a street car named desire Flashcards
what happens in scene 1?
Blanche arrives in Elysian fields while Stanley is bowling and Stella is watching Stanley. Eunice takes Blanche to Stella and Stanley’s apartment. Blanche is not impressed, Stella then comes and Blanche talks about the conditions she is living in, Blanche says Stella has gained weight and Stella discusses Stanley. Blanche explains that she has lost Belle Reve then gets defensive and expresses distress at the deaths she had to put up with.
What happens in scene 2?
Stella tells Stanley that Blanche lost Belle Reve. Stanley persists to find out the details. Blanche sings songs - symbolism. Stanley goes through Blanche’s things and says she must have sold it to pay for her fancy clothes. Blanche flirts with Stanley. Stanley says he does not ‘go in for that stuff’ when she looks for complements. Blanche asks Stella to go get her a lemon cake. Stanley finds the poems that Allen wrote her. Stanley says that Stella is pregnant. Guests gather for the poker party.
What happens in scene 3?
Mitch is introduced properly - his is sensitive with sick mother. Blanche and Stella get home. Stanley tries to send them upstairs to Eunice’s. Blanche and Mitch meet and Blanche takes a liking to him as he is ‘superior to the others’. Blanche turns on music and Stanley gets frustrated. Mitch and Blanche talk - she puts up a paper lantern and Mitch shows inscription on cigarette lighter. Stanley throws the radio out the window. Stella gets upset and tells everyone to leave. Stanley hits Stella so she goes to Eunice’s. The guys sober Stanley up by dunking his head in the shower. He goes after Stella and when she comes down they go to bed.
What happens in scene 4?
Blanche is upset that Stella chose to come home after what Stanley did so Stella made excuses for Stanley. She explains that Stanley’s violence is thrilling for her. Blanche says Shep Huntleigh can help them but Stella says she doesn’t need help. Blanche says she has no money. Stella says Stanley gave her some money to ‘smooth things over’. Blanche goes on a rant about the fact Stanley is an animal and Stanley hears. Stella hugs him passionately in front of Blanche.
what happens in scene 5?
Blanche wrote a letter to Shep. Eunice and Steve argue - says he slept with a blonde girl. Blanche talks to Stanley and asks him what sign he’s born under, Stanley asks about the Hotel Flamingo. Blanches talks to Stella about the fact that she need to feel validated by others. Blanche screams when Stella accidently gets some of the drink on her. Blanche says that Mitch is coming over and she says she wants to deceive him and make him love her. The young man comes over and she makes lots of secual jokes and then kisses him. Next Mitch comes with flowers.
what happens in scene 6?
Mitch and Blanche come back form an amusement park, they do some awkward chatting and hanging about and then go inside. They get drinks and Blanche asks if he speaks French and he says no. She continues to speak French and makes sexual comments. Mitch makes more awkward comments about the fact hes sweating. He then talks about weight. Blanche complains about Stanley to Mitch, next Mitch asks for her age and she avoids the question. Blanche explains what happened with Allen and Mitch asks Blanche to be with him, they both need somebody, convenience.
What happened in scene 7?
Blanche is bathing and Stella is setting up for her birthday. Stanley reveals he told Mitch everything. He tells Stella what he has found. Blanche claiming to be virginal, Blanche goes to The Flamingo but is kicked out, has affair with a 17 hear old boy at Laurel. Blanche is singing in the bath again - facade. Stella explains why she is like this - was changed by people and circumstances and Blanche knows that something is wrong.
what happens in scene 8?
Mitch was invited to Blanches birthday but he doesn’t show up. Blanche asks Stanley to tell a story but he says he doesn’t know any refined enough for her taste so she tells one instead. Stella says that Stanley is acting like a pig. Stanley ‘clears up’ by smashing a plate on the floor. Blanche asks again what Stanley told Stella and Stella says nothing. Stella is upset, Stanley says its going to be okay once Blanche leaves and they can be themselves again (lots of sex). Blanche says don’t burn the candles and compare them to babies eyes. Stanley says its hot because of the bath steam and Blanche apologies and calls him a healthy Polack. Stanley says he is not a Polack and then he gets a phone call about bowling. Stanley gives Blanche her birthday present of a ticket back to Laurel. Blanche is upset and Stella gets mad at Stanley as he tries to leave for bowling. Stanley says they were happy together until she got here and Stella goes into labour.
What happens in scene 9?
Blanche is drinking, Mitch comes to see her. He is unshaven and in work clothes - the facade has fallen. Blanche says she forgives him for everything. Blanche says that she keeps hearing the polka tune in her head. Blanche looks for liquor and Mitch comments that Stanley said she had been drinking a lot all summer. Mitch turns on the light to see Blanche properly cause he never has. Mitch explains that he can’t believe the lies she told him and says all that Stanley told him to. Blanche explains that intimacy with strangers was the only way she could feel better after Allen’s death. Mexican woman with flowers for the death - foreshadowing. Mitch gets a bit aggressive and handsy, but Blanche pushes him off and calls fire. He then runs away.
what happens in scene 10?
Blanche has been drinking since Mitch left, and she puts on a outfit and tiara. She offers to go for a midnight swim but says be careful you don’t drown. She lifts a mirror to look at herself and throws it down ashamed she is ageing. Then Stanley comes home and says the baby wont be coming until morning. Blanche starts talking about Shep Huntleigh and says that he has invited her on a cruise of the Caribbean. Stanley is not convinced. Stanley puts on his silk pyjamas and doesn’t close the curtains why he is changing. Blanche says that Shep doesn’t want her for sex but for company. Blanche gets mad with Stanley for ruining her relationship with Mitch and Blanche claims that Mitch came over and she dumped him but he begged for her forgiveness but she says no she wont take him back. Stanley exposes Blanche to her face and Blanche tries to phone Shep. Prostitute is pursued by a drunkard - death and desire mixed. Stanley and Blanche physical struggle and Stanley carries her body onto the bed.
