Scene 3 Analysis

Question 1

What does the setting of the kitchen show?

Answer 1

it is artificially lurid, vivid in the middle of the night
somewhat sinister and hell-like
the card-playing and drinking amplified the men’s animal natures, masculine space

Question 2

What is the difference between the kitchen and the bedroom settings?

Answer 2

when women enter the apartment, they walk straight into the heart of the masculine space
Stanley asserts his dominance physically over Stella
She and Blanche retreat to the shadowy, feminine bedroom space

Question 3

Why does Stanley get upset during his poker game?

Answer 3

by flirting with Mitch in her own space (half-light that hides reality) she is demonstrating power in his house
he wants to dominate the entire space, but Blanche is creating her own gravitational pull

Question 4

What connects Mitch and Blanche?

Answer 4

they have both lost their sweethearts

Question 5

What does Stanley do to break the harmony of the scene?

Answer 5

he throws everything into discord when he breaks the radio and shatters the music
Stella violently asserts his aggression over Stella in an abusive demonstration of dominance

Question 6

How does Stanley’s shower contrast to Blanche’s baths?

Answer 6

Blanche’s baths: escape from reality

Stanley’s shower: brings him back to his sober self in the real world

Question 7

On what level does Stella and Stanley’s relationship exist?

Answer 7

a deep, primal level

• Stanley bellows like an animal roaring for his mate after his shower
• Stella returns to him wordlessly
• the two embrace and murmur as they hold each other

Question 8

BATHING

How is this motif presented again?

Answer 8

Stanley’s shower shows the water is purifying and refreshing

Question 9

LIGHT

How is this motif presented?

Answer 9

she stands in a streak of yellow light, she is shown as insecure but desirous of male attention

Question 10

LIGHT

What may the naked light represent to Blanche?

Answer 10

a harsh, rough society, one that is ‘beneath her’ and that she looks down on
also:
-reveals true age
-reveal her past
-reveals truth she can’t hide
-a symbol of the world she wishes to hide from
-contrasts to Stanley as he is garish and loud

Question 11

ELYSIAN FIELDS

How is the lively atmosphere at Elysian field represented?

Answer 11

• colour of shirts
• lurid light over the table
• the greasy food and beer

Question 12

ELYSIAN FIELDS

What does EF show a contrast to?

Answer 12

seething life and excess in stark contrast to aristocratic and gentile society of Blanche and Stella

Question 13

ELYSIAN FIELDS

What do we witness among the men at the table that we do not witness between characters from upper classes?

Answer 13

• down to earth honesty

- sense of friendship and camaraderie

Question 14

ELYSIAN FIELDS

How is this image of Elysian Fields undermined?

Answer 14

by Stanley’s coarse, violent and bullying nature, which represents the downside of this more ‘honest’ way of life

Question 15

What themes are presented in this scene?

Answer 15

1. male vs female conflict
2. pleasant dreams vs ugly reality
3. longing/longing for love
4. the destructive nature of desire

Question 16

How is the theme of male and female conflict presented?

Answer 16

sexually possessive actions:
striking thigh
imperatives (“why don’t you women go up and sit with Eunice”)
Stella’s ineffective response (“that’s not fun, Stanley”)
along with laughter of men

sense of hierarchy with Stanley at top:
Stanley orders the others by “yelling” at them and short imperatives “deal”

Adapting to accept Mitch:
Mitch describes himself as being “rough” and Blanche has shown herself to look down upon these types of people
yet she is willing to ‘adapt’, showing her desperation to depend of the man (ignoring his social class)

Blanche attempting to assert some form of control over Mitch by seducing him:
“Thank you sir! I appreciate your gallantry!” - dependent on his compliments

Attempts to protest Stanley:
Stella says “you lay your hands on me and I’ll-“
but this is undermined when she begins backing away

Possible to view Stanley as emasculated as he cries out for Stella:
however, it is more accurate to say this shows this is excessive remorse is just another example of Stanley’s extremes
shown when Stella does not talk when she comes back to Stanley, Stanley remains dominant throughout: passion violence transformed into passionate lust by way of passionate regret

Mitch and Blanche’s dynamic:
“I’m terrified!” “Ho-ho! There’s nothing to be scared of”
Blanche - weak, frightened female
Mitch - fearless, protective male

Question 17

How is the theme of pleasant dreams and ugly reality shown?

Answer 17

“[her eyes go blind with tenderness]”

She still decides to return to him even though she cannot seem to see the exploitative nature of the relationship

Question 18

How is the theme of loneliness and longing for love presented?

Answer 18

Blanche portrayed as desperate as trying to attract Mitch

Audience feels sympathy for her as she just wants a companion, perhaps they can forgive her manipulative ways

Question 19

How is the theme of destructive nature of desire presented?

Answer 19

through reunion of Stella and Stanley with ‘low animal moans’
it is disturbing after such horrific violence, her love is so strong she comes back to Stanley