Scene 10 analysis

Blanche breaks the mirror, because she realised that the truth, and her old appearance has been exposed. Williams's stage directions illustrates that Blanche slams the mirror 'violently' suggesting her anger and frustration.She almost feels that she has been stripped of her illusions and belief by Mitch, both explicitly through Mitch exposing her to a naked bulb, and implicitly in terms of the truth coming out about her.

Throughout the play, the tension between Stanley and Blanche is quite apparent.Stanley rapes Blanche almost as a 'pay back' seeking for revenge.Stella has been getting more confident in her actions, being offensive to Stanley.

Scene 7 analysis.

William tells us through his stage direction that Blanche singing is used'contrapuntally' with Stanley's speech.This dramatic device allows us this juxtaposition of sounds and mood between Stanley's revelations to Stella,and Blanche's voice singing 'It's only a paper moon',a famous hit from Nat King Cole a famous jazz artist of the 50's.
The singing first counterpoint Stanley's speech when he says'This supply stops at a hotel called the flamingo.'Blanche 's singing almost makes Stanley's allegations true as the lyrics could portray Stella's dilemma in whether to believe Stanley or Blanche.'But it wouldn't make believe if you believed in me.'There is a sense dramatic irony as Williams portrays Blanche singing 'blithely'.This adverb almost suggests her lack of concern,however the audience is aware of Stanley's accusations being an important facet of Blanche's character never seen before in the play.Nevertheless,it is important to state that Williams may have selected the song,to create an enjoyable but also ironic atmospheric mood in the auditorium.This mirrors Stanley and Blanche's numerous tense conflicts such as Scene 2 where Stanley wants to find out about Belle Reve,however this time Williams wanted to make the audience feel almost part of the actions taking place on stage.The lyrics of the song could implicitly refer to Williams's intentions to involve his audience to take part in the decision whether to believe Blanche or Stanley.

From the beginning of the play,we get hints that Stanley and Blanche 's relationship is edgy.At first instance,an explicit reason would be her interference in Stanley's sexual life which seems very important to him.He states himself in Scene 8'it's gonna be sweet when we can make noise in the night the way that we used to and get the coloured lights going with nobody'sister behind the curtains to hear us!'Stanley's use of exclamation indicate his desire to get things like before.It also shows how he feels about his sex life;really passionate.


Writing Task:

A while later that evening,the faded white stairs of the Hubbels are shiny.Stella appears with tears in her eyes and knocks at the door.The sound made by Stella is reverberating making her shiver.The blue piano can be heard outside expressing Stella's anxiety.

Stella:Eunice?
There is a silence.Stella stops for a second and looks down from the balcony to see if there is anyone.She sees no one,breaths rapidly and knocks again.


Stella:(nostalgically)Hey Eunice.
Eunice opens the door,glances at Stella.
Eunice:(inviting her inside)Oh!What happened Stella? Don't tell me that whelp of a Polack raised his hand on you again.
Stella:No no Eunice,it's just Stanley told me..
Eunice:(wiping Stella's tears with her sleeve)What did that stinker tell you!Tell me!
Stella:(nervously)Stanley told me about Blanche being at the Flamingo hotel and having an affair with...
Eunice:(anxiously)Who?
Stella:A seven-seventeen years old boy...
Eunice(bursting into laughter)Oh! Come on Stell, you know that polack is a stinker!You know Blanche more than anyone else and you know she wouldn't do that.
Stella:(making an effort to smile)Well,Blanche always been flighty but she would never do such a thing.
Eunice:Yeah fo'sure,don't you worry.You can stay with me and Steve for a bit If you want.
Stella:Thanks Eunice,now the problem is Mitch is - done with her.
Eunice:Did that polack tell him?
Stella:Yes..Stanley did.
Eunice:I always believed that we need to git th'law on that Polack so they turn the fire hose on him.
Stella:(walking to the window)Mitch and Blanche both need someone.Mitch has his mother to look after.And Blanche was with a degenerate.Blanche adored him.
Eunice:Mitch is a big boy.He doesn't need that stinker to make his own decisions.His mother ain't got long.She wanna see him settled,so Mitch won't listen to Stanley.
Stella:I hope so Eunice.How's you and Steve?
Eunice:We're alright.He's at the four deuces.

