Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Streetcar > Scene 3: Poker Night > Flashcards

Scene 3: Poker Night Flashcards

1
Q

What does “Van Gough’s Billiard Parlour at Night” portrait mentioned in the opening stage directions look like? What could each aspect of the portrait represent?

A
  • Bright lights/ harsh colours: aggressive/ violent nature of these men (contrasting Blanche’s white - associated with innocence.)
  • Red: colour linked to Stanley before (could it be his domain?)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What name was Tenessee Williams going to give to this play before “A Streetcar Named Desire?” Importance of this…?

A
  • The Poker Night.
  • Importance: shows significance of this scene in showing Stanley/ other men’s toxic masculinity.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Contrast between Stanley and Blanche (when it comes to light) in this scene? What does this represent?

A
  • Stanley: playing poker in harsh light whereas, Blanche can’t “stand a naked light bulb”/ needs it to be covered.
  • Stanley = blatant truth. Blanche = illusion/ facade.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Overall, what happens in scene 3?

A
  • Stanley and his friends are playing poker.
  • Stanley mocks Mitch for saying he has to go home to his mother.
  • Stella asks Stanley to stop playing, he ignores. Stella and Blanche speak to each other in bedroom. Blanche claims that Mitch is “superior.”
  • Blanche/ Mitch have a conversation and bond over sonnet quote on lighter.
  • Stanley becomes irritated by music playing and throws radio out of window/ slaps Stella. She goes up to Eunice.
  • Stanley misses Stella and bellows out her name/ they are re-united.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the significance of the watermelon described in opening stage directions?

A
  • Water- melon = vibrant colour (shows Stanley’s vibrant/ masculine nature.)
  • Links to “gaudy seed bearer” –> his pride in his ability to impregnate women is elonagted.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How do the men and Stanley speak and behave together at the beginning of this scene?

A
  • Very short sentences: very assertice to one another (trying to exert dominance.)
  • Stanley “tosses the watermelon” - very aggressive.
  • Stanley tells Mitch to “shut up” –> he uses poker as a way to assert dominance as a Polish immigrant. Negative side of New South?
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What phrases does Stanley use to mock Mitch?

A
  • Says he will give him “a sugar tit” and that he will save money in a “piggy bank.”
  • Infantalising Mitch for caring about his mother/ challenging his masculinity.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How is Stanely’s aggression towards Stella foreshadowed earlier on in the scene?

A
  • “Gives a loud wack of her thigh.”
  • Sexualising Stella/ impressing his friends. Very primitive interractive contrasts Blanche/ Mitch’s “prim and proper” discussion.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Significance of the “sound of the blow” being off stage.

A
  • Allows audience to imagine the worst (showing how illogical it is from Stella to go back to this man.)
  • Symbol of how all of this is hidden.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How do Stella and Blanche speak to each other in this scene? What does this contrast?

A
  • Very feminine/ light- hearted.
  • Contrasts masculine bravado from the men.
  • Williams showing the poised nature of women?
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Siginificance of Blanche asking Stella: “is he a wolf?” Connotations?

A
  • Metaphor for man who is aggressive/ sexual towards women.
  • Animal imagery shows primitive nature of men like Stanley.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How is motif of light continued in this scene?

A
  • Stella points out that “Blanche is standing in the light.”
  • Blanche explains to Mitch that she “can’t stand a naked light- bulb.”
  • Symbol for her being unable to be under scrutiny even more as play progresses (perhaps because her secrets are unravelling.)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How does Stanley speak to Stella and Blanche when they are laughing about how the “plaster” fell from ceiling (from Eunice/ Steve?)

A
  • He says: “ you hens cut out that conversation in there.”
  • Suggesting that Stanley thinks the women are making irrelevant noise (like hens do.) He views them as irrelevant/ unimportant.
  • Links to opening stage directions:”richly- feathered bird amongst hens.)
  • Doesn’t want feminine atmosphere/ “laughter”; wants toxic masuclinity everywhere!!
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How are Blanche and Mitch introduced to each other?

A
  • “Introduced as Harold Mitchell” and “Blanche Dubois.”
  • Formal, proper nouns used.
  • Mutal respect between each other.
  • Matches the greeting between gentleman caller and his suitor in the Old South.
  • Mitch fits in with this. Could be good fit for Blanche.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why does Blanche call the toilet, “The Little Boy’s Room” to Mitch?

