Scene 7 Essay

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

• no doubt that Stanley kowalskis brutal exposure of Blanche Dubois in scene 7 of, title and playwright, provides an impactful turning point to the play
• as Stanley reveals the truth about blanches past, it destroys her facade and any chance of salvation with Mitch
• this revelation also has a clear negative impact on the speed of Blanche mental downfall leading to her getting taken into a mental institution in the concluding scene of the play
• the thematic conflict between the old south and the new south of America as well as the battle between illusion and reality are further developed by this exposure and blanches need for survival is also conveyed
• the revolution shatters blanches illusion and reflects the desperate fate of ‘soft people’ in a world dominated by the cruel, physical people of the new south

Question 2

Stanza 1

Answer 2

• in scene 7, Stanley reveals the truth about Blanche in a brutal and remorseless way
• he exposes her reputation for being a prostitute in the flamingo hotel and also that she interfered with a school boy and that is why she is not currently working
• he pulls apart blanches facade by itemising the lies stating ”lie number one… lie number two”
• this typical directness of Stanley mirrors his primitive behaviour throughout the play especially in scene 1 where he throws stella a blood stained package and says ”catch… meat”
• this behaviour suggests the harsh and practical reality of the new south of America as well as it highlighting Stanley’s beliefs of male superiority
• this revelation/turning point in the play highlights Blanche is losing her ability to survive, as Stanley, who represents the new south, is destroying blanches carefully employed facade emphasise Stanley’s victory over ‘soft people’ in the old south

Question 3

Stanza 2

Answer 3

• in contrast to Stanley’s direct exposure of blanches reality, Blanche can be heard singing offstage in the bath throughout scene 7
• she sings the lyrics ”it wouldn’t be make believe if you believed in me”
• these lyrics hint at blanches optimism from the end of scene 6 where she starts to see contentment with Mitch after their date that ends with Mitch who ”kisses her forehead… and finally her lips”
• however blanches future with Mitch relies on him continuing to believe her act
• as a result of Stanley’s malicious revelation about her character, it creates tense dramatic irony as Blanche is totally unaware that while she sings, just outside, her facade is being totally destroyed
• her positive singing about a future with Mitch will now never be a success as he is about to find out the truth
• furthermore it is symbolic that Blanche is bathing in this scene as it suggests she is trying to maintain her deception as appearing youthful and attractive in order to ”shimmer and glow”
• she needs to survive in the cruel new south she is living which is being made more and more difficult due to Stanley’s actions throughout the play

Question 4

Stanza 3

Answer 4

• the revelation in scene 7, destroys all hope of blanches survival as her relationship with Mitch is destroyed
• throughout the play, Blanche uses a paper lantern to dim the lights in the apartment as she says ”I can’t stand a naked lightbulb”
• the lantern quickly becomes a symbol of blanches illusions as by dimming the light she can hide who she really is by making herself appear youthful and beautiful
• later in the play, after Mitch finds out the truth about Blanche, Mitch and Blanche reunite and in a symbolic act of violence, Mitch tears down the paper lantern to get a proper look at Blanche
• as Mitch does this blanche ”utters a frightened cry” and states ”I don’t want realism”
• her extreme reaction to this physical exposure of reality highlights how desperately she wants to avoid reality and how she doesn’t want to face her fading beauty and aging
• this also emphasises blanches fast retreat into a fantasy world, as a result of Stanley’s revelation/the turning point, as is he is too terrified to face reality

Question 5

Stanza 4

Answer 5

• the ongoing conflict between Blanche and Stanley is intensified as a result of the turning point in scene 7
• the conflict reaches its climax in scene 10 when Stanley rapes her
• this final destruction of Blanche, clearly results from the revelation in scene 7, as we see Stanley at the peak of power and Blanche at her weakest
• in scene 10, Blanches costume is described as ”soiled and crumpled” which contrasts o her immaculate appearance throughout the rest of the play
• Stanley is described as being animalistic throughout the scene as he ”springs” at Blanche who si terrified by the ”inhuman jungle cries” all around her
• the new south of America that Stanley represents is becoming an increasing scary place for Blanche as she becomes less and less able to survive within it
• the end of blanches attempt for survival is highlighted as Stanley eventually overpowers her as he picks up her ”inert figure and carries her to the bed”
• blanches inert body symbolises she has completely given up as well as it highlighting Stanley’s triumph over Blanche and everything from old south that Blanche represents

Question 6

Stanza 5

Answer 6

• the final consequence of the revelation in scene 7 is blanches complete mental downfall in scene 11 of the play which is conveyed by Williams in a number of different ways
• Blanche has totally retreated into her fantasy world which is highlighted when she says ”is it the gentle is was expecting from Dallas?” when there was a knock at the door
• Blanche is oblivious to the fact it is actually a doctor at the door and instead thinks it is shep huntleigh, an old admirer of hers, to take her on vacation
• this has been one of her fantasies throughout the play and she now fully believes it to be true, representing her downfall into illusions
• furthermore, Blanche also continues hearing the varsouviana, which is used throughout the play to symbolise her past trauma
• by scene 11, the music she hears is ”filtered into weird distortion” highlighting how terrifying her past is and how she doesn’t want to have to face it
• she also sees ”lurid reflections” on the wall symbolising the mental torture in her head
• the use of music and lighting throughout this scene, convey her panic and deterioration as she is clearly not coping and starting to lose control
• as Blanche eventually agrees to go with the doctor, the final view of her being taken of the stage confirms her total loss of reality and the triumph of the new south of America

Question 7

Conclusion

Answer 7

• the revelation of the truth about Blanche, in scene 7 of the play, marks a clear turning point in the play as Stanley destroys blanches facade p revealing the reality she has been so desperate to hide
• as a result of this scene, Blanche and Mitch’s chance of a relationship are destroyed, fading blanches chance of survival
• blanche is left broken and her illusions and facade cracked
• her downfall becomes increasingly apparent as her world begins to crumble around her as she is forced to retreat into a world of illusions forever as the brutal new south of America is triumphant