Scene 8

Question 1

Overview of what happens in scene 8.

Answer 1

• Blanche stood up by Mitch at dinner.
• Stella critiques Stanley’s way of eating, Stanley responds to this aggressively.
• Stanley gives Blanche her present, ticket back to Laurel.
• Stella goes into labour.

Question 2

Significance of stage directions at beginning of this scene.

Answer 2

• Light “pierced by pinpoints” –> plosives, harsh clarity in Blanche’s destruction.
• “golden dusk”: decay–> Blanche’s decay; Southern Gothic genre.
• “golden dusk”: fantasy Blanche is living in –> fake hope that Mitch will still want her.

Question 3

Significance of the parrot joke Blanche tells in this scene to break the tension.

Answer 3

• “cover back on cage.” Symbol of Blanche covering who she really is.
• “the parrot broke silence” when man was putting sugar in his coffee. Blanche’s secrets will be revealed at unexpected time.

Question 4

How is Stanley presented as animalistic in this scene?

Answer 4

• “eats with his fingers.”
• “hurls plate”: loud noises disturb Blanche/ “hurls cup/ saucer” –> rejecting refinement.

Question 5

What does Stanley say when Stella says that he’s “making a pig of himself?”

Answer 5

• Imperatives: “Don’t” looking down to his wife, patriarchal.
• “Huey Long said, every man is King, I am King!”
• Huey Long: corrupt politician/ Stanley’s corrupt ideals.
• Stanley misunderstands quote, means everyone has ABILITY to become succesful!

Question 6

Significance of Eunice/ Steve in this scene.

Answer 6

• “bellowing laughter” above.
• Moved on from physical abuse, cycle of nonchalance around abuse.

Question 7

Significance of Blanche not wanting Stella to burn out the candles on her B- DAY cake/ appearance of cake.

Answer 7

• “white”: trying to maintain purity.
• “Don’t burn them”: doesn’t want to be another year older (her insecurity = age), wants B-DAY to last as long as possible.

Question 8

Significance of Stanley’s phone call.

Answer 8

• Dramatic device, increases tension - reminding audience that Blanche is expecting call from Mitch.
• Stanley calls himself “team-captain”/ makes all choices around bowling –> dominance amongst men–> what can he then do to women? Warning to women of his power?

Question 9

Significance of Stella going into labour on Blanche’s birthday.

Answer 9

• Blanche is being replaced.
• New replacing Old south.

Question 10

How does Stanley describe life with Stella before Blanche came along?

Answer 10

• He “pulled (her) down off them columns.” –> pulled her down in class. “columns” –> common feature of Old South in plantations.
• “those coloured lights going” –> joy of their life/ Stanley likes everything to be transparent unlike Blanche who hides from light.

Question 11

Significance of Blanche’s “el pain de mais” song at the end of this scene.

Answer 11

• Mexican, contrasts traditional Varsouviana. Rejection of Old South? Wants to forget missery with Allan Gray.