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A Streetcar Named Desire
Tennessee Williams
SCENE ONE
- Explain the symbolic importance of the instructions Blanche followed to arrive at Stella’s home in New Orleans: “They told me to take a streetcar named Desire; and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at – Elysian Fields!”
- What social hierarchy is established in this scene? Why is this in the play?
- Why is Blanche resentful toward Stella? Explain. How does Stella react to this?
- What details does Williams provide on the particulars of Blanche’s past?
- Parallel the Dubois world as opposed to the Kowalski world.
- What is Belle Reve? What does the name symbolize?
SCENE TWO
- Explain the symbolism involved in the action of Blanche’s bathing.
- What is the Napoleonic code and why is Stanley so concerned about it? How does this reinforce the animal-like image of Stanley that Williams is attempting to establish?
- Three times in this scene Stanley says, “I have an acquaintance who…” (just happens to work in the very field they are discussing at that time). What insight is given into the character of Stanley from these lines?
- What kind of woman does Stanley find attractive?
- How was Belle Reve truly lost?
SCENE THREE
- How is Mitch different from the other men at the poker game?
- What seems to be Blanche’s routine of flirtation? What does it suggest about Blanche that she has this routine completely memorized?
- Why is it so necessary to Blanche that the light be covered with a paper lantern?
- In your opinion, do you think this violent scene between Stella and Stanley would have occurred if Blanche were not visiting? Explain.
- What is the basis of Stella and Stanley’s relationship? How do we know this?
SCENE FOUR
- What does the character of Shep Huntleigh symbolize for Blanche?
- Why is it so imperative to Blanche to aid Stella in leaving “this place”? What, in Blanche’s mind, makes “this place” so horrific? Explain.
- Stella says to Blanche, “There are things that happen between a man and a woman .. that sort of make everything else seem – unimportant” to which Blanche responds, “What you are talking about is brutal desire – just – Desire! – the name of that rattle-trap streetcar that bangs through the Quarter…” Stella then asks her, “Haven’t you ever ridden on that streetcar?” Explain the meaning Stella is striving toward. Has Blanche ever ridden on that streetcar?
- Blanche believes that Stanley is an obvious product of Selective Darwinism. Explain that theory and how it relates to the character of Stanley Kowalski.
SCENE FIVE
- What significance does the fight between Eunice and Steve have on the play as a whole?
- What is the symbolism of the astrological signs of Blanche and Stanley?
- Discuss the symbolism of the spilled coke.
- What does Blanche want from Mitch?
- What do we learn about Blanche from the encounter with the young man delivering the newspapers?
SCENE SIX
- What does this scene illuminate about the intellectual abilities of Blanche and Mitch?
- What type of image does Blanche present to Mitch?
- Reiterate Blanche’s past as she tells it to Mitch.
SCENE SEVEN
- In this scene, Stanley tells Stella the truth of Blanche’s time in Laurel. What does he say?
- As Blanche bathes, she sings, “Say it’s only a paper moon, sailing over a cardboard sea – But it wouldn’t be make-believe if you believed in me! It’s a Barnum and Bailey world, just as phony as it can be – but it wouldn’t be make-believe if you believed in me!” Why is it poignant that Tennessee Williams would have chosen this particular song and these lyrics? How do they relate to Blanche?
- What does Stanley tell Mitch about Blanche’s past?
- What is particularly cruel about Stanley’s choice of birthday gift for Blanche?
SCENE EIGHT
- Consider the amusing story that Blanche tells after dinner in an attempt to alleviate the tension in the room (the story of the parrot who swears a blue streak). How does it relate to Blanche and her circumstances?
- What does Stella say about her sister in attempt to have Stanley understand the reason she behaves as she does?
- When Stella demands an answer from Stanley explaining why he has been so cruel to Blanche, how does he respond?
SCENE NINE
- Some critics hate this particular scene. They say Williams uses sensationalism, feeling that Blanche’s past need not be so lurid. Those who like it argue that it actually aids in the understanding of the protagonist’s character. Explain the argument they may have used.
- What is symbolic of Mitch’s action of ripping down the paper lantern?
- “I don’t tell the truth,” says Blanche. “I tell what ought to be truth.” Using examples from the whole play, cite where this is evident.
