Scene 4, Motifs and Themes Flashcards
How is the theme of The contrast between the upper class and the working class presented in this scene through the opposing views of Blanche and Stella?
Blanche not only hungers for luxury “It brought me here….where I’m ashamed to be”, but she seems to be appropriately outraged by the domestic violence which Stella seems to accept as the inevitable downside of life with Stanley. Hence she says “I have to plan for us both, to get us both-out!” but Stella merely replies [with a laugh].
Moreover, Blanche speaks of her old college beau, she tells Stella of her recent rendezvous with him, and she speaks of his wealth and fortune, “…literally spouting gold in his pockets”. In contrast she expresses her low and demeaning opinion of Stanley, claiming “he’s common”, depicting him as a caveman The contrasting ways in which she speaks of the two men and the distinct opinions she has of them further makes the stark contrast between the two classes clear in this scene.
Analyse the quote: , “What you talking about is brutal desire”, which is used to describe Stella’s relationship with Stanley. (THEME The destructive influence of desire).
Stella is content with her husband and admits that she is thrilled by Stanley’s sexual desires, which we discover is clearly what heightens Stella’s desire for him. Moreover, we see Stella embrace Stanley “…with both arms, fiercely, in full view of Blanche” in this scene. The fact that Stanley then grins at Blanche infers that he has control over Stella through his sexuality. Sexuality is what binds Stella and Stanley together.
Describe the references made to desire, in this scene, that depict Blanche’s character.
Blanche makes reference to the Streetcar named desire, “Desire! - the name of that rattle-trap street car that bangs through the Quarter…” which connotes how she feels desire leads an individual to the wrong places “It brought me – Where I’m not wanted and where I’m ashamed to be”.
Williams uses this theme to foreshadow the eventual destruction of Blanche which happens as a result of at least three kinds of desire: firstly, her previous sexual promiscuity which forced her to leave Laurel; secondly her desire for a life of beautiful illusions similar to that of her aristocratic childhood which makes her unable to adapt to the ugly truth of the changing world which she now finds herself a part of and, finally, of the immediate desire that Stanley has for her in the rape scene.
How is animalistic imagery used in this scene?
Blanche, in this scene, gives a crude depiction of Stanley “Bearing the raw meat home from the kill in the jungle! … Maybe he’ll strike you or maybe grunt and kiss you!” The animalistic imagery is clear as she portrays him as a brute, “Somebody growls – some creature snatches at something – the fight is on”. She uses the animalistic imagery to illustrate how unrefined she believes Stanley is and to convince Stella to leave him.
How does this scene relate to the whole play?
Although in the scenes prior to this one we have already seen an increase of tension between Stanley and Blanche, now we see the conflict between these two characters crystallise. The fact that Stanley has heard Blanche call him a savage and a brute in his own house, his territory, foreshadows the strong sense of resentment he will have towards her later in the play, and perhaps partially justifying his actions against her later on. His “grin through the curtains at Blanche” suggests the rivalry between these two characters.
Why is the speech between Stella and Blanche significant?
Perhaps the most significant speech in this scene is Blanche’s denunciation of Stanley (and the value system he represents) as something from the Stone Age on a ‘dark march’ towards oblivion in opposition to the truths of art, literature and culture with which Blanche feels she is aligned. This reflects the conflict between the two classes (and their respective value systems) that Williams sees being played out in the world around him.
Describe the different classes that Blanche and Stanley represent.
On the one hand we have Stanley’s vibrant, lively, passionate world of the working class immigrants who will become the new driving force behind modern America, the downside of which is their coarse brutishness and violence. On the other hand we have Blanche who represents the fading aristocratic values of gentility, chivalry, intellectual enlightenment and ‘decent’ behaviour but the world she comes from is corrupt (witness her forefathers and their ‘epic fornications’), deceitful and manipulative. Each side has its drawbacks and ultimately Williams does not seem to support either Stanley or Blanche … instead it appears he is simply reflecting in his play the changes he sees occurring in the world outside.
