Scene 2 Flashcards
What are Stanley’s epithets?
Unrepentant - showing no regret for one’s wrongdoings or chosen course of action
Volatile - someone who’s mood often changes quickly and unpredictably
Territorial - someone who guards or defends the area/person they consider to belong to them
When is Stanley shown to be territorial?
Stanley is shown as territorial when Stella talks about her family losing the estate, Belle Reve. This is because he doesn’t trust Blanche and wants to protect his wife from her schemes.
How does Williams use this scene to bring about chaos to Blanche’s life?
Williams uses Stanley to bring chaos to Blanche’s life to reveal her flaws and create a sense of dominance which unsettles her. This helps to show Blanche’s vulnerability and creates a conflict between her and Stanley who represents post-war America.
How is Stella presented in this scene?
Stella is presented as a passive character who is inferior to Stanley.
How does Stella’s passive behaviour create a divide between Blanche and Stanley?
Stella’s passive behaviour causes Stanley to assert his claim on her, unsettling Blanche who doesn’t approve of their marriage.
Why does Stanley dislike Blanche?
Stanley dislikes Blanche because he thinks that she sold Belle Reve to buy nice things for herself. His suspicion of her is evidenced when he “crosses to her trunk, shoves it roughly open and begins to open compartments.” His brash behaviour also shows his animalistic and savage way of expressing his dominance over women.
What do the following words have in common; Unrepentant, Volatile, Territorial
They are all Stanley’s epithets, which describe him as a character.
Give an example of when Stella is presented as passive and/or submissive.
Stella is presented as submissive in the Stage Direction “Uncertainly” when her sister asks her to leave and buy her “a lemon-coke with plenty of chipped ice in it!” This is Stella being submissive as she doesn’t question Blanche but instead goes along even though she seems uncertain.
What do Stanley and Blanche represent?
Stanley represents the ‘New America’ and the American dream of freedom and opportunity for all.
Blanche represents pre-war America and the Old South which was notorious for class divisions.