- When Blanche says, “I didn’t lie in my heart,” what does it reveal about Blanche’s true self?
- Do you think that Mitch hears the old Mexican woman selling flowers or is this, too, like the gunshots and the Varasouviana music, simply a figment of Blanche’s diseased mind? What purpose would Williams have had when he chose to include this minor character?
SCENE TEN
- The figure of Shep Huntleigh seems to embody the ideal man and relationship for Blanche. Describe what seems to be Blanche’s ideal.
- What, according to Blanche, is the one thing that is unforgivable? Has she committed this unpardonable sin?
- Why does Williams include the scene with the prostitute, the drunk and the Negro woman?
- What does Blanche’s rape symbolize?
SCENE ELEVEN
- What are the similarities and differences between the poker game in this scene and the one earlier in the play?
- How has Blanche changed since the beginning of the play?
- What does Stella say to Eunice to justify sending Blanche to an institution? What does this suggest about Stella?
- How does Stanley perpetuate his cruelty toward Blanche in this scene?
- Why does Blanche react so differently to the Matron and the Doctor?
- Briefly summarize Stanley’s actions at the end of the play. What do his actions suggest?
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Scene four
ReplyDeleteWhy is it so imperative to Blanche to aid Stella in leaving “this place”? What, in Blanche’s mind, makes “this place” so horrific? Explain.
(Sanika and Bora)
Blanche is horrified by the condition and social standing of the house which her sister lives with Stanley, who Blanche believes is "common". Furthermore, Blanche is appalled by Stanley's abusive behaviuor towards Stella. And so Blanche thinks that Stella should get out from this place.
scene 4
ReplyDeletequestion 1 -What does the character of Shep Huntleigh symbolize for Blanche?
Shep Huntleigh is a former lover of blanche who she claims to be very wealthy. The character of shep symbolizes an 'escape' for blanche from the life of stella. he hints of wiring shep for his money and start another life with him so that stella dosent have to live the life she currently has to go through, such as the violence she faces from stanley.
Scene 4 Q 3
ReplyDeleteThe questioning tone with which Stella asks Blanche this question indicates that everyone is subject to "brutal desire", and hence, Blanche has no moral superiority over Stella. Since the play explores the differences in social class, the implicit point conveyed in Stella's words shows how all social classes are united in this respect. This brutal desire, like the streetcar, is an inevitable path that all humans take. Furthermore, Tennessee Williams is known for exploring the themes of sexuality and promiscuity in his works; thus, the words "bangs" used in reference to the streetcar named Desire, is a sexual innuendo.
Answer to Scene 4 Question 4:
ReplyDeleteSelective Darwinism is a theory which states that the world is designed in a way that only the strongest survives. This is a perfect description of the character of Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire. Like Blanche describes, Stanley is "animalistic" and more of the "primitive side" who does not give a toss about either gentleness or courtesy- two things which are essential to be a human being according to Blanche. However, Stanley proves that these are unnecessary to survive while Blanche is destroyed because she clings on to these elements. However, Stanley's rawness probably works only because his place requires such nature- in New Orleans which is an industrialized city. If he was in Laurel, he would have had to change his way of living, like how he demands Blanche to. Nevertheless, the fact that the society wants Stanley's character makes him a probable survivor of the time, like the ending of the play demonstrates (Stanley stays, Blanche leaves).
Scene Five
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What does Blanche want from Mitch?
(Sanika and Bora)
Blanche wants to marry Mitch. And she wants him to find her appealing in a proper way. She wants him to fall in love before truth about her is discovered and before her youth and beauty fades away. Her life has been journey of desire of finding true love. Now that she thinks that there is little time left she wants to grab the opportunity. Blanche also wants to leave Stella and Stanley's house.
Blanche guesses that Stanley's astrological sign is Aries because he is forceful and dynamic. At first glance this seems to describe him. However he is actually a Capricorn, characterized by obstinacy, inability to accept authority, possessing strong will power, and having a short temper. Thus, all these characteristics make him appear forceful and dynamic towards Blanche, which ultimately lead to the rape.
