Concluding Scene Essay

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

• scene 11 of, title and playwright, provides a moving and emotional (or whatever question asks) ending to the play
• the outcome of blanches attempt to survive from the start of the play is established here as it becomes clear that after Stanley rapes her, she has fallen so far into her illusions, she can no longer survive
• Blanche struggled to cope in the new south of America so much now accept defeat and choose to live in her world of illusions rather than deal with the harsh reality of her life she is left with
• through techniques such as dramatic irony, symbolism and characterisation, scene 11 conveys the effective, yet emotional and disturbing departure of Blanche as she is taken away into a mental hospital

Question 2

Stanza 1

Answer 2

• by scene 11 Blanche is so caught up in her illusions that her departure is still a mystery to her
• she believes she is going on a cruise with her old admirer, Shep Huntleigh, so when the doctor arrives to take her away she states ”is it the gentleman I was expecting from Dallas?” as she is oblivious to the reality that she is being taken into hospital
• she panics briefly when she sees the doctor but is quickly reassured by the doctors courtesy and leaves with him calmly
• the reality of her departure is quickly highlighted by those around her who have whitenesses her downfall, especially Stella who ”sobs with inhuman abandon”
• this emotion showed by Stella emphasises blanches incapability to live in reality as seen throughout the whole play and her illusions have become so extreme she is now in need of professional help

Question 3

Stanza 2

Answer 3

• right from scene 1 it is clear that Blanche is haunted by her past
• during a convo between Blanche and Stanley he states ”you were married once weren’t toy” and immediately after this we hear the varsouviana for the first time which is music only Blanche can hear
• it is clear she is triggered by the subject of marriage which she reveals more about to Mitch when telling the story of her husbands death
• she states ”we danced the varsouviana” and then ”a few moments later - a shot”
• the music playing in blanches head become more intense throughout this emotional conversation with Mitch which emphasises how traumatised she is by her husband committing suicide
• the music gradually builds up every time Blanche is triggered by something throughout the play
• by scene 11, the varsouviana plays throughout the whole scene and blanches trauma has become so terrifying the music is ”filtered into weird distortion” and only begins to fade when the doctor is kind to her
• the use of the varsouviana is an effective way of of constantly reminding the audience of blanches trauma
• it is obvious how much her husbands death has impacted her emotionally and as she starts to descend into her illusions, by the music becoming more intense, it heightens the emotion in the scene and also highlights her gradual loss of control over her life and how she is unable to survive by the end

Question 4

Stanza 3

Answer 4

• the effective use of dramatic irony of Stella now living in a lie in order to survive in the new south mirrors blanches behaviour throughout the play
• in scene 11, it is clear that Blanche has told Stella about Stanley raping her however I’m a conversation with Eunice, Stella states ”I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley”
• she is forced to choose between Blanche and stanley here however chooses Stanley as expected and puts the ‘story’ down to blanches insanity
• Eunice supports Stella’s decision and tells her ”don’t ever believe it” which reassures Stella that she has made the right decision to move on and continue her relationship with Stanley
• this dramatic irony highlights that Stella is t as different from Blanche as originally thought
• this heightens the emotion as it becomes clear that Stella is now doing what Blanche does best by being unable to accept reality over illusion
• by Stella denying the rape, she can get rid of Blanche who is living proof of the truth Stella is now hiding from which emphasises both sisters need for survival in the new south

Question 5

Stanza 4

Answer 5

• throughout the play, Blanche uses a paper lantern to hide her true self
• in scene 3 she says to Mitch ”I can’t stand a naked lightbulb” so in order to hide from it, it gets covered with a paper lantern
• the lantern quickly becomes a symbol of blanches illusions as by hiding from the light she can cover up her real age and appear younger which indicated the start of her downfall into illusions
• by hiding her true self she feels a sense of protection and thinks people are more likely to love her if she looks youthful
• Blanche uses the lantern to hide throughout the play until Mitch ”tears the paper lantern of the lightbulb” to get a proper look at her after hearing rumours of her past in laurel
• highlights that cracks are starting to appear in blanches fragile facade and people are starting to see past her illusions to the reality of her life and who she really is
• in scene 11, Stanley violently tears the lantern off the lightbulb again and as he does so Blanche ”cries out as if the lantern was herself”
• this extreme reaction to the physical exposure of the truth, heightens the emotion (or whatever question is), of the scene as it emphasises her downfall into illusions
• as the lantern gets torn off it means that Blanche is no longer able to hide behind her illusions anymore and the reality she has been hiding from
• she is unable to cope with the reality she is left with and starts to lose total control and retreat into a complete world of illusions

Question 6

Stanza 5

Answer 6

• as Blanche is taken away in scene 11, the inevitable victory of Stanley and the new south of America is cemented
• Stanley and Stella are a United unit and a symbol so survival in the new America
• when Blanche was staying with the couple, there marriage suffered so Stanley says ”god honey it’s gonna be so sweet when we can make noise in the night the way that we used to” do now they Blanche is gone they can resume their once passionate relationship
• there despite for each other in scene 11 is highlighted as Stanley ”kneels down beside her and his fingers find the opening of her blouse” highlighting how desperate he is to have Stella to himself again
• Stanley’s triumph of the victory of him and the new south is emphasised by the final line of the play where Stanley states ”this game is seven card stud”
• Stanley’s competitive nature and determination is evident since the poker night in scene 3
• he sees life as a game and won’t stop until he gets what he wants
• in life, Stanley now has all the right cards which symbolises the end of the old south and belle reveals
• Stanley and the new south of America have won the game

Question 7

Conclusion

Answer 7

• without a doubt, the concluding scene of a streetcar names desire offers an emotional and symbolic end to the play as the audience witness blanches final retreat from the stage and the harsh reality of the real world
• through blanches behaviour and treatment towards others, Williams mourns the loss of the values of the old south and exposes the new, fast paced reality of the new south
• carefully employed symbolism, stagecraft, music and dramatic irony help to capture…(mention question) and reinforce the survival and battle between illusions and reality which has been adamant since the start of the play