Scene 1

Question 1

“her appearance is ….

Answer 1

incongruous to this setting”
“ shocked disbelief”
Williams juxtaposes Blanche with her new surroundings

Question 2

” and turn that…

Answer 2

over light off”
light imagery, she doesn’t want the light to reveal her age
reoccurring motif of light
Blanche

Question 3

stage direction - she is embarrassed

Answer 3

Stella home is nothing like Belle reve - complete contrast

Stella

Question 4

“I’m looking for my sister, Stella DuBois….

Answer 4

I mean—Mrs. Stanley Kowalski.”
Blanche
Women are men’s belongings, dependence on Stanley.
Patriarchal symbol

Question 5

“I want to be near you…

Answer 5

got to be with somebody, I can’t be alone!”
Blanche
Blanche shows her dependency on people. She has no self-sufficiency, but instead seeks people to protect her from reality.

Question 6

‘Negro Women’

Answer 6

First character we meet, shows context of time with racial term being her only form of characterisation. Completely acceptable at the time

Question 7

‘Meat!’ – ‘She laughs breathlessly’

Answer 7

Women’s role in society, dependence on men.

Stella

Question 8

‘They told me to take a streetcar named desire ….

Answer 8

then transfer to one called cemeteries’
Desire leads to death
Blanche

Question 9

‘Removes a whisky bottle’

Answer 9

First thing Blanche does is drink. This shows the audience immediately that she has a problem

Question 10

” They’re something like Irish aren’t they?’

Answer 10

Blanche

Racism of old south

Question 11

‘They’re Stanley’s friends…”

Answer 11

Stella has no friends of her own. Patriarchal society and dependence on men.

Question 12

‘I’m-not very well….”

Answer 12

first signs of Blanche’s mental state

Question 13

“When he’s away for a week I go wild!”

Answer 13

Stella is dependent on Stanley