Blanche's diary.

Dear diary,

I had quite an eccentric evening.It didn't seem like the evenings I used to have in Laurel.Mitch seemed uncomfortable which made me feel quite anxious.I felt like I couldn't rise to the occasion but I knew that Mitch is not the same as the others.He is a different type.He is not like the guys back in Laurel!I felt even more nervous when Mitch asked me if he could kiss me.But I found it so hilarious when he didn't understand me about girls being lost on their first date!Perhaps he never experienced girl being lost on their first date,who knows?He is different,Mitch is different ,I knew he was different!I even said to Mitch'Voulez vous couchez avec moi ce soir?'Mitch n'as pas compris haha!Jamais!My old fashion ideals protect me from such embarrassment.I felt ambivalent at Mitch's behaviour when he desired me to punch him in the belly.Allan wouldn't have...Mitch is really different but such as physical structure makes any single girl like myself interested in him.Today, I also acknowledged that Mitch requires affection.When I told him to unhand me,he embraced him and told me to slap him when he steps out of bound.Mitch's story about his mother really touched me.A gentleman of such caliber looking after his mother.Dear diary, I wanted to keep this between me and you,but I told Mitch about my story with Allan.I had to!It was tormenting me.It was all my fault and I want Mitch to know.Mitch desires me,and I know Mitch is the solution for me to get off that rattle-trap street car.I need Mitch,but I don't want him...For the first day in my life, I can say and repeat to myself that sometimes there's God so quickly!'Say,it's only a paper moon sailing over a cardboard sea,but it wouldn't be make believe If you believed in me'.

Scene 6 analysis.

Before the scene.

In the opening sequence of scene 6, Blanche's repetition of 'Well' hints something did not go quite to plan.In the second 'well...' ellision is used by Williams which suggests that Blanche is expecting Mitch to speak,but to also create the atmosphere of awkwardness.To show her disappointment and to get things to return to normal,Williams uses a metaphor through Blanche'Is that Street car named Desire still grinding along the tracks at this hour'.This metaphor suggests that she wants Mitch to get involved , and start showing more interest to her,by perhaps talking more.Both characters are also blaming the unsuccessful evening on themselves which suggests that their relationship has not quite developed to the level where they could say the truth to each other hence blame each other.

Blanche's story:
Shortly after Mitch asks Blanche if he can kiss her, Blanche employs interrogatives such as 'Why do you always ask if you may?' This creates tension, as the audience is unsure of Blanche's response.Blanche then  uses euphemism which Mitch does not quite seem to understand.Instead of saying Mitch wanted to have sex with her, she refers to sex through the use of the euphemism a 'familiarity'.Similarly she uses euphemism through the noun 'lost' which signifies having sex.Once again Mitch is lost in his turmoil which makes Blanche laugh.Blanche labels herself as 'a single girl' which implies that she is pure and innocent.This is dramatic irony used by William as us the audience are aware that this is not the case.

Mitch.

Williams uses a series of declarative sentence to illustrate Blanche and Mitch's own opinion on his physicality.First Mitch says'A man with a heavy build has got to be careful of what he puts on him so he don't look to clumsy.The adjective 'heavy' describes Mitch is physical appearance indicating that it is quite imposing.Blanche then responds with 'You are not too heavy'.


Through Williams stage direction we learn that Blanche rolls her eyes after the line'I guess I have old fashioned ideals'The audience immediately understands that this is a lie from Blanche as she states that she is brought up the way where she believes in sex before marriage and that she is respectable.Once again,Williams uses dramatic irony as Blanche's story at the Flamingo contradicts this.

The stage direction create an atmosphere of awkwardness as Blanche's intellectual knowledge is not understood by Mitch which at first creates humor in Blanche's eyes ,but then creates an awkward silence as Blanche is conscious that she deserves someone better.

Questions.

