Scene 11: Downbeat Coda Flashcards
What is the significance of Steve having the last line in the play?
- “This game’s Seven Card Stud.”
- Male: power of patriarchy.
- Minor character: lack of extravagant line from main character shows how life moves on in Elysian Fields.
- Poker reference: behaviour of men from Poker Night will be constantly repeated.
- Seven characters remaining by end of play.
How can it be seen from the opening stage directions of this scene that The New South has won?
- “Stella packing Blanche’s things.”
- Atmosphere is described as “same, raw, lurid one of poker night.”
- Stanley/ his friends have dominated with their ever-lasting masculinity.
- Lasting image –> New South aggressive ideals are what win. Williams critiquing this?
Where is Blanche at beginning of this scene? What motif does this continue?
- Bathing: “sound of water heard running in bathroom.”
- Sound devices –> “running”: suggests bath isn’t enough needs her sins/ truth to be wiped off her constantly.
What does Blanche describe she wants to wear in this scene? Significance?
- “yellow silk.” Symbol of cowardice: unable to face her truth (still trying to keep up the facade.)
- “Artifical violets.” –> symbol of death of Old South/ “artificial” –> Blanche’s fantasy.
- “Seahorse.”: Continuing Blanche’s fantasies (rare creatures!!)
- SHOWING BLANCHE’S VANITY
Use of light in scene.
- Blanche standing in “amber light” –> still trying to cover up.
What does Blanche describe her “blue jacket” as? Significance?
- “Della Robbia blue.”
- Colour of Virign Mary. Trying to keep up chaste facade (links to when she showcases that she is: “Virgo the Virgin.”)
Symbols of Blanche’s death/ destruction in scene.
- “Artificial violets”: flowers of her funeral.
- “Cathedral Bells.”
- Williams making Blanche’s destruction clear to show audience what Blanche’s several tragic flaws can lead to - warning audience against them.
Significance of Stanley’s position in this scene.
- “Stanley is shuffling the cards.”
- Symbol of how Stanley is game master, controlling everything around him.
- Williams highlighting New South’s oppressive control from men.
What does Stanley do to the paper lantern and how does Blanche respond?
- “tearing it off the light bulb.” –> aggression/ “deliberate cruelty.”
- “She cries as if the lantern were herself.” –> Williams’ suggesting not to rely on fantasy like Blanche does.
- Replaying of the rape.
How does doctor act to Blanche and how does she respond?
- “takes off his hat.”
- Gentleman caller to Blanche.
- “She allows him to lead her as if she were blind” –> “blind” by the truth. unable to process. Too trusting of people who treat her nicely (her fatal flaw!)
How can we deduce that the new baby is a boy? Significance of this?
- “pale blue blanket.”
- Continuing Stanley’s legacy/ carrying forward Stanley’s toxic masculininity.
- Williams critiquing the unfortunate power these men have, encouraging audiences to do something so people like Blanche aren’t “destroyed.”
What famous line does Blanche say in this scene?
- “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” (links to scene 3 when she tells Mitch: “I need kindness now.”)
- She cares too much about what other people think about her/ isn’t genuine.
Stage devices used
“lurid reflections.”: Unnatural light. Blanche’s fantasy has been twisted to negative delusion - has no sense of reality.
“cries and noises of jungle.” Violence of Elysian Fields is crystal clear now. Walls caving in on her.
What important music plays in this scene?
- “Varsouviana.”
- Played when Grey died. Shows that ever since the death, Blanche has been mentally suffering/ doomed to destruction. SYMPATHY.
- All in her head: mental decline.
Significance of Blanche’s monologue about dying on the sea.
- “Die of eating unwashed grape.” Her delusion/ mental decline. - - Romanticised death vs harsh reality of “death” she is actually facing.
- Dropped in “clean white sac” –> purity/ innocence.
- Recalls Allan’s eyes.
- Water of sea will cleanse her.
- Williams’ showing how out of tune with reality Blanche really is.
Eunice and Stella’s behaviour to Blanche?
- Saying she looks “lovely” –> both repeating same line to reinforce it!
- Complete shift in the way they treat her –> Williams critiquing their infantalising of Blanche because she is mentally ill?
Blanche’s physical behaviour.
- “rising slowly” -> physical pain from rape/ mental destruction.
- “voice dies out nervously.”
- Complete contrast to scene 1 where she stands up with pride and asks “how do I look.” “dies out” –> Stanley completely destroyed her confidence. Williams’ critiquing Stanley’s behaviour.
Repeated line Blanche said in scene 1.
- “How do I look?”
- This is all Blanche will ever care about –> her vanity leads to her destruction.
How have many critics argued Blanche leaves?
- Quietly - without “hubris” (ie. pride they will win.)
- “allowed man to lead her blind.” Leaves with dignity.
- This makes audience have more sympathy for Blanche/ understand her and learn from her mistakes (as Williams would’ve wanted them to.)
Chaos of this scene
- Mitch “strikes at Stanley.” Devestated of how he treated Blanche (Williams’ showing that ultimate villain at this point is Stanley - not whole of New South; there’s still hope to be good!)
Lasting sexual image
- Stanley “kneels beside her and his fingers find opening of her blouse.”
Personification: its his inate nature to act in this way, body does it without his mind even thinking. - Stella being silenced by this. Arguably leaves Blanche for her own sexual gratification. Williams critiquing Stella’s raw sexual desire (also.)
- Stanley’s complete animalstic nature/ link to image of Poker Night when two come together, symbol of New South now having complete control of Old South.
What is the last music playing in this scene?
“Blue piano.”
Music of New South (New South has now gained complete control over Old South.) William’s urging audience to grieve over this loss with him.
How does this scene contrast with other scenes in the play?
- Other scenes: realism –> in setting/ characters.
- Last 3 scenes: more Plastic Theatre/ exprossionist - using symbolic devices.
