Motifs and symbolism Flashcards
How does Stanley contrast the idea of Blanches affinity to darkness?
“He holds the bottle to the light to observe the depletion”
Stanley’s first instinct is to see how much alcohol is missing.
He uses the light to foreshadow how he will eventually bring to light everything Blanche is hiding.
What does the paper lantern represent?
“Tearing it off the light bulb”
Symbolic of revealing the truth.He brings back the light which signifies the truth into their lives.
However, Stanley’s affiliation with the truth and light is not a positive one, his violent actions, depicted by William’s, are more a reflection of how crude reality is.
What does the motif of bathing represent?
Coping with the subconscious guilt from past experiences and misdeeds to achieve a sense of peace through cleansing
“I take hot baths for my nerves-hydro-therapy they call it.”
“Wash her sins away”
“Feeling like a brand new being”
Blanche baths or finishes bathing when there are moments of conflict such as when Stanley slaps Stella and when Stanley is revealing Blanches past to Stella.
Animal imagery quotes…
Blanche sarcastically refers to the hotel flamingo where she met many men back in laurel as the ‘Tarantula arms” and claims “yes a big spider!”Thats where I bought my victims.” And says she “was hunting for some protection-here and there”
Beta Male…
-Mitch is a parallel to Stanley as foil from the start
-Uses Mitch to represent the non-hegemonic ,beta male, masculine but with a touch of sensitivity and gentleness genuinely perceived as feminine characteristics
When is the beta male persona of Mitch shattered?
-This is briefly shattered when Mitch presents his machismo, entitlement and sexism
-After finding out the truth about Blanches past, he almost forces himself onto her, turning cruel.
-“Blanche is now “dirty”.Mitch says that “Your not clean enough to bring in a house with my mother” portraying his underlying misogyny
-Hope is shattered that was built on Mitch representing the ‘decent man’
-Demonstrates the depths of toxic masculinity and sexism in society that infiltrate’s even the gentle souls.
-In his worse moments being drunk and heartbroken his true colours are revealed
-Becomes subdued and sorrowful and also has a lot of resentment towards Stanley.
How are Mitch and Allan similar?
-Mitch throughout the play speaks about his clothes, his appearance and his physiology which is not typically masculine for the social context of the play.
-So, Allan and Mitch in this sense both harbour a sense of femininity.
What does the paper Lantern represent when Mitch rips it of the light bulb?
-This action is unnerving and uncharacteristic for him
-Blanche lets out a frightened gasp and when he turns on the light she cries out
-Aggressive actions symbolising him emerging out of the darkness of the fake perception he has of Blanche
-Proceeds to half-heartedly “fumble to embrace her” to show his desire and he forces himself onto her believing he is entitled to it however he fails to do it.
Alpha male…
-In the study of social animals this is characterised as the highest ranking specimen in an established dominance hierachy
-Stanley=”alpha male” by using animal imagery
How does Stanley present animal charactersitics?
-Establishes power through his aggressive actions when he “Hurls” “jerks”, “shoves”, “throws”,”snatches”, “rips”, “seizes”, “spears”, “slams.” William uses such dictation to accentuate the brutish force with which treats the world around him.
-Stanley has an Unapologetic male gaze and uses his sexuality and strength to propel his dominance.”He sizes women up at a glance, with sexual classifications, rude images flashing into his mind and determining the way he smiles at them.
-“BLANCHE[Drawing involuntarily back from his stare]” is an example of him “sizing up “creates an animal effect of assessing prey.
-The rape of Blanche enables Stanley to assert his dominance through sex.
-“Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh”(stellas)This portrays how Stanley needs to use sexual and physical acts to threats.
-Uses sex rather than words to apologise when he abuses her he ‘makes’ up for it through sex but never actually apologises.”He kneels beside her and his fingers find the opening of her blouse” This happens when Stella is weeping over Blanche.
-During rape scene, “the night is filled with inhuman voices like cries in a jungle flame” and Stanley “springs” at Blanche shouting “tiger” furthering this idea of his primitive, animalistic characteristics.
Poker games symbolism…
-establishes him as an alpha male and the antithesis of Blanche
-His excessive drinking aggravates his innate violence, it is socially acceptable for him to be inebriated but Blanche has to do it in private as its her coping mechanism (may also reflect the sexism)
“BLANCHE: poker is so fascinating. Could I kibitz?”
“STANLEY: You could not. Why don’t you women go up and sit with Eunice?”
-Misogyny is exhibited on multiple occasions surrounding poker games
-In his world he is the “King” as he puts it. His only threat as we see, unironically, is a sensitive women who showcase masculine traits.
What does the name Blanche symbolize?
Purity and innocence
The name is derived from the French word for white, which contrasts with her character in the play.
What does Dubois mean?
Of wood
Wood symbolizes strength and durability, which is ironic as Blanche is fragile and unstable.
What is the irony in Blanche’s character?
Her name and character are opposites
Blanche’s name represents purity, while her actions reveal her manipulative nature.
What does Blanche describe her name as meaning in scene three?
White woods
She explains that her name combines meanings of both white and wood.
How can Blanche DuBois’s name be interpreted?
As ‘white and made of wood’
This interpretation highlights her chaste appearance contrasted with her manipulative behavior.
What does Blanche’s character reveal about her nature?
She appears pure but is unyielding and manipulative
Her name reflects the duality of her character and her pursuit of a husband.
What happens to Mitch at the end of the play?
He is left alone and lonely
This mirrors Blanche’s own loneliness.
What does the character of Blanche drive in the play?
The central conflict
Her identity and the contrast between her appearance and reality create tension.
Fill in the blank: Blanche’s entire name is profoundly _______.
symbolic
True or False: Blanche is characterized as strong and stable.
False
She is actually characterized as fragile and unstable.