In the play, at numerous times the audience is aware that Stella is thrilled by Stanley's violence.She admits it herself to Blanche in Scene four,after telling her the story of Stanley smashing the light bulbs in their wedding.Her response to Stanley's aggression is 'I was sort of thrilled by it'.There are numerous explanation why Stella is thrilled by his violence..At first instance,it could suggest that spending time with Stanley has made Stella get used to him behaving in such a way,and therefore she has become used to it.Furthermore,this violence makes Stanley stand apart from the other men in Stella's opinion and this is important to her.Stanley's difference compared to other men is mentioned by Stella to Blanche in Scene 1.:'Yes.A different species'.Stanley being out of the norm turns Stella on.She talks about it herself when she says'It's a drive he has'.This drive refers to Stanley's violence which clearly seems to attract Stella.She states that Stanley is different from other boys back at Laurel.Stella is lost in her love towards Stanley, to the point where she cannot distinguish violence to manliness.

Williams makes it apparent that Stella and Stanley's relationship is based on physical actions.Lust being one of them.Stella indicates it to the audience when she says'But there are things that happen between a man and a woman at night that makes everything else seem unimportant'.This demonstrates the importance of sexual intercourse to Stella to the point where other issues are unimportant.Their physical relationship also comes across through the stage direction'Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh'.The audience learn the prominence of physicality in representing their relationship.Stella also indicates that she has genuine feelings for Stanley.She says to Blanche'I have told you,I love him.The abstract noun is a strong one, indicating strongly how Stella feels about Stanley , and desire and lust are not the important factors on how she perceive their relationship.

When he comes back, I cry on his lap like a baby.(Simile)

Stella compares herself to a baby,which suggests that when Stanley is away she is vulnerable.The verb'cry' is a strong one,demonstrating the sorrow and negative emotion she feels.The audience understand the important of Stanley in Stella's eyes and that her love for him is genuine.

After not understanding Stella's views on living with Stanley,Blanche tells her a short anecdote about the last time she bumped into Shep.Blanche says that Shep is'litteraly spouting gold out of his pocket'but then she states that she want to set her and Stella up in a shop.This brings another facet of Blanche's character as it indicates that she is perhaps optimistic despite the fact she has suffered tremendously since Allan's death.However, she wants Stella to be involve with her, which could signify she does not want to be alone.This moment occurs towards the end of the scene where Blanche has already warned Stella about Stanley's agressive demeanor.Consequently,this topic shift controlled by Blanche may suggest that Blanche is perhaps manipulating Stella to join her,for her own desire, not for Stella's.This implies that Blanche is not only associated with elements of sorrow, and loneliness but may show a manipulative side of her character.The audience can now begin to feel ambivalently towards Blanche.

The audience understands what Stella and Stanley's relationship really consist of when Stella tells Blanche'There are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark- that sort of make everything else unimportant'.'The noun'dark' quite obviously illustrate Stella and Stanley's sexual life being really important to her,to the point where Stanley's violent conduct towards her is unimportant.Blanche responds with'what you are talking about is brutal desire-just-Desire'.Desire is quite significant to Blanche's character, she is afraid that Stella will develop this sort of behaviour and ruin her life,like she has.The pre-modifying adjective'Brutal' give an explicit meaning of the Kowalski's sexual life.Nevertheless the abstract noun 'desire' is then turned into a proper noun through the use of capital letter referring to the Street car which is significant to her journey to the Kowalski's.Blanche's use of desire signifies her own sexual desire after Allan's death.Firstly with the 17 years  old boy in school , but also at the notorious hotel Flamingo.Williams uses a metaphor through Stella 's use of interrogative.'Have you ever ridden in that streetcar?'signifying have you ever experienced that sort of desire.Blanche admits that , this sort her desire lead her to losing her job, and losing her reputation in Laurel.She says that she is very ashamed of it.'It brought me here,where I am not wanted , and where I am ashamed to be'.Ultimately this desire returns when in the scene between Blanche and the young man suggesting that this desire is impossible to get rid off.

