1
Q
Summary of what happens in this scene overall.
A
- Blanche/ Mitch return from their date.
- Mitch asks if he can kiss Blanche good night but she puts Mitch off.
- Blanche speaks in French to Mitch (he doesn’t undertsand.)
- The pair share awkward conversation.
- Blanche describes how uncomfortable Stnaley makes her feel.
- Blanche describes the story of her husband and the two share a kiss at end of scene.
2
Q
What is the significance of Blanche being upset because she thinks she ruined the date with Mitch by not “rising up to the occassion?”
A
- Blanche is very critical of the way she acts around other people/ cares about how other people percieve her too much (could this lead to her destruction.)
3
Q
How does Blanche respond to Mitch asking: “can I kiss you goodnight?”
A
- Puts Mitch off kissing her by asking him why he’s asking/ explaining why she rejected him previously on their date before.
- Maintaining facade of being a prim/ proper lady.
4
Q
Mentions of word “desire” in this scene.
A
- Blanche (beginning): “Is that Streetcar named Desire still grinding along the tracks.” –> “grinding” –> sexual linking to how streetcar is extended metaphor for Blanche’s journey to doom (due, perhaps, because of her inappropriate sexual desires.)
- Williams showing audience what happens when strict rules are placed on a woman (she loses control.)
- Blanche is glad that Mitch “desired me” –> craving attention from men is something very important to her.
5
Q
What does Blanche say to Mitch when he opens the door for her? Significance?
A
- Calls him a “good boy.” –> “boy” = what she called her husband –> she wants Mitch to be that figure of security for her.
- Infantalising Mitch due to the fact he is New South/ less wealthy. Blanche thinking she is superior to others leads to destruction perhaps?
6
Q
Give examples of stage directions that show Mitch is awkward and uncomfortable with Blanche.
A
- “he shuffles and coughs a little.”/ “shuffling nervously.”
- Trying to break the silence/ doesn’t know how to physically act in this awkward situation.
- Linking to Mitch dancing like “awkward bear” –> not accustomed to the manners of The Old South that Blanche is accustomed to.
- Blanche’s insistence to stick to ways of Old South makes it difficult for her to develop a relationship with men - Williams could be critquing this.
7
Q
What is the figure that Mitch is carrying? Significance of the way he is carrying the figure?
A
- “Mae West.”
- American actress –> was sex symbol in the 1950’s (like Marilyn Monroe.)
- Holds statue “upside down.”
- Shows how he thinks he has won a prim/ proper woman like Mae West but, “upside down” foreshadows that his view on Blanche will be inverted/ change (as secrets are revealed.)
- Foreshadows him mistreating Blanche (perhaps.)
8
Q
What sort of sentences are shared between Mitch and Blanche in this scene? What does this show? How is it clear that Blanche is more invested in the date than Mitch?
A
- Simple sentences.
- Awkwardness
- Similarity between them starting to fade (hope of Mitch being her husband is almost starting to fade) - audience feeling sorry for Blanche for not having security.
- Blanche controlling the dialogue/ Mitch responding with simple sentences. ALSO shows Blanche’s manipulative nature in speach –> her deceptive ways lead to her destruction?
9
Q
Significance of Blanche saying “Let’s leave the lights on, shall we?”
A
- Motif of light. Wants to cover up her age/ her secrets.
- Cares about how other people view her so much (cause of destruction?)
- “Let’s” insistence, not asking but rather stating. Blanche uses her power in this relationship to decieve Mitch from who she really is. Issue with Old South having too much power?
10
Q
Significance of Blanche speaking french to Mitch.
A
- Reveals her true self (without facade.)
- Asks: “voulez- vouz couchez avec moi.”
- Pretending to be in France shows Blanche’s delusion/ how she is living in fantastical world.
- Again, showing Blanche’s deception towards Mitch. Hypocritical nature of Old South (puts Mitch off the kiss but then says she wants to sleep with him??!)
11
Q
What does Blanche make reference to when she says:”Samson, Go on, lift me!!” Significance
A
- Biblical reference of man who loses strength when his hair is cut off (shows Mitch is putting on facade of being a strong, masucline man that Blanche would like.)
