Influence Of The Past Flashcards
How does that structure of the play show the influence of the past
-Blanches constant flashbacks
What does the cyclical structure of the play suggest about the influence of the past
- unavoidable influence of the past > Stanley’s problematic behaviour is reproduced and passed on to the future generation through the birth of their son
Give 3 quotes about blaches illusion which suggest she is haunted by her past
- “rising polka”
- “a distant revolver shot is heard”
- “lurid reflections appear on the walls around Blanche”
Finish the quote:
“The ‘ Varsuviana’? The…
… polka tune they were playing when Allan - wait!”
“Goes relentlessly …
… on and on in your head”
What are the music and sounds Blanche hears only in her head called
- plastic theatre
- internal diegetic sound imagery
What did Vivian Leighton say happened when playing Blanche
“Playing her tipped me into madness”
What part about the 2014 national theatre production showed Blanche’s past haunts her
- along with the internal diabetic music the lights turned blue when blache had flashbacks to her traumatic past
How does Blanche refer to Stanley using derogatory insulting palpate
“Polak”
“Swine”
What does blanche and Stanley illustrate in terms of prejudice
- the predicted faced by 1st and 2nd generation Europeans, however the prejudice Stanley faces in the play is mostly class based
Give a quotes that suggest Stella has moments of nostalgia and her perception is shaped by her privileged past
- “I like to wait on you Blanche. It makes it seem more like home”
Give a quote that suggest Stella is not only influenced by the past and in the end chooses the future
“I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley ”
Why does the Kazan film suggest Stella is not influenced by the future
- ending of the play changes > Stella claims she is “never going back” and Stanley’s actions have repercussions and Stella doesn’t let the future shape her actions
What is Stella and Blanches family wealth likely built on
- belle reve = plantation house > likely built on slavery
- slavery played great importance in heritage and ancestry in the south
How is Stanley influenced by the past
- violent tendencies and moral beliefs stem from the past
Finish the quote from Blanche about Stanley
“You must have had lots of banging around in the army …”
… and now that you’re out, you make up for it by treating inanimate objects with such fury”
What does Stanley say about Huey long and who is he
“Remember what Huey long said - every man is a king!”
- published book in 1930s called every man is a king and opposed the excessive privilege of the rich
When was the play set
1940s
What is the importance of the civil war in relation to the play
- set in post civil war America, its central issue being the abolishment of slavery
- ended in 1865 with north victory leading to slavery being abolished
