Scene 4 Flashcards
metaphor for Stella’s complacency in the face of the issues in their relationship - Stanley’s violence
metaphorically sedated into submission, ignoring reality
“narcotized tranquillity”
Stella = revitalised by violence
Blanche = wearied, disturbed by violence
Stella is mentally/ emotionally thriving in this setting while Blanche cannot cope
Stella - relaxed, serene, tranquil
Blanche - sleepless night
both sisters’ solutions are entirely reliant on men and their financial situations
speaks to entrapment of women in 1940s - unable to support themselves financially
“he gave me 10 dollars to smooth things over”
Blanche’s mention of Shep Huntleigh
ao3 - Williams called streetcar “ideal metaphor for the human condition”
allegory for the driving force of characters which is desire
“haven’t you ever ridden on that streetcar?”
“it brought me here”
melodramatic, lexical field to describe Stanley.
Stage directions reflect Blanche’s judgements - there is an element of truth to it
“animal” “sub-human” “ape-like” “stone-age”
dramatic irony - parallels scene 1 where Stanley did this - Blanche sees through Stanley
she is a threat to him
“bearing the raw meat home”
reveals Blanche’s intransigence when it comes to her ideals. The sentence reminds us of Blanche’s classism which influences her judgement
by generalising “brutes” as it becomes a commentary on the new south as a whole
reminds of her idealism/ fantasies as Stanley’s life is more progressive and Blanche’s old south is the one being left behind
“don’t hang back with the brutes”
underscore Stanley’s dominance - jarring nature of train noises mirrors
symbolic of industrial, modern world
train sounds perforating scene - relentless force of change overpowers Blanche’s illusions
locomotive sound
immediately after Blanche’s monologue, Stanley embodies primal qualities - realises Blanche’s description
“licking his lips”
“stealthily”
peripeteia - Blanche’s fate is sealed
“he grins through the curtains at Blanche”
