Other Characters Flashcards
Who is Mitch in relation to Blanche?
Mitch is Blanche’s main romantic interest
What is Mitch’s relationship with Stanley?
Mitch is Stanley’s colleague and poker-playing friend
How is Mitch initially portrayed in the play?
As a working-class man
What distinguishes Mitch from the other characters?
Mitch is portrayed as a sensitive gentleman
What type of clothing is Mitch described as wearing?
Blue denim work clothes
How does Mitch’s dialogue contribute to his characterization?
Characterized mainly through self-disparaging comments and others’ opinions
How is Mitch’s demeanor described?
Gentle and sensitive
What does Mitch prioritize despite being mocked?
Leaving early from games to tend to his sick mother
What does Mitch’s treatment of Blanche signify?
He treats her with respect and is sympathetic
What does Mitch realize about his and Blanche’s situations?
They are both lonely
How does Mitch’s masculinity compare to Stanley’s?
Mitch is masculine but sensitive, contrasting with Stanley’s strong, objectifying nature
Fill in the blank: Mitch is characterized as a _______ male.
Beta
How does Mitch greet Blanche when they first meet?
‘How do you do?’
What theme does Mitch’s character highlight in the play?
The contrast between sensitivity and dominance
Who is Mitch in relation to Blanche?
Mitch is Blanche’s main romantic interest
What is Mitch’s relationship with Stanley?
Mitch is Stanley’s colleague and poker-playing friend
How is Mitch initially portrayed in the play?
As a working-class man
What distinguishes Mitch from the other characters?
Mitch is portrayed as a sensitive gentleman
What type of clothing is Mitch described as wearing?
Blue denim work clothes
How does Mitch’s dialogue contribute to his characterization?
Characterized mainly through self-disparaging comments and others’ opinions
How is Mitch’s demeanor described?
Gentle and sensitive
What does Mitch prioritize despite being mocked?
Leaving early from games to tend to his sick mother
What does Mitch’s treatment of Blanche signify?
He treats her with respect and is sympathetic
What does Mitch realize about his and Blanche’s situations?
They are both lonely
How does Mitch’s masculinity compare to Stanley’s?
Mitch is masculine but sensitive, contrasting with Stanley’s strong, objectifying nature
Fill in the blank: Mitch is characterized as a _______ male.
Beta
How does Mitch greet Blanche when they first meet?
‘How do you do?’
What theme does Mitch’s character highlight in the play?
The contrast between sensitivity and dominance
What is the role of minor characters in a story?
They can act as catalysts to further the plot or shed light on the main characters.
Describe Allan Gray as a character.
A complex absent character who is unseen yet omnipresent.
What significant event occurs related to Allan Gray?
He dies by suicide after Blanche expresses her disgust at seeing him with an older man.
What impact does Allan Gray’s death have on Blanche Dubois?
It ends her innocence and begins her downward spiral, haunted by guilt.
What does Blanche search for in her relationships?
She searches for Allan Gray in all the young boys she beds.
What does the Young Man in the play symbolize?
Blanche’s obsession with finding Allan Gray.
What theatrical technique does Williams use to symbolize Allan’s omnipresence?
Plastic Theatre, including props, sound, and stage directions.
What song is associated with Allan Gray’s suicide?
The Varsouviana Polka.
How does Blanche experience the Varsouviana Polka in the play?
She hears it in her head until a gunshot sounds when she is stressed.
Who can hear the Varsouviana Polka in the play?
Only the audience and Blanche; other characters cannot hear it.
What is an example of dramatic irony in the play?
The audience knows the significance of the Varsouviana Polka while other characters do not.
What type of irony is present in the use of the Varsouviana Polka?
Situational irony, as an upbeat polka reminds of a grim suicide.
Who is Shep Huntleigh in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’?
A past suitor of Blanche who represents Old America and her mental deterioration
Shep is referred to by Blanche as someone who can help her and Stella financially.
What does Shep Huntleigh symbolize in the play?
Blanche’s mental instability and her hope for a better life
He becomes increasingly real to Blanche as her mental state worsens.
What is the role of the young man in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’?
A collector for the newspaper who represents Blanche’s sexual past and desires
He is involved with Blanche when she steals a kiss from him.
What does the young man symbolize for Blanche?
Her obsession with young boys, stemming from her fixation on Allan Grey
This reflects her past affairs with soldiers and younger students.
How does Blanche’s mention of Shep Huntleigh change throughout the play?
She refers to him increasingly as her mental stability deteriorates
This reflects her loss of control over reality.
Fill in the blank: Shep Huntleigh represents Blanche’s hope for a _______.
better life
True or False: Shep Huntleigh appears on stage in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’.
False
What does Blanche’s approach toward the young man reveal?
Her past affairs and sexual fixations
Including her relationship with a 17-year-old student.
