Scene 9 Flashcards
> persistent effort to impose refinement and beauty onto her environment
desire for aestheticism
Blanche infiltrated space that does not belong to her
“Bedroom chair she has recovered with diagonal green stripes”
> brink of psychological collapse - exacerbated by isolation and alcohol
sense her past catching up to her
decisive stage in disintegration
premonition of disaster
“A bottle of liquor and a glass”
“The music is in her mind; she is drinking to escape it”
“Seems to whisper the words of a song”
> Mitch represents hope
elevates tragedy - makes his betrayal more painful
musical shift symbolises hope
“Mitch comes around the corner”
“The polka tune stops”
> shed any pretence of gentility
no longer idealized romantic figure
visual contrast to qualities Blanche imposed in her mind - visually destroys illusion she built around him
all stage-crafting reinforces illusions are crumbling
“Blue denim shirt and pants. He is unshaven”
> lines in stream of consciousness style >desperation to reconcile
admonishing him - sees herself superior to him
constant speech attempt to postpone inevitable conversation
“And such uncouth apparel! Why, you haven’t even shaved!”
> alcohol consistent motif in characters’ behaviours under emotional turmoil
exacerbates tension
exaggerated emotions
“He has had a few drinks on the way”
> musical stagecraft - Mitch cruel behaviours recommenced it
thematic significance (illusion vs reality) >places hope in ritual of music stopping after the shot - tries to supress guilt
“The polka tune starts up again”
“There now, the shot! It always stops after that”
> metaphorically exterminates Blanche fake persona
Mitch parallel Stanley’s antagonistic behaviour
“I’ve never had a real good look at you, Blanche”
“He tears the paper lantern off the lightbulb”
> admission epitomises her psychological need for escape
contemporary audience - lack of understanding >21st century audience - more relatable
deep-rooted vulnerability is stark contrast to Stanley and American Dream ideologies
“I’ll tell you what I want. Magic!”
> overreaction -personality disintegrating
losing control of surroundings and Mitch
reversal of conventional symbols
light = cruel enemy >darkness = ally
sanity relies on darkness to conceal real world
“She cries out and covers her face”
> need for aestheticism blurred judgment
irony - physical insecurities were internal
lies were unnecessary - painful realisation for Blanche
“I don’t mind you being older than what I thought.”
> confession - closest to complete anagnorisis
physical reaction - relief in retelling
emotional release/ submission to mistakes
play as a tragedy - confession too late
“Yes, I had many intimacies with strangers.”
“Convulsive, sobbing laughter”
> Blanche - high flown, artificial language
Mitch - contemptuous, ungrammatical replies
gulf between them
“A cleft in the rock of the world that I could hide in!” (Blanche)
“Lies, lies, inside and out, all lies” (Mitch)
> contrapuntal lines
flitting between Blanche’s and outside noise - rapid increase of intensity
recurring presence of death - can no longer evade it
Mitch’s rejection cements Blanche’s social death
Williams’ thematic use of surrealism - only happening in Blanche’s mind?
“Everything gone but the-“
“Flores”
> Blanche regression
fractured psyche/ identity
“Her linen needs changing - Yes, Mother.”
> Blanche’s life spent holding onto fleeting moments
human condition - desire drives us
desire fundamental conflict for all characters
“Death”
“The opposite is desire”
> army camp sought her out
mutual desire
only Blanche (women) blamed
“They would stagger on to my lawn”
> Mitch primary antagonistic act
timing after Blanche’s confession - reinforces tragedy of her character
disturbing reflection of male entitlement
Blanche remaining hope gone - accelerates descent into madness
“What I been missing all summer”
> culmination of insecurity and betrayal Blanche’s manipulation caused
Blanche antithesis of 1940s housewife archetype - broader female domestic role
“You’re not clean enough to bring into the house with my mother”