- Is Williams suggesting that the reason this relationship may not be succesful is because they both decieve each other/ aren’t honest?
- Blanche living in fantasical world “lift me” - imagining Mitch as a brave man from bible. LACK OF TUNE WITH REALITY (leads to destruction.)
12
Q
What does Blanche refer to herself as when she speaks French? What does she refer to Mitch as?
A
- “Dame auc Camellias”: Parisian prostitute
- Mitch: “ Armand de vole” –> man who is prostituting women.
- Covering up her promiscuity but her facade would slowly be fading for members of audience at this point.
13
Q
What odd choice of conversations do Blanche and Mitch have in this scene?
A
- Speak of alpaca
- Mitch describes how much he “perspires.”
- Mitch describing how much he goes to gym/ asks Blanche how much she weighs.
- COMICAL break for audience but also shows awkwardness of this date –> revealing that Mitch isn’t The Gentleman Caller figure for Blanche that she wants him to be. Williams critiquing her “picky” expectations of men?
14
Q
What happens when Mitch holds onto Blanche for a while after having lifted her?
A
- Blanche insists that he should let go.
- Mitch says: “just give me a slap when I step out of bounds.”
- Complete contradictions to Old South behaviour (normalising violence.)
- Clear contrast between New and Old South continued by Williams.
15
Q
Significance of Mitch describing how much he goes to “New Orleans Athletics Club.”
A
- Trying to maintain his own facade of being this masculine figure for Blanche.
- More he reveals, more it becomes clear that he isn’t the “gentleman- caller” type. Openly asks how much Blanche weights, not as refined as gentleman caller of Old South.
16
Q
What is revealed about Stanley and Mitch’s relationship in this scene?
A
- They went to serve in war together “together in two- fourty.”
- Mitch, without meaning to, defends Stanley saying “i’m surprised to hear that” when Blanche describes how much Stanley hates her.
- Mitch backing up New South ideals whereas, Blanche backing up Old South ideals saying: “I’m very old- fashioned.” Conflict in America at the time.
17
Q
How does Blanche react when Mitch asks how old she is?
A
- She is very defensive.
- “Why do you want to know?”/ “you talk to your mother about me?”
- Questioning/ short questions = her anxiety –> not wanting her secrets to be revealed (always wants to be a Southern Belle.) Holding onto Old South = destruction??
- She is trying to “put a paper lantern over the light” –> covering up secrets!!
18
Q
How does Blanche describe Stanley in this scene?
A
- Says he “stalks through rooms in his underwear”
- Predatory image (shows Stanley’s open sexual nature.)
- “I have to tell him to close bathroom door” –> shocked by standards of New South.
19
Q
How is it clear that Blanche wants Mitch to offer her security?
A
- Tells him: “I didn’t have a penny last year.”
- Hyperbolic: wants to put herself in a meek/ feeble “light” so that Mitch will accept her as her wife.
- Williams critiquing society expectations on women in order for them to achieve financial security.
20
Q
For what reason does Mitch want to be with Blanche?
A
- Says that: “(his mom’s) worried because (he’s) not settled.”
- Only wants to be with Blanche for this reason? Sympathy towards Blanche because she genuinely likes Mitch??
21
Q
How does Blanche position herself when telling the story of Allan Grey? Significance of this?
A
- “sits on the sill.” –> Romanticing/ fantasising what life could have been like with her husband (Blanche’s innocence perhaps despite secrets she may be hiding.)
- “pours herself a drink” –> masuline/ completely contrasting her “feminine” image created by her sitting on sill. It’s her coping mechanism
- Layers to Blanche –> Williams suggesting that one can be both feminine/ masuline.
22
Q
How does Blanche use light imagery when describing the story of her husband?
A
- Says that her love was like “turning on a blinding light on something that had always been half in shadow.” –> “blinding light” –> love brought her out of darkness but was “blinding”, making her unable to see Alan was gay.