The train is significant in multitudinous ways.At first instance,it is a quite contrasting sound effect that could be used to unstable the audience and the actors on stage.Stella and Blanche are having a tense conversation, and the train noise abruptly changes the mood in the auditorium.Furthermore , this noise allows Stanley to enter the premises without being detected by Blanche and Stella.Therefore,he is able to listen to Blanche telling Stella her negative views on him to the point where she compares Stanley to an animal.By hearing this,Stanley perhaps develops more hatred towards Blanche.


WRITING TASK:


It's early the following morning,The sun is up and the sky is bright.The table is still sloppy following last night's event with debris across the room.Stanley is awake getting changed into his undershirt and seersucker pants while Stella notices him.


Stella:(yawning)Stanley.
Stanley(grinning) You awake baby?
She gets up to kiss him which he accepts with lordly composure.
Stella:Where you going Stanley?
Stanley: gonna go fix the radio-one tube,only one tube's broken.(putting his hand in his pocket)Stella,here is 10 dollars.
Stella(smiling)what for?
Stella takes the money and kisses him on the cheek.
Stanley:Last evening.
Stella:What happened last evening was a little misunderstanding.
Stanley:.I am going to quit these poker nights.
Stella:(staring at him getting dressed)Why?
Stanley:Open your eyes to this stuff Stella,It ain't no good to us.
Stella:(worriedly)Thanks Stanley.
Stanley walks towards the door,Stella gets his attention.Stanley turns back and picks up a piece of the broken radio.
Stella:(nostalgically)I don't know where Blanche is?
Stanley:She's probably soaking as usual in a hot tub.
Stella:Stanley!Blanche needs to quiet her nerves..
Stanley:How long is she here for?Things are not the same as before.Last night was an exception.
Stella:I don't know.Stanley you know Blanche needs us.
Stanley begins to walk out the apartment but Stella gets up lazily and calls him.Stanley looks back.
Stella:When are you coming back?
Stanley:Later!(gives her a whack on her thigh)
Stella:(laughing breathlessly)Okay Stanley.

Poker scene analysis.

The poker scene is an important scene as it illuminates the personality of certain characters.At first instance,it is apparent that Stanley is the dominant speaker and is in the control of the opening sequence ;he has the most lines.Williams uses different syntax to demonstrate this dominance.Imperatives are used by Stanley such as'Get off the table Mitch'.The use of imperatives indicate Stanley's willingness to establish his predominance over his friends perhaps because he is losing.Interrogatives are also used such as'Openers'.The choice of noun by William could suggest his aggresivity but also his petulant behaviour as it a short abrupt word.The use of stage direction also include a dynamic verb'tosses' which could indicate his predominance over the other characters.Stanley is also the character which gives his opinion through the use of triplets and declarative sentence.'Nothing Belongs on a poker table but cards,chips and whisky.

Williams uses the stage direction to describe the men around the poker table.His use of props, which is the characters shirts'solid blues,purple.This indicate their virility but also emphasises his masculinity.Steve and Pablo are described as really focused to the poker game occuring.Steve asks Pablo'Anything wild with this deal'. and Pablo says 'one-eyed jacks are wild.'Mitch however is shown as sensitive but also responsible.Williams uses a declaractive sentence such as 'I gotta sick mother.She don't sleep until i come home at night'Consequently Mitch is a contrast compare to the other men.

EXTRACT 2

When Blanche and Stella return, Blanche is the dominant speaker asking Stella about how she looks.Blanche seems to be anxious about her appearance and asks Stella for reassurance.Williams uses an imperative to indicate Blanche's anxiety.'Wait till i power before you open the door'.The use of imperatives and Blanche being dominant speaker suggests she is driving the conversation.

Williams uses the term numerous times the verb'bathe' through Blanche in a really ambiguous which allows the audience to interpret their own meaning of it.The explicit meaning is that she often 'bathes' to remove the negative events that she experienced in her past including the death of her lover Allan.Notwithstanding the more implicit explanation could be her will to return to her young age which she met Allan.Perhaps,Blanche believes it is a path for her to clean herself and look young again.

