A Streetcar named Desire Scene 1 Flashcards
Where does the play begin?
‘The exterior of a two storey corner building on a street in New Orleans’
What are Elysian fields?
Final resting place for souls of the heroic and virtuous
How is it suggested this area is different from other poor areas of New Orleans?
‘The section is poor but unlike corresponding sections in other American cities, it has a raffish charm’
Where is this area?
‘Between the L&N tracks and the river’
What is the river symbolic of?
Lack of control. Takes things away and brings them back
How are the houses described to give a tainted look?
‘The houses are mostly white frame, weathered grey with rickety outside stairs and galleries and quaintly ornamented gables’
How does Williams create a biblical sense and tainted effect?
‘Faded white stairs ascend’
What time of day is it?
‘First dark of an evening early in May’
How is the building described generally?
‘Dim white’
How is the daylight described?
‘A peculiarly tender blue, almost turquoise, which invests the scene with a kind of lyricism and gracefully attenuates the atmosphere of decay’
How does Williams describe the river?
‘You can almost feel the warm breath of the brown river’
What does a brown river suggest?
Pollution
How does he suggest New Orleans are full of music?
‘A corresponding air is evoked by the music of Negro entertainers at a bar room around the corner’
How else does Williams suggest music is everywhere?
‘You are practically always just around the corner, or a fee doors down the street, from a tinny piano’
How are the tinny pianos being played?
‘With the infatuated fluency of brown fingers’
How is the blue piano described?
‘This ‘blue piano’ expresses the spirit of life which goes on here’
How does Williams create a contrast between characters?
‘Two women, one white and one coloured’
How is one of the women shown to be insignificant?
‘The white woman is Eunice who occupies the upstairs flat; the coloured woman a neighbour’
How is there a sense of community?
‘There is a relatively warm and easy intermingling of races in the old part of the town’
How does the stage direction describe the black woman?
‘To negro woman and Eunice’
How are the two men described?
‘Roughly dressed in blue denim work clothes’
What is Stanley carrying?
‘His bowling jacket and a red-stained package from a butcher’s?’
What is the first term of endearment Stanley calls Stella?
‘Baby’
What immediately suggests Stanley is very alpha male?
‘Bellowing’
What is the first impression of Stella? And what suggests she might have more class?
‘A gentle young woman, about twenty five and of a background obviously quite different from her husband’s’
How does Stella initially try to show authority over Stanley?
‘Don’t holler at me like that’
When does Stanley use monosyllabic words?
‘Catch’
‘Meat’
How is it suggested that Mitch is not significant and Stella is not important right now?
‘Her husband and his companion have already started back around the corner’
How does Stella ask about what Stanley is doing and if she can join?
‘Stanley! Where are you going?’
‘Can I come watch?’
How is the black woman described?
‘The coloured woman’
How do we know the area is quite poor?
‘Tell Steve to get him a poor boy’s sandwich cause nothing’s left here’
What is Blanche doing at first?
‘Looks at a slip of paper, then at the building, then again at the slip and again at the building’
How does Blanche feel about this area?
‘Her expression is one of shocked disbelief’
How is Blanche’s appearance described?
‘Her appearance is incongruous to this setting. She is daintily dressed in a white suit with a fluffy bodice, necklace, earrings of pearl, white gloves and hat, looking as if she were arriving at a summer tea or cocktail party in the garden district’
What is said about Blanche’s beauty?
‘Her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light’
What is said about Blanche’s overall appearance?
‘There is something about her uncertain manner, as well as her white clothes that suggests a moth’
What else shows Blanche’s disbelief at where Stella lives?
‘They mustn’t have- understood- what number I wanted…’
‘This - can this be- her home?’
What shows Eunice’s colloquial language?
‘You don’t have to look no further’
How does Blanche respond to Eunice offering to look after her things?
‘No’
How is the black Woman colloquial?
‘I’ll go tell her you come’
‘You welcome’
What happens with the lighting when Blanche enters the flat?