ReplyDeleteBlanche's astrological sign is Virgo - the virgin. When she tells Stanley this, he reacts sarcastically with a "Hah!" This is ironic considering Blanche's true character. However, the Virgo represents the individual Blanche desires to be.
Scene 5 Q3
ReplyDeleteThe spilled coke is symbolic of Blanche's stained character. Blanche is known for wearing white clothing, which is an appearance for a pure nature. Hence, she was worried that this appearance - the dress - would be stained.
Scene 5 Question 1:
ReplyDeleteThe fight between Steve and Eunice reflects the prevalent form of relationship between husband and wife at the time. The fight is violent both verbally and physically as noted by Steve's language "That's a damn lie!" and his action of physically abusing Eunice. A sense of tension and confusion is aroused by the cacophony of sound described in the stage directions- "A clatter of aluminum striking a wall is heard followed by man's angry roar[...] then a relative crush. However, despite the seriousness nature of the fight which is conveyed by Eunice's cry for police, the whole situation is taken lightly by the people of Elysian Fields who "laugh lightly" at the scene. Furthermore, Eunice's action turns out to be contradictory to her words as she is "gettin' a drink" but not going to the police. Stella calls this a "more practical" way to deal with the fight which shows that at Elysian Fields, or maybe in New Orleans for that matter, coping with possibly violent relationship is seen more rational than escaping it. To conclude this point, Eunice returns to Steve and they reconcile eventually, perhaps in a relatively very short period of time since the fight breaks off.
Kevin and Samhitha
scene 5
ReplyDeletevedya and rashmika
5.What do we learn about Blanche from the encounter with the young man delivering the newspapers?
During the encounter between blanche and the newspaper boy, blanche has a flirtatious and lustful behavior towards the newspaper boy. We get to know her hidden sexual desires through her acts. The incident revels that Blanche who pretends that she does not belive in stella's and stanley's relationship as she states that their relationship is only based on their sexual desires, but after this incident we learn that blanche is not the person who she looks like. blanche's proper face covers a sexual desire which we can see by the way she acts with the newspaper boy. the incident also reveles that blanche is not soo conservative. maybe we can also predict what has happened in her past and it some how relates to how she behaved with the newspaper boy.
Scene Six
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What type of image does Blanche present to Mitch?
(Sanika and Bora)
she wants to present herself as vulnerable, delicate, and troubled to draw his sympathy. Also she presented herself as someone with high morals and principles. By telling Mitch a story about her ex-husband she accentuates her sence of loneliness and misery that has existed in her life. She also flatters Mitch cleverly especially while guessing his weight and physical appearance. She presents herself as fragile woman when she mentions covering of light with paper.
She comes across as somebody who needs protection but at the same time she is establishing her class and manupulating Mitch to make him propose/make solid move that will progress the relationship.
What does this scene illuminate about the intellectual abilities of Blanche and Mitch?
ReplyDeleteThroughout Scene 6, the audience sees how Blanche is clearly more educated through the way she speaks and is able to carry out a conversation unlike Mitch. While Blanche speaks French with sophistication, Mitch rambles awkwardly about his weight and perspiration.
This scene also shows Blanche's conscious effort to establish her superiority in education in comparison to Mitch. Thus, she establishes a sense of supreme power.
Scene 6
ReplyDeletevedya and rashmika
What type of image does Blanche present to Mitch?
From the beggining blanhe presents a very false image to mitch. She firstly misleads her age to Mitch, this is beacuse she wants someone who can take care of her so that she doesnt have to depend on stella and stanley, by moving out of their house. She tells stella that she wants to marry mitch so thus she creates an image of a person who is longing for love and affection. furthemore Blanche represents longing for love throughout the scene. But blanche doesnt make is seem to mitch that she is marrying for her convinience and dependency but she makes it look like she loves him and actually wants him. Blanche also constanly refers to her disturbed past to get sympathy from Mitch and he is emotionally attacted towards her.
Scene 7 Question 4 by Rashmika and Kevin
ReplyDeleteThe birthday gift Stanley gives to Blanche is a bus ticket back to Laurel. This particular act of Stanley cruel for several reasons:
1. In this scene, Stanley knows about Blanche's past, which means that he also knows that she is permanently exiled from Laurel and doesn't have anywhere else to go but Stella's. So, Stanley's action shows that Blanche's life is of no significant matter to him although she is his wife's sister.