- Says (when he died) that “searchlight that was turned on” had been turned off. Since then no light other than that of “kitchen candle.” –> “kitchen”: something you occassionally find in one location not light you find filling you like a “searchlight.”
- Light = metaphor for hope. Blanche lost hope after her husband died.
23
Q
What are 2 main reasons Blanche wants to be with Mitch?
A
- Want security.
- Wants to be sexually desired in her marriage (as she wasn’t in her 1st marriage.)
24
Q
How does Blanche describe her husband?
A
- Says he had a “softness and tenderness” but wasn’t the “least bit effeminate looking.”
- Expected her husband to look a certain way to be gay. This stereotype led to her not knowing he way gay therefore her being shocked and ultimately, his death.
25
How can you link Blanche's fear of light to the light imagery she uses when describing story of her husband?
- Scared of light because love was a "blinding light" to Allan's sexuality/ scared of what clear light will reveal (one that isn't blinding) about her/ others. Not facing truths of life/ in denial.
26
How is it clear that Blanche feels responsible for her husband's death?
- Says: "wasn't able to give him the help he needed." (sexually) --> this made Blanche feel insecure about her sexuality. Is Williams suggesting that Allan not being able to be openly gay is an issue because it damaged Blanche/ made her feel insecure?
27
How is it clear that Blanche was worried about herself when she was with Allan?
- She says: "I was slipping in with him." --> metaphor (due to fact she was affiliating with someone gay.)
- Audience = sympathy for her for having to be in such horrible situation/ her secrets are being revealed --> associating with someone gay (Old South not as innocent as it would seem from the outside.)
28
When did homosexuality become legal in America?
- 1962
29
How does Blanche describe the image of walking in on her husband?
- Says "there were two people in (the room.)"
- "People" - not specifying gender --> clear for modern audiences that it was a man with Allan/ Williams being discreet as homosecuality was illegal?
30
How is the locomotive described after Blanche delivers monologue about Allan Grey? How does Blanche react to the "locomotive?"
- "headlight glares into room and thunders past."
- Blanche "clasps her hands to her ears" at sound of locomotive.
- Blanche fearful of loud noises/ light -> symbol of revelation of secrets.
- "glares" harsh nature of light (shows Blanche feels as though she is put on spotlight.)
- Sympathy (from modern) --> her secrets include this dreadful moment in her life.
- Locomotive "thunders" past --> speed showing how Blanche's fate to doom is speeding up.
31
Significance of Allan's surname being "Grey."
- Ambiguity as a character --> made it difficult for Blanche to conclude that he is gay. Critique of steretypes and what they can do.
- Links to Blanche being described as "moth" --> Blanche carries grief of her husband with her.
32
When does Blanche's husband shoot himself?
- After Blanche says "I know, you disgust me" after having seen him in bed with an older man.
- Blanche's Old South ideals about sexuality makes HER feel unsettled/ guilty after Allan kills himself. Williams suggesting Old South ideals are self- destructive?
33
How is it clear that Blanche's relives the situation of her husband shooting himself (as though it happened yesterday?)
- Exclamations: mirroring what people said at time (she remembers everything.)
- Graphic description: "stuck revolver into his mouth, back of his head blown away."
- Sympathy for Blanche having to live through such a traumatic event.
34
How does Williams use "The Polka Music" when Blanche describes story of her husband?
- "Polka Music": has explicit context in scene of reflecting horrible incident that broke Blanche.
- When "polka music increases" --> Sobs as Mitch holds her/ reminds her of the incident. Polka music increasing could be signal that Mitch/ Blanche's relationship will work out.
35
By end of scene, how is it seen that Mitch and Blanche could work out together?
- Mitch "draws her slowly into his arms" --> gentleman nature (which Blanche previously describes him as in this scene.)
- "kisses her forehead and then her lips." Romantic nature of Mitch/ careful not to kiss her straight away and scare her.
36
Significance of Blanche being physically exhausted after the date.
- Too much effort in relationship/ not natural/ perhaps not meant to be?
- Reflects her mental state: keeping up facade is having toll on her.
Streetcar
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