‘A light goes on behind the blind, turning it light blue’
‘The surrounding areas dim out as the interior is lighted’
How is the apartment described?
‘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’
How does Eunice react to Blanche’s disgusted look?
‘Defensively, noticing Blanche’s look’
What does Blanche say in response to Eunice claiming the apartment is sweet when it’s tidy?
‘Is it?’
What does Blanche want to do to Eunice?
‘Wanting to get rid of her’
How do we know Blanche is not going to give anything away?
‘Yes’ repeated 5 times in this section
How do we see Eunice is friendly?
‘And you’re from Mississippi huh?
‘Por nada as the Mexicans say, por nada! Stella spoke of you’
‘Sure honey. Why don’t you set down?’
How does Blanche politely tell Eunice she wants to be alone?
‘If you will excuse me, I’m just about to drop’
How does Blanche offend Eunice?
‘What I meant was I’d like to be left alone’
How does Eunice react to Blanche asking to be alone?
‘Offended’
How can we tell Eunice is offended?
Interrupts Blanche uninterested in her explanation ‘I’ll drop by the bowling alley an’ hustle her up’
How do we know Blanche is insecure initially?
‘Blanche sits in a chair very stiffly’
‘Her shoulders slightly hunched and her legs pressed close together and her hands tightly clutching her purse as if she were quite cold’
What suggests Blanche has an alcohol addiction?
‘She notices something in a half-opened closet. She springs up and crosses to it and removes a whiskey bottle. She pours a half tumbler of whiskey and tosses it down.’
‘I’ve got to keep hold of myself’
What suggests Blanche is well practiced in drinking alcohol?
‘Tosses it down’
How do we know Stella is excited to see Blanche?
‘runs to the door of the downstairs flat’
‘Calling out joyfully’
What is animalistic about Blanche when she sees Stella?
‘Runs to her with a wild cry’
What does Blanche call Stella?
‘Stella for star’
How does Blanche talk to Stella?
‘She begins to speak with a feverish vivacity as if she feared for either of them to stop and think.’
What is their embrace like?
‘They catch each other in a spasmodic embrace’
How do we know Blanche is self conscious?
‘But don’t you look at me Stella, no,no,no not till later, not till I’ve bathed and rested’
What is the first phrase showing Blanche has an aversion to light?
‘And turn that over-light off! Turn that off! I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare!’
What does Blanche call Stella when she jokes about their location?
‘Precious lamb’
What suggests from the stage directions the sisters’ reunion is not what it seems?
‘She laughs but her glance at Blanche is a little anxious’
What childlike game do we see Blanche playing?
‘Oh, I spy, I spy!’
How do we know Blanche is keen for some liquor?
‘She rushes to the closet’
What façade does Blanche show when she gets the liquor?
‘She tries to laugh’
‘Now don’t get worried, your sister hasn’t turned into a drunkard’
What excuse does Blanche give for not wanting (normally having liquor)?
‘No coke, honey, not with my nerves tonight’
What does Blanche say she will be about Stella’s house?
‘I’m not going to be hypocritical, I’m going to be honestly critical about it’
How does Blanche feel about the area Stella lives?
‘Why, that you had to live in these conditions?’
How does Stella stand up for where she lives?
‘Aren’t you being a little intense about it? It’s not that bad at all! New Orleans isn’t like other cities’
How does Stella act when Blanche stops quizzing her on her house?
‘A little drily’
How is Blanche dramatic about her sister’s views towards her?
‘You’re all I’ve got in the world, and you’re not glad to see me’
How does Stella react to being accused of being quiet?
‘You never did give me a chance to say much, Blanche. So I just got into the habit of being quiet around you’
How do we see Blanche has this expectation of people?
‘You haven’t asked me how I happened to get away from the school before the spring term ended’
‘You haven’t said a word about my appearance’
How does Blanche feel about drink?