2. The "gift" becomes like a nasty surprise for Blanche because it was given on her birthday.
3. The gift is even insulting to an extent as it is a "bus ticket"- a common form of transport filled with busy crowd. From what we have seen so far, Blanche likes to be treated specially in an elegant manner and riding on a bus with other "common" people is degrading for her.
4. The manner in which Stanley carried out his protest against Blanche to leave his premises is sudden and nasty. It is evident that Blanche would get shocked and feel helpless after the definite manifestation of her unwanted presence, that too in her sister's house.
Scene 8
ReplyDelete1) Consider the amusing story that Blanche tells after dinner in an attempt to alleviate the tension in the room (the story of the parrot who swears a blue streak). How does it relate to Blanche and her circumstances?
(Sanika and Promit)
In the story, the parrot and the maid can be thought to be 2 parts of the same being, in this case Blanche. The parrot who 'swears a blue streak' can be thought to be the turbulent and wild side of Blanche (her past) and the old maid can be thought to be the part of her that is relatively level-headed and tries to control 'the parrot'. So the maid deceives the parrot into thinking it is night (so that it stops its noise). Similarly, Blanche deceives herself by building a parallel world of imagination (which she considers as reality) around her so as to make the other half of her sleep/ lay quiet. The 'preacher' may be used to symbolize the societal and relatively good things (for instance, Mitch) that come into Blanche's life when she moves to ELysian Fields. The fact that the parrot chooses to swear just when the preacher is cordially being received corresponds to the situation when Blanche's past comes up just when she is about to tie the know with Mitch.
Scene 8 Question 3
ReplyDeleteStanley reacts coldly and perhaps 'rationally' from his perspective to Stella's protest of him being cruel to Blanche. Stanley feels justified for his action for he believes that he "took off her" enough. Stanley's sarcastic comment "Delicate piece she is" and Stella's response "She is. She was. You didn't know Blanche as a girl" show the difference in the two characters' knowledge about Blanche. Stanley only knows about the indecent past of Blanche and treats her the way he think deserves. On the other hand, Stella knows Blanche better because she has known Blanche for not only the bad period of her life but also the rest of her.
The reaction of the two individuals differ drastically: While Stella constantly accuses Stanley of his action, Stanley seems not to pay anymore attention or place significance in his action. The seriousness of Stella is not conveyed to Stanley as shown by Stanley's attempt to go bowling in the middle of the argument. Overall, Stanley's reaction to Stella shows that he has no consideration for Blanche whatsoever.
Scene 8 question 3: (Grusha Vedya)
ReplyDeleteStanley, though animal-like, had a high sense of ego. He did not like people of the "higher class" establishing superiority merely because they were more "refined". He did not like them believing that it made them better people. With Stella, he was able to "pull her down of them columns" and she "loved it". However Blanche's comments reminded him of the class difference between them. Moreover Stella sided with Blanche, probably to make her feel more welcome, or because it reminded her of their previous lifestyle. Hence Stanley felt he lost his power and his relationship with Stella deteriorated after Blanche's arrival.
Scene 9 Q 3
ReplyDelete“I don’t tell the truth,” says Blanche. “I tell what ought to be truth.” Using examples from the whole play, cite where this is evident.
Throughout the play, Blanche lies about several things including her drinking habits, her mysterious past, her age, and her promiscuous behavior. Her desire to remain pure in character by referring to her name as "white" and "white woods" contradicts her behavior. For example, she says "I'm not accustomed to having more than one drink. Two is the limit - and three!" Yet, as Williams shows us, she secretly "removes a whiskey bottle" from the cabinet, which Stanley eventually finds out about. She also acts as if she doesn't know of the hotel "Flamingo" that is known for its promiscuous nature that Stanley mentions. Thus, she pretends as if that part of her character does not exist. Because of her ideals and her wealthy background, she deliberately ignores her past which seems unfit for a "Southern Belle" and gives rise to her mental breakdown. This is essentially her haemartia and what leads to her unfortunate demise. She lies about her age to Mitch because she worries that she won't be loved (which is her greatest desire). Thus, we realize that all these lies are actually attempts to find what she believes is perfection or "Elysian Fields". Yet, the irony, is that through her amounting number of lies, she sets the stage for her own destruction.