EXTRACT 3

Williams use of stage direction reveals to the audience that Blanche has a certain interest.'Blanche looks after him with a certain interest'Blanche immediately tells Stella that Mitch'seems superior to the others'refering to the other men.William indicates through Blanche use of interrogatives'Is he married?'.This could indicate William's belief in love at first sight which Blanche seemed to be directly indicating to the audience.

Blanche approaches Mitch in a sympathetic manner.She scrupulously listens to his tragic story which is linked to the inscription in his cigarette box.After Mitch has revealed his tragic story,Blanche replies with 'Sorrow makes for sincerity, I think'.Williams uses abstract nouns , but also alliteration to emphasis the importance of sorrow and sincerity in the themes of the play.They reinforce the Blanche's journey at the Kowalski's.After experiencing the sorrow at Laurel, she is not sincere to the others about her past.Therefore she lies to Mitch, but wants to come across in a good light.This could suggest that Blanche and Mitch are playing their own game of poker as bluffing is involved similarly to a game of poker played.

Mitch's tragical story indicates that he has also experienced the death of a lover.Similarly Blanche is in the same position,where she attempted to get out of numerous times without success.Immediate, us as audience members can draw a link between the two characters which seem to be suiting each other.They both require someone in their lives and this could a significant reason why they might be attracted to each other.

The radio is an important prop in the scene.It allies Blanche and Mitch as they wonderfully dance together,however Stanley does not seem to be pleased with the radio disturbing the intense poker game.When Stanley throws the radio out of the window, dynamic are words by Williams such as 'snatches and tosses'.I believe this foreshadows the moment where Stanley hits Blanche.This aggresivity indicates something will occur.

When Blanche experiences Stella being hit , she immediately screams and runs into the kitchen.This indicates that she is incongruous to violence.Mitch is embarrassed by what occured and says'It's terrible'.Eunice is defensive , and prevents Stanley to get anywhere close Stella'Quit that howling out there and go back to bed'.

At the end of Scene 3, Stanley shows another side of his personality.Since his entrance Stanley was portrayed as violent,aggresive and chauvinistic.However a weaker wide of Stanley comes through.Williams uses a metaphor to indicate Stanley's love to Stella.'My baby doll's left me'.The stage direction indicates that 'he breaks into sobs'.The audience feels sympathetic towards him as he is now the weaker character out of the two, not the 'provider' he came across at the beginning when he threw the meat at Stella.The consistant use of the pronoun'my' indicate that Stanley is possesive, and really loves Stella.Williams also uses a simile'like a baying hound to compare to an animal , however this time the animal he is compared with is innocuous unlike the way he is portrayed in the rest of the play.

Stella returns to Stanley for numerous reasons.At first instance , the audience understands that there is a passionate relationship between the two based on sexual intercourse.It is apparent that Stella really loves Stanley.We learned that during the first dialogue between Stella and Blanche where she says'When he comes back, i cry on his lap like a baby.'Love is the main reason why Stella returns to Stanley.

Task.

Imagine that while Stella is in hospital after having the baby, she writes an entry in her diary about how she feels about returning home to Stanley and Blanche. Write this diary entry in which Stella expresses her hopes and fears for the future.


Dear diary,

I've had an arduous last few days.I am now returning home to see Stanley,my husband that I love and Blanche my sister which needs me especially after what she experienced in Mississippi.I have had a beautiful day, and now there is another member in the Kowalsky family.I cannot wait to leave this hospital.I am anxious about the manner in which Stanley have treated Blanche.All this time I am asking myself numerous questions.'Does Stanley finally understand the hard period that Blanche experienced? Are Blanche and Mitch okay now?'.I really have missed them.
In a couple of hours,I will return home and do not know what to expect.I know that Stanley loves me,but I am anxious about how things will change when the baby is at home.And Blanche,I hope she sorted her problems with Mitch.I told Stanley not to interfere with their relationship.Stanley loves me,he wouldn't do something that would hurt me.He is innocuous,my Stanley cares about me.

Scene between Mitch,Stanley and Steve.