A
  • Flirtatious undertones.
  • Infantalising people of lower class.
  • Very prim and proper (too rude to say toilet!!)
  • Juxtaposition: “you got any cigs.” - shows she is adaptable/ able to switch characters to suit her agenda. MANIPULATIVE/ DECIEVING.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What do Mitch and Blanche bond over?

A
  • Sonnet quote from “Mrs Browning” which is Blanche’s “favourite sonnet!” Exclamatory. Her excitement in finding someone to bond with over literature (sympathy for the fact she hasn’t found someone till now?)
  • Mitch responds blunt “the girl’s dead now.” - Simple declerative.
  • Both have romantic interests that have died (perfect for each other.)
17
Q

Two ways in which Blanche lies to Mitch?

A
  • Says “two is the limit.”: trying to show herself as someone feminine/ even though she has masuline drinking habits.
  • Says that Stella is older than Blanche but opening stage directions state that Blanche is “five years older.”
  • Inconsistencies in Blanche (Williams wants audience to see faults in Blanche that could lead to her downfall.)
18
Q

Significance of Blanche’s explanation of her name.

A
  • “white woods, like an orchid in spring.”
  • Simile: suggesting she is special/ pretty/ delicate. Putting on a facade when speaking to Mitch.
  • “Woods” = sinister (what is she hiding under all her layers?)
  • Natural imagery.
19
Q

What type of music is played when Mitch and Blanche dance together?

A
  • Plays waltz music.
  • Very formal. Genteel nature of their interraction (very Old South!)
  • This contrasts the “Rhumba music” that played previously before their interraction. Rhumba = sensual. Suggesting, they have flooded out any inappropriate sensual behaviour. VERY FORMAL.
20
Q

How does Mitch dance to the music with Blanche?

A
  • Mitch has “awkward imitation like a dancing bear.”
  • Animalistic imagery.
  • Simile–> creates comical image of Mitch.
  • Suggests he has all this physical strength but doesn’t misuse it like Stanely does.
  • Primitive nature? Doesn’t understand etiquette when it comes to dancing like Blanche does.
  • Contrast between New and Old South.
21
Q

How is Stanley described to walk into the room on Blanche and Stella, how is he described after that point?

A
  • “stalks fiercly”: juxtaposing words (should stalk gently) - his unpredictable nature.
  • “tosses” radio. Very impulsive
  • “charges after Stella.”: deliberate attempt to hurt Stella.
22
Q

How do the men react to Stanley after he hits Stella with a “sound of a blow?”

A
  • “feeblly, speak quietly and lovingly to him.”
  • Very soft in comparison to Stanley/ scared “let’s get quick out of here” (don’t know how to control situation.)
  • Puts him under shower: seems like Stanley has down this before (know how to deal with it.)
23
Q

How does Stanley react when he is alone and Stella has left him?

A
  • He says: “I want my baby down here. Stella! Stella!”
  • “throws head back like a hound.”
  • “Baby”: something that would be said in loving relationship/ is he infantalising Stella?
  • Insisiting on Stella (animalistic sexual desire to be with her.) Cannot live without her reproducing (symbolically continuing the New South.)
  • Animal call for mating
24
Q

When Blanche is in panic, what happens in the stage directions?

A
  • “Looks for sanctuary, Mitch appears around the corner.”
  • Saving her!! Almost as if he’s her husband already.
25
Q

How is it clear that Stanley has hit Stella more than once and that violence has been normalised in the “New South?”

A
  • His friends know what to do (although they are frightened.)
  • Mitch says: “there’s nothing to be scared of.”
  • Stella describes how the “plaster” above from Eunice/ Steve’s appartement peeled off (from violent acts perhaps?)
26
Q

How do Stanley and Stella come together at the end of this scene?

A
  • Stella comes downstairs in a “robe” and “they come together with low, animal moans.”
  • Stanley has control over Stella (sexually she is attracted to him.)
  • Animalistic/ raw sexual nature of their relationship brings them together magnetically.
27
Q

Significance of Blanche saying “I need kindness now” to Mitch at the end of the scene.

A
  • Shows how she needs other people (potential hint at her fatal flaw.)

Streetcar (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions