her students, Stella doesn't believe her sister about the rape, Steve and Eunice are both violent - no character is 100% good.
- The blues piano playing in the background. It's lively and shows Elysian fields as an exciting and vibrant place, "express(ing) the spirit of the life." It plays several times. During Stan and Stella's reunion, Blanche's rape and at the beginning and the end. In three of those scenes Blanche is not there and, in the rape scene, this could show that Blanche is not there anymore in regards to her mental state. It could show that she's lost a part of herself.
"She gets up and opens the downstairs door. A light goes on behind the blind, turning it light
blue. Blanche slowly follows her into the downstairs flat. The surrounding areas dim out as the
interior is lighted.]
[Two rooms can be seen, not too clearly defined. The one first entered is primarily a kitchen but
contains a folding bed to be used by Blanche. The room beyond this is a bedroom. Off this room
is a narrow door to a bathroom."
- Blue is a cold and unfriendly color. It makes the apartment seem unpleasant and not very much like a place that Blanche could call home.
- The room is not clearly defined. This links to how Stella has not defined, and given detail, about what her living situations were like and how Blanche would be living when she got there. The dimming of the lights also links to how light was not shed on the subject within Stella's letters.
- Blanche isn't given a proper bed - she has no place within this apartment as she has no place in Elysian fields. This shows us that she doesn't belong.
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