Scene 5

Question 1

Blanche’s self-destructive nature

Answer 1

Blanche acts as though she is desperate to marry Mitch, yet also risks her future in a moment of passion as she kisses the young man collecting for a local newspaper. This may be interpreted in a variety of ways:
- Blanche’s urge to self-destruct
- actually finding young men irrestibily attractive
- she has no real desire for the safety of married life because in her heart she cannot commit herself to one permanent relationship with a single man, like a moth that will flutter and not settle down

Question 2

“I’ve run for protection, Stella, from under one leaky roof to another leaky roof”

Answer 2

Blanche uses the euphemistic metaphor of a “leaky roof” to prepare Stella for the truth about her sordid past. Stella, however, seems to ignore Blanche’s attempts at honesty, perhaps refusing to even consider the truth in what Blanche is saying.