Arthi & Bora
Scene 9
ReplyDelete2)What is symbolic of Mitch’s action of ripping down the paper lantern?
(Sanika and Promit)
The paper lantern dissipates the intensity of the light around which it hangs. In a similar way, the world of illusions that Blanche has created dissipates the reality of the life (Blanche's life) around which it hangs.This facade has not allowed Mitch to see Blanche clearly, both figuratively (her lies) and literally (her reluctance to go out in the evening). Mitch's action of ripping off the lantern (literally) helps him to see Blanche's face clearly and plainly and helps him to see her physical reality. Blanche is portrayed as being conscious about her age and when Mitch sees her in bright light, he sees her age. Symbolically, the ripping is a action which takes off the veil of Blanche's past. This has already happened as Mitch knows about Blanche's unscrupulous past through Stanley.
Scene 8 Question 3
ReplyDeleteBy Rashmika and Samhitha
What does Stella say about her sister in attempt to have Stanley understand the reason she behaves as she does?
ANSWER-
The opening mood of the scene seems to be somber and the atmosphere is tense, which shows that it is evident that Stella now knows about Blanche's past. When Stella and Stanley are having a conversation about Blanche, we see that Stella is constantly defending her by reffering to her childhood. She says that Blanche was a kind of person who was very delicate and sensitve. She was a trustworthy person. Stella has a protective behaviour towards Blanche as, she was married at a very young age to a homosexual, who was a calm and tender person unlike Stanley. She mentions this to Stanley as she feels, his behaviour towards Blanche is very rude and wild. Stella feels that Blanche is a person who cannot take such a behaviour from Stanley as the way she grew up is quite different from her. Despite Blanche's gruesome past, Stella has a sisterly love for her, thus protecting from Stanley's comments and actions.
Scene 7 question 2.(Grusha Vedya)
ReplyDeleteBlanche is an idealist and often cannot bear to face reality. She lives in a world full of "make-believes". Deep inside she knows that her world is fantastical, yet her idealistic nature is stronger than her realistic side. She hopes these fantasies will be real someday.
In the previous scene, she told Mitch about her late husband Allan. This revelation brought them closer as they realized they were both looking for love and comfort. Hence at the beginning of this scene, Blanche is hopeful that Mitch will "believe in her" and that some parts of her "make-believe world" become tangible.
This song is poignant because this child-like hope makes it difficult for the audience to reprimand her inability to face reality. It just incites a sense of pity.
Scene 10 Q 4
ReplyDeleteWhat does Blanche’s rape symbolize?
Essentially, Blanche's symbolizes Stanley's final and overpowering superiority over Blanche. Throughout the play, Stanley and Blanche have always been engaged in a constant struggle over dominance. Although, in the beginning, Stanley's lowly position as a Polish immigrant living in a poor part of New Orleans put him in a lower position under Blanche who came from a wealthy background with morals and sophistication, the rape represents his triumph over Blanche as an individual as well as the clash of two different social classes. The rape symbolizes her destruction and the loss of her dreams and desires. With the rape, the audience realizes that her hope of marriage with Mitch and hope for happiness is utterly lost.
=Bora and Arthi
Scene 9 Question 5 (grusha vedya)
ReplyDeleteMitch doesn't hear the old woman, because like the gunshots, she is also a figment of Blanche's diseased mind. She is selling "Flores para los muertos" which is Spanish for flowers of death. These flowers are symbolic of the death of Blanche's hope. Blanche begins to hear the lady after Mitch says "Lies, lies... all lies". This is the point where her hope for salvation dies.
She says "No, not now" because she does not want to lose hope yet. However, the words "crumble and fade and -regrets-recriminations" emphasize Blanche's loss of hope.
She says "the opposite (of death) is desire". Death (symbolizing loss of hope) is truly an antonym for desire- having hope for the future.
Scene 11 Q3 (Vedya Grusha)
ReplyDeleteStella says "I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley". She had to believe that Blanche was delusional about the rape in order for her life to "go on" normally. Stella, like Blanche, had her ideas about how world should be, and she was unwilling to look at facts that went against these ideas. She was, in her own way, as delusional and unwilling to face reality as Blanche.