‘Oh this buzzes right through me and feels so good’
How does Blanche react when Stella reassures her on her appearance?
‘God love you for a liar’
How does Blanche insult Stella’s appearance?
‘You’ve put on some weight, yes, you’re just as plump as a little partridge’
‘You just have to watch around the hips a little’
‘You messy child, you, you’ve spilt something on that pretty white lace collar’
‘About your hair, you ought to have it cut in a feather bob with your dainty features’
How does Stella feel when Blanche questions her on having a maid?
‘She is embarrassed’
‘There is an embarrassed silence’
What does Blanche relate Stella to in terms of the way she sits?
‘Look how you sit there with your little hands folded like a cherub in a choir’
How does Stella respond to Blanche calling her a cherub in a choir?
‘Uncomfortably’
How does Blanche describe Stella’s mannerisms?
‘Beautiful self-control’
How does Blanche accuse Stella of leaving them?
‘I weighed what i weighed the summer you left Belle Reve. The summer Dad died and you left us…’
How can we tell Blanche is an alcoholic?
‘I am going to take just one little tiny nip more, sort of to put the stopper on, so to speak. Then put the bottle away so I won’t be tempted’
How is Blanche boastful?
‘I want you to look my figure’
How do we know Stella is tired of hearing Blanche boast?
‘A little wearily’
How does Blanche act when she talks about her looks slipping?
‘She laughs nervously and glances at Stella for reassurance’
How does Blanche joke about the bathroom?
‘Oh you do have a bathroom! First door to the right at the top of the stairs?’
How do they react to Blanche’s bathroom joke?
‘They both laugh uncomfortably’
How does Blanche act hypocritically when she says her looks are slipping?
Stella says ‘they haven’t slipped one particle’
Blanche says ‘after all I’ve been through? You think I believe that story?’
Despite the fact she looked to Stella for reassurance
How does Blanche act towards her bed at Stella’s?
‘Dubiously’
How does Blanche copy Stella?
Calls her ‘honey’
How is Blanche stereotypical and prejudiced towards Stanley?
‘They’re something like Irish aren’t they?’
What does Blanche say about her clothes?
‘I brought some nice clothes to meet all your lovely friends in.’
‘I brought nice clothes and I’ll wear them’
How does Blanche suggest she isn’t well?
‘I want to be near you, got to be with somebody, I can’t be alone! Because - as you must have noticed - I’m not very well’
How does Stella describe Stanley?
‘A different species’
Not a person
How do we know Stella is moral?
‘Oh, you can’t describe someone you’re in love with. Here’s a picture of him’
How does Stella think Blanche is insulting Stanley and her love choice?
‘I assure you I wasn’t just blinded by all the brass’
How does Blanche react to discovering Stanley doesn’t know she is here?
‘Frightened’
How does Stella explain how in love she is?
‘I can hardly stand it when he is away for a night’
‘When he’s away for a week I nearly go wild’
‘And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby’
How does Stella react to being described as in love?
‘Stella looks up with a radiant smile’
How does Blanche accuse Stella?
‘You left! I stayed and struggled! You came to New Orleans and looked out for yourself! I stayed at Belle Reve and tried to hold it together! … all the burden descended on my shoulders’
‘You are the one that abandoned Belle Reve, not I’
How does Blanche show the sacrifices she made for Belle Reve?
‘I stayed and fought for it, bled for it, almost died for it’
How does Stella act realistically about Blanche?
‘Stop this hysterical outburst and tell me what’s happened’
How do we know Blanche is sensitive about Belle Reve?
‘I knew you would, Stella. I knew you would take this attitude about it!’
‘You’re a fine one to ask me how it went!’
‘You’re a fine one to sit there accusing me of it’
What do the stage directions show about the dialogue about the loss of Belle Reve?
Awkward
‘They stare at each other across the yellow-checked linoleum of the table. Blanche slowly nods her head and Stella looks slowly down at her hands folded on the table. The music of the ‘blue piano’ grows louder. Blanche touches her handkerchief to her forehead’
How does Blanche describe the emotional trauma she received?
