Scene 10 Analysis Flashcards
How does Williams show Blanche’s fantasy?
She is drinking to escape reality
She dresses in costume jewelry and gowns but the only audience for her fantasy version of herself is herself
When she looks at herself closely, even she can see through the illusion
How does Williams show the failure of Blanche’s illusory world?
She smashes the mirror and her nervous breakdown
How does Williams show the difference in drinking between Blanche and Stanley?
What is this larger difference between the characters in the play?
Blanche - drinking to escape her real self and consequences of her past
Stanley - his drunkenness emphasises his virility
Stanley and Blanche do the same things (drink, act physically and sexually) but in Stanley these actions are seen as powerful
In Blanche they are seen as signs of weakness and degradedness
How does Stanley reacts when he knows Blanche is lying?
he lets her live in her delusions while he half-undresses
he continues to hold her in suspense
What do the ‘special silk pyjamas’ symbolise?
Stanley’s sexual prowess
as well as purity of his wedding night with Stella
What happens as soon as Blanche insults Stanley? (‘deliberate cruelty is not forgivable’)
Stanley exposes his violent, inner nature
How do the men in this play show they know the truth?
Stanley - tears off Blanche’s fabrications
Mitch - ripped paper lantern off bulb
What is Blanche’s previous relationship with shadows? What is the relationship like now?
She usually cultivates them, they prefer to stay in half-darkness instead of facing the harsh light of reality
The shadows are now threatening
How does Blanche try to keep up her escaping from reality? Does this work?
She convinces herself she can escape
Her delusions of a male rescuer cannot save her from the reality of Stanley’s violent, overpowering, animal presence
How does Williams make the scene appear jungle-like?
through lightning
symbolic language
Stanley approaches Blanche as though she is his prey and he the predator
‘inhuman jungle voices’
stage directions - ‘mouth slowly curving into a grin’, ‘telephone, steady and rasping’, ‘biting his tongue which protrudes between his lips’
Sound - ‘roar of an approaching locomotive’, ‘barely audibel blue piano begins to drum up louder’
How does Stanley describe their encounter?
as fate
the necessary end to the primal struggle of their opposing forces
How is the rape a feature of classical Greek tragedy?
the play’s most climactic and violent act happens offstage
What motifs in this scene?
Colour Insanity Death/Fear of Death Light Violence
How is the motif of colour represented?
Stanley’s character - “scuffed silver slippers” shows the white she was described in at the beginning has deteriorated into silver
Blanche’s character - “vivid green silk bowling shirt” abd “brilliant silk pajamas” which reflects the vibrancy and boldness of his character
How is the motif of insanity presented?
Mild - when Blanche talks about Shep’s wire with such detail that it suggests that she is starting to believe it is true
losing grip on reality - Stanley begins to break down these delusions Blanche begins to see “lurid reflections and shadows” that are “grotesque and menacing”
descent - as she cries she is in ‘desperate, desperate circumstances!’ to Western Union. This only backfires as Stanley is amused by her fears.
