Scene 6 Flashcards
How does Mitch contrast with Blanche and why is this significant?
Mitch uses politeness strategies showing his sensitivity towards others - shows his decency when he states that he likes Blanche ‘to be exactly the way that’ she is, showing his polite nature and appealing to the audience. He also often uses direct interrogatives, asking Blanche why she tried if she didn’t “feel like it”, showing his honesty and sincerity – he speaks as he feels without trying to manipulate or control others. In contrast, Blanche’s language is heavily exaggerated and embellished, often making literary references to show that she’s educated. In this scene, she uses literary language when she personifies the stars, showing her education but also her desire to live in a world removed from her harsh reality. Her evasiveness contributes to her ability to transport herself to a more idealistic world.
How does Blanche’s language change when discussing her husband?
She often uses minor and simple sentences, suggesting a disjointed quality to the speech, reflecting her distress at describing what happened and what she perceives as her part in her husband’s death. This is reinforced by her use of ellipsis, too. Her language is highly expressive and emotive and she frequently uses hyperbole, intensifying her guilt. Her poetic intensity heightens her fragile state of mind, as does her use of imagery. Her use of direct speech as she describes what was said to her when she tried to approach the body, gives the speech an immediacy, as if Blanche is reliving the moment in her mind, unable to escape the terrible memories. She uses many pauses, particularly in the section beginning ‘it was because – on the dance-floor’ and these seem to reflect her disgust at herself for what she said to her husband and her shame and honesty causes her to stumble over her account.
How does Blanche refer to her husband and why is this significant?
Her repeated use of ‘boy’ to describe her husband not only tells us how long ago this was – and therefore it reinforces the damage done to her as she has dwelt on it for so long – but it also reinforces a tenderness about her and therefore her guilt at contributing to his violent suicide.
How does Blanche refer to her husband’s sexuality?
She speaks euphemistically when referring to his homosexuality, as well as metaphorically when describing his state of mind.
How does Blanche finish her long speech about her husband in this scene?
Her final reference in the speech to the kitchen-candle brings her back into the real world and the candle lit on the table between the two of them – Blanche and Mitch. Her language throughout this speech is fragmentary, reflecting her own broken state – these intense memories overwhelm her.
How does Mitch respond to Blanche’s revelation about her husband’s death?
Mitch’s response reinforces his decency and kindness. He doesn’t comment or judge her, he simply recognises her need. His speech is almost rhythmic: ‘Could it be – you and me, Blanche?’ and this gives his language a gentle, soft quality. The scene ends with a reference to God and seems to suggest an optimism for the relationship – for the first time, Blanche has been honest with herself and with someone else and this person hasn’t rejected her.