‘I took the blows in my face and my body’
‘Sometimes their breathing is hoarse, and sometimes it rattles and sometimes they even cry out to you’
‘You’d never expect there was a struggle for breath and bleeding. You didn’t dream but I saw, saw, saw’
How does Blanche use a simile to describe the funerals at Belle Reve?
‘But had to be burned like rubbish’
How does Blanche use the metaphor of Belle Reve and the grim reaper?
‘Why the grim reaper had put up his tent on our doorstep’
‘Belle Reve was his headquarters’
How does Blanche accuse Stella again of abandoning her in her speech about Belle Reve?
‘Yes, accuse me! Sit there and stare at me thinking I let the place go. I let the place go? Where were you. In bed with your-Polack!’
How does Stella initially react to Blanche’s speech and her accusations?
‘Springing’
How does Stella defend herself against Blanche’s accusations and show power?
‘Blanche! You be still! That’s enough!’
How does Blanche act on seeing Stella crying about Belle Reve?
‘Oh Stella, Stella you’re crying!’
What does Stella say in response to Blanche identifying that Stella is crying about Belle Reve?
‘Does that surprise you?’
How can we tell when the men arrive they are very masculine?
‘They give a hoarse bellow of laughter’
What does Eunice do when the men arrive?
‘Hollering down from above’
What does Eunice say to Steve when he arrives home?
‘Break it up down there! I made the spaghetti dish and ate it myself’
‘Well, never mind about that. You just get yourself home here once in a while’
How does Steve respond to Eunice’s complaints?
‘You want it in the papers?’
What do Eunice and Steve represent?
What Stella and Stanley will be like
How do we immediately know Stanley is violent?
‘Stanley throws the screen of the kitchen door open and comes in’
What physical description is given of Stanley?
‘He is of medium height, about five feet eight or nine and strongly, compactly built’
How do we know Stanley is animalistic?
‘Animal joy in his being is implicit in all his movements and attitudes’
‘Since earliest manhood the centre of his life has been pleasure with women, the giving and taking of it … but with the power and pride of a richly feathered male bird among hens’
What are Stanleys’ ‘auxilary channels of life’?
‘His heartiness with men, his appreciation of rough humour, his love of good food and drink and games, his car, his radio and everything that is his’
How are Stanley’s gender roles highlighted?
‘Bears his emblem of the gaudy seed bearer’
How are Stanley’s sexual thoughts described?
‘He sizes women up at a glance, with sexual classifications, crude images flashing into his mind and determining the way he smiles at them’
How does Blanche react to Stanley?
‘Drawing involuntarily back from his stare’
How does Stanley initially describe Stella?
‘Little woman’
How does Stanley dismiss Laurel and show his possessive nature?
‘Not in my territory’
How does Blanche lie about drinking liquor?
‘No, I - rarely touch it’
How is Stanley mysterious about liquor?
‘Some people rarely touch it but it touches them often’
How do we know Stanley has no dignity?
‘My clothes’re stickin’ to me. Do you mind if I make myself comfortable? (he starts to remove his shirt)
How is Blanche monosyllabic?
‘Yes’
‘English’
How is Stanley colloquial?
‘You going to shack up here?’
How is Stanley initially friendly to Blanche?
‘Well, take it easy’
How do we know Blanche is nervous?
‘A car screeches near the window. Blanche springs up’
How does Stanley joke but actually Stella is genuinely upset?
‘Haven’t fallen in have you?’
Where is the first lot of music we hear?
‘The music of the polka rises up, faint in the distance’
How does Blanche show the insignificance of her husband?
‘The boy- the boy died’
How do we know Blanche’s power is diminishing?
‘She sinks back down’
‘Her head falls on her arms’
What is the last thing Blanche says in this scene?
‘I’m afraid I’m- going to be sick’