Scene 10
ReplyDelete(Sanika Kulkarni and Promit Dutta)
Question: What, according to Blanche, is the one thing that is unforgivable? Has she committed this unpardonable sin?
According to Blanche the one unforgivable sin is "deliberate cruelty". Blanche asserts in scene 10 that this sin is one that she has never committed.Even though the audience is acquainted with Blanche's self erected wall of lies, the tenacity and ernestness with which the statement is delivered is convincing. Furthermore,whether the cruelty is "deliberate" can be assessed when the intention of the doer (here, Blanche) is known clearly. But, Blanche's facade makes this process somewhat ambiguous. Therefore, it is difficult to say with absolute certainty that Blanche has never committed the sin she considers "unforgivable".
Scene 9 Question 4
ReplyDeleteBy Rashmika and Sanhitha
When Blanche says, “I didn’t lie in my heart,” what does it reveal about Blanche’s true self?
ANSWER-
This scene begins with a degree of symathy created for Blanche which we did not see in the previous scenes. In this scene she is seen as a person who is deperate in seeking marriage and is ready to anyone who accepts her, probably the reason why she has a flirtacious behaviour towards men. When Mitch accuses her for lying to him, she says she never lied "inside". "I dint lie in my heart". Maybe Blanche means that she some deception to trap Mitch.
Scene 10 Question 1
ReplyDeleteBy Rashmika and Samhitha
The figure of Shep Huntleigh seems to embody the ideal man and relationship for Blanche. Describe what seems to be Blanche’s ideal.
ANSWER-
Every action and every word out of Blanche's mouth is based on illusion. The way she covers the harsh light of the bulb with the paper shade is a symbol of her illusions. Her illusions were the ones which destroyed her life and led to her downfall in all aspects such as power, status, character and reputation. From the beggining of the play she held on to a delusion of a shophisticated and dainty character from a high class society, called Shep Huntleigh. When Stanley appears in scene ten, she lies to him that she received a telegram from Shep Huntleigh in order to escape the reality that Mitch no longer wanted to stay with her. When Stanley asks her about the telegram she replies by saying "what telegram" which is clearly evident that it was her pretence. At that point of time Stanley is the one who destroys her delsuions and make her face the truth.
Moreover by the end of the play Blanche's actions and insane behaviour become more apperent.
Scene 11 Q5 (Grusha Vedya)
ReplyDeleteBlanche felt betrayed by Mitch and Stanley for different reasons. Stella was the one person she always counted on for support. However when she realizes that Stella lied to her about the vacation with Shep, she not only lost the ray of hope that came with the lie, but she also felt abandoned by the one person she trusted the most. Thus she was in a very vulnerable state when the doctor and matron tried to take her away.
The Matron dealt with her very clinically ("These fingernails have to be trimmed"). She did not treat her with care or concern. Hence Blanche felt that everyone was plotting against her to send her to a place where nobody cared for her. Hence she acted wildly and tried to escape.
On the other hand the doctor treated her kindly. His body language suggested empathy (He "crouched" near her silently and "her fear subsided") At a point where people she knew had betrayed her, this kindness from a stranger was like a balm to her. She says "I have always depended on kindness of strangers" and complied to go with him.
Blanche also probably reacted differently because the doctor was a man and she unconsciously desired for male attention and sympathy. She not only hoped for kindness but also for a possible future relationship with the doctor.
Scene 11 Q.4
ReplyDeleteHow does Stanley perpetuate his cruelty toward Blanche in this scene?
It is quite apparent that Stanley wishes to get rid of Blanche from the house. From the way he directs the doctor indside the house-" Doc, you better go in" hints that perhaps it was Stanley's idea to send her off to mental hospital. Furthermore, he impairs her from running away by asking the question "did you forget something". His voice echos in Blanche's head and robs her away the lost chance to run away from matron and the doctor.
Stanley also tears the paper lantern from the light bulb, handing it over to Blanche. She "cries out as if the lantern was herself". It symbolizes destruction of her dreams and hopes that shielded her freom reality. The torn paper latern could represent Blanche, which is physically and mentally destroyed by Stanley.