At the start of the play, how is Blanche perceived?
Pure, harmless, and untainted
This perception changes as her past is revealed.
What does Blanche’s trunk symbolize?
Blanche’s past, including good and bad moments, lost home, and love
The trunk contains clothes, cheap fur, costume jewelry, old love letters, and papers of Belle Reve.
What items does Blanche claim are in her trunk?
Clothes, cheap fur, costume jewelry, old love letters, and papers of Belle Reve
She states that ‘everything I own is in that trunk’.
How does Stanley treat Blanche’s trunk?
With violence; he pulls, hurls, blows, jerks open, shoves, and kicks it
This treatment foreshadows his later treatment of Blanche.
What does Stanley’s ruffling through Blanche’s trunk foreshadow?
The blunt and brutal revelation of Blanche’s past
It leads to the discovery of what caused her situation.
What does Blanche insist about the contents of her trunk?
They are gifts from her admirers
She attempts to flirt with Stanley during this conversation.
What happens when Stanley brings up the papers of Belle Reve?
He treats her trunk and its contents roughly, ripping the ribbon off love letters
This includes letters from her deceased husband, Allan Gray.
What does Stanley insist will happen to Blanche’s trunk at the end of the play?
Whatever is left behind will be sent along with her trunk
This statement feels untrue and empty as Blanche is ostracized from society.
Fill in the blank: Blanche’s trunk contains papers related to _______.
Belle Reve
True or False: Blanche’s trunk only contains positive memories from her past.
False
What relationship dynamic is sparked during Blanche’s interaction with Stanley about her trunk?
A tense and bitter relationship
Their initial flirtation fails, leading to rudeness.
What does Stanley’s treatment of the trunk reveal about his character?
He is violent and disrespectful
This reflects his overall treatment of Blanche throughout the play.
What does Belle Reve translate to in English?
‘beautiful dream’
The name Belle Reve is of French origin and symbolizes a beautiful fantasy.
What led to the loss of Belle Reve?
Foreclosed mortgage
The loss of Belle Reve signifies Blanche’s tragic economic situation.
How does the loss of Belle Reve contribute to Blanche’s story?
It is one of the last misfortunes leading to her mental breakdown.
What is the symbolic meaning of Belle Reve?
It represents a beautiful fantasy that fades away.
What does Belle Reve symbolize in relation to Blanche and Stella?
A material connection and their last inheritance.
What feelings does Blanche express toward Stella regarding Belle Reve?
Resentment for leaving her alone to deal with it.
What traumatic experiences does Blanche associate with Belle Reve?
Deaths and funerals of her relatives.
What does Blanche recall about her time at Belle Reve?
She tended to dying relatives by herself due to scarce funds.
True or False: Belle Reve was a fictional place created by Blanche.
False
Belle Reve was an actual plantation that once existed.
Fill in the blank: The deaths and memories at Belle Reve haunt Blanche due to _______.
horrific imagery.
What are the three names presented at the opening of the play?
Desire, Cemeteries, Elysian Fields
These names hold symbolic and metaphorical significance revealed later in the play.
What does Blanche explain to Eunice about her trip to the Kowalski residence?
She took a streetcar named Desire, then transferred to one called Cemeteries and rode six blocks to Elysian Fields
This journey is allegorical of Blanche’s life.
What does ‘Desire’ symbolize in Blanche’s life?
The first phase of her life after Allan’s death
It represents her yearning for love and companionship.
What does Blanche mean when she says, ‘Yes, I had many intimacies with strangers’?
She filled her empty heart with relations after Allan’s death
This reflects her struggle to cope with loss.
What does ‘Cemeteries’ symbolize in Blanche’s journey?
Death
It signifies her misfortunes and cultural death.
What led to Blanche losing her job as a teacher?
Having an affair with one of her young students
This act resulted in her exile from Lauret.
What does Blanche’s fall from the Southern upper-class Belle signify?
Her downgrade to a mentally unstable state and lower-middle-class living
It represents her cultural death and loss of status.
What is Elysian Fields in the context of the play?
The name of the street where the Kowalski residence is situated
It alludes to a mythical place in Virgil’s Aeneid.
How does Williams depict the neighborhood of Elysian Fields?
As a poor area where all races and classes mix, with upbeat music creating an otherworldly quality
This contrasts with the idea of Elysium in mythology.
What is the ironic aspect of Elysian Fields?
There seems to be a lack of righteousness in the street
Elysium is a place for the righteous dead in mythology.
What does Elysian Fields represent in the context of souls’ journeys?
A temporary place for the souls’ journey back to life
This reflects the transient nature of existence.
What happens to Blanche at the end of the play?
She is sent to an asylum
This can be seen as her starting a new life after her expulsion from society.
What led to Blanche’s self-destructive rampage?
Her disgust and a traumatic incident
This incident ultimately led to her expulsion from society.
Who does Blanche reference as capable of doing her experience justice?
Edgar Allan Poe
She refers to him as ‘Only Poet Only Mr Edgar Allan Poe!’
What themes does Edgar Allan Poe’s work reflect that are relevant to Blanche?
Death and its varied aspects
His works explore reanimating the dead, mourning, premature burials, and decomposition.
How does Blanche describe her relationship with death?
She speaks of death graphically and metaphorically
Examples include: ‘Death-I used to sit here…’ and ‘the Grim Reaper had put up his tent on our doorstep!’
What tragic event occurred eleven years after Poe’s marriage?
His young wife died
This event contributed to his mental instability.
What substance did Edgar Allan Poe become a chronic user of after his wife’s death?
Alcohol
His mental state deteriorated after this loss.
What is a significant parallel between Blanche and Edgar Allan Poe?
Both lost a young spouse and became increasingly unstable
Blanche was also haunted by death and had an obsession with it.
