Scene 3 Flashcards
game of chance - ideas of fate/destiny
‘American Dream’ - taking risks, everyone has a chance of success, winning = big rewards
synonymous with American culture
gendered space - male control and aggression
‘Poker’
ao3 - original title ‘The Poker Night’
expressionist painter - warped reality
painting itself mirrors the scene playing out - epitome of American culture
Van Gogh - mental health problems, committed suicide.
opening stage directions
“picture of Van Goghs of a billiard-parlour at night.”
surreal, intense dream-like atmosphere
mimics the expressionist painting - illusion, american culture
sensory image is to the point of discomfort
“lurid nocturnal brilliance”
“childhood’s spectrum”
“vivid green glass”
“primary colours”
acts as a foil for Blanche’s association with white and purity
“primary colours”
fast-paced, topic changes - fighting for dominance in the conversation
impulsive, reaction-based mentality - atmosphere is tense and unpredictable
hedonistic pursuit of enjoyment - Blanche and Stella have no place in it
male dialogue
appearance concerns revolving around cleanliness - wants to give off an air of purity
“hot and frazzled”
Blanche anticipates chivalry to which Stanley ensures she does not receive through his abrupt vernacular. Immediately after Mitch treats her in a gentlemanly manner - contrast, fits into Blanche’s southern cavalier ideals + fantasies
Blanche: “please don’t get up”
Stanley: “nobody’s going to get up”
followed by Mitch’s “awkward courtesy”
borderline predatory behaviours
sexualising herself
contradicting her earlier aversion to the light - inconsistency in her performance, glimpse of her true nature
links back to moth to a flame imagery
“certain interest”
“unbuttoning her blouse”
“in her pink silk brassiere and white skirt in the light”
social darwinism - values of the American Dream
Blanche’s inability to understand highlights class differences + ignorance to societal progression
“its a drive that he has”
Stella + Blanche commonality angers Stanley in his domain
“you hens cut out that conversation”
exerting his control over the space, trying to divide the genders
“jumps up”
“turns it off”
“jerks roughly at curtains to close them”
Scarlet woman motif - moved onto Mitch, juxtaposes her initial desire to detract attention from her
weaponizing her sexuality
“she has slipped on the dark red satin wrapper”
creating her damsel narrative - faking her vulnerability, nuance of Blanche’s personality - constantly contradicting herself
series of deceits reveals her to be manipulative and possessing antagonistic traits
“reading with feigned difficulty”
circus associations - bears in captivity for others entertainment
Blanche’s romantic idealism of Mitch isn’t reality - he isn’t suited to her world.
“moves in awkward imitation like a dancing bear”
ao3 - 1940s censorship
violence off stage