It is 2:30 am,Stanley,Mitch,Steve and Pablo are sitting at the poker table in the kitchen which is enlighten by a sinister green light.There is bottles of whiskey on the table and Stanley is dominant with his rough talk.


Stanley(muttering):Papers,Papers.


Mitch:You've been talking about papers all evening Stanley.


Stanley(avoiding the situation):Shut up.Want a shot?


Steve:Yeah Yeah me.


Mitch:How long you've been married with Eunice ,Steve?


Steve:long enough, what do you need?


Mitch:(reflecting)When she goes,I'll be alone unless I find someone.


Stanley:(interrupting)Who's she Mitch?


Mitch:My sick mother,i gotta find someone Stanley.What do you think of Stella's sister.Her name is Blanche.

(There is an awkward silence.Stanley finishes his glass of whiskey and pours himself another.)

Stanley:(getting closer to Mitch)Listen here Mitch,stop being a sugar-tit.Men like us only need three things.Sex,work and fighting.We are part of a new America that Blanche does not belong to.Woman like Stella baby are hard to find,even impossible.


Mitch:(laughing uncomfortably)I ought to go to the bathroom.


Steve:Stay Mitch,Stanley is right.Women are no good,just good for you know.Here,have another shot.


Stanley:(tossing the watermelon rinds to the floor)Stella's sister is up to no good Mitch.Under the Napoleonic code, I have my own share of Belle Reve.(Mitch glances at Steve, as if he was looking for help) She is hiding something from me Mitch.Keep that in mind.She ain't no good.

Steve:Stanley, calm down,let's get on with the game.

Homework

Q: Why does Blanche replace the bottle and the glass after having a drink?

A: Williams attempts to demonstrate to his audience that Blanche has had a terrible past.After her loosing her family's fortune and estate,we find out that she has also lost her young husband.At first instance , this is the first time we come across the obsession that Blanche has towards her drink.The stage direction indicates that she 'washes out the tumbler at the sink',and the dynamic verb'wash' could suggest Blanche 's desire to come to New Orleans to make a fresh start and forget about her past.The more explicit explanation could simply be that Blanche is not aware of what to expect in this new environment which she is incongruous to.She hasn't seen Stella in a long period of time , and hasn't told her about the loss of 'Belle Reve'.Furthermore, she is also not aware of what Stella's husband reaction will be.Consequently she wants to come across as a respectful and dignified woman.

Q:Pick out the pet names which Blanche has for Stella and explain why Blanche uses them'

A:Throughout the first dialogue between Blanche and Stella shortly after seeing each other , Blanche interacts with Stella by using numerous pet names including :precious lambs , Stella for star, honey, blessed baby.Williams tries to illustrate the sister love that Blanche and Stella have but also to indicate the audience that 'family love never dies'.As mentioned earlier , Blanche had a dreadful past, and therefore she requires affection as any human being would need.

Q:What evidence is there that Blanche is concerned about her looks?

A:During the conversation with Stella ,Blanche is the dominant speaker , and she is involved in the topic shifts.She brings the subject of appearance into the conversation when she says'I never had your beautiful self-control.'At first instance it seems that Blanche praises her sister's looks but then she tells her that she 'hasn't put an ounce since the summer she left Belle Reve'.Blanche then subsequently asks Stella her opinion on her figure.Blanche then that she is vain about her looks even though she is slipping which indicate that is really worried about how she looks like at all time.

What does this tells you about her character?

Blanche's attitude towards her appearance illustrate one side of her personality which could be the fact that she is vain and that she is aware that she is good looking.Moreover, as audience members we can also conclude that she is self centered but also attention seeking.Vanity is not a good trait to have, and therefore we can make numerous assumptions on her character.

Question street car desire.

1)A street car named desire was written in 1947 by Tennessee Williams just after World War II.It was set in New Orleans,in the United States of America.New Orleans is in the state of Louisiana.

2)This is a street car.A street car is also known as a tram which is a passenger vehicle which is runs in tracks along urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way.

3)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ny5ajCn0xw , this is an example of BB king which was the poplar music of the 1940's.