Scene One

Question 1

The play’s exposition creates a gothic atmosphere (____) and consistent heir of instability with the _____ steps.

Answer 1

“atmosphere of decay”
“rickety”

Question 2

Williams’ poetic stage directions show lyricism within his descriptions presenting a romanticised view of poverty, with the _____ sky reflecting the subtle beauty of the New America - an idea that is continued with the description of the _____ engulfing the scene.

Answer 2

“turquoise”
“blue piano”

Question 3

Blanche speaks eloquently with lyrical construction, though her speech when interacting with other characters is much more _____ than her private soliliquies, presenting to the audience a secretive deceiving front as the reward of peace is most readily achieved with loneliness-the precarious position of ________, only exists, undisturbed, in solitude when the ___________ structures supporting it are obscured. Link to the ______, the beauty of its romanticism never existed in reality.

Answer 3

hasty
the Southern Belle
racist and classist
Old South

Question 4

Blanche’s reliance on fantastical romanticism is reflective of the illusion necessary for the proliferation of Old Southern values, and her use of class as a weapon only becomes viable in the abstract- Old Southern values dissipated.

Answer 4

“Out there I suppose is the ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir!”

Question 5

Lament for the moths- Williams uses the archetype of the moth in his creation of Blanche. Moths become attracted to the light, causing their eventual demise.

Answer 5

Williams actualises this both through Blanche’s fragile characterisation and her “white suit” costume seen immediately upon her entrance.

Question 6

Facade, concealment of deceit and stark class divide. Lack of personal social progression renders her isolated among the culture.

Answer 6

“Her appearance is incongruous to the setting”

Question 7

Perhaps by demonstrating her “white” costume to be contrasted with the New American setting, Williams is insisting that the Old South more intensely values ____ and that moral decay is rife among the ________ population.

Answer 7

purity
New American

Question 8

Blanche’s desperation is reflective of the ruins of Old Southern society and their subsequent reliance upon lower classes.

Answer 8

“You’re all I’ve got in the world”

Question 9

Blanche obscures her truth with drama demonstrating both her reluctance to disclose truths of her past and the romanticisation of events she conveys with her eloquence of speech- Old Southern concealment of moral bankruptcy with fragile beauty.

Answer 9

“The boy- the boy died”

Question 10

Old South, reluctance to communicate with people of lower classes orchestrates downfall in the multicultural New America. (1)

Answer 10

“Plump as a little partridge”- Blanche fails to entertain the possibility for Stella’s pregnancy- fear of miscegenation.
Also reflected in Stanley’s interrogation of Blanche.

Question 11

The fear of lower classes becoming powerful negates opportunity for acceptance of modern values- historical values provided unshakeable isolation and therefore protection from the threat of lower classes and the exposure of the detrimental effect upper classes had on the lives of the poor.
Generational discontentment at the class divide pulsing through the lower class.

Answer 11

Blanche’s comparative reticence in her interrogation by Stanley.
Stanley’s discursive dominance with repeated interrogatives “You going to shack up here?”

Question 12

Stella no longer needs to conform to OS standards, indicated by her change.

Answer 12

“You’ve put on some weight”

Question 13

Blanche’s reproach at Stella’s appearance demonstrates her stagnation in the past and her measurement of people against archaic standards- her devices for judgement are rendered obsolete and so her status in New American society is deconstructed.
She is rendered almost inferior to the lower class characters due to ignorance and inability to adapt.

Answer 13

“You’re as plump as a little partridge”
“I weigh what i weighed the summer you left Belle Reve”

Question 14

Stella has adapted in body and mind, while Blanche has stagnated.

Answer 14

“I weigh what I weighed the summer you left Belle Reve”

Question 15

Stanley relies on his dominion over women to dictate his position in society. Persistence of misogyny.

Answer 15

“among hens”

Question 16

Shared cultural identity provided by inferential knowledge between the sisters.
Continued power of historical superiority complex.

Answer 16

“Stanley is Polish, you know”

Question 17

Stanley occupies a position of male dominance, occupying the space physically and marginalising the provision of Blanche’s space to speak.
Intersection of patriarchal and class-based ideology.

Answer 17

“Do you mind if I make myself comfortable?” “(He starts to remove his shirt)”

Question 18

Blanche’s superior world view is toppled, leaving her at the bottom of an alien hierarchy, as class is no longer relevant in New American society. Stanley’s coarse, raw strength renders him powerful in society that disregards to delicate forms of prestige.
Stanley patronises Stella to maintain his authority- insecurity in his power position?

Answer 18

“Where’s the little woman?” and Stanley’s repeated use of the first-person personal pronoun “I”.

Question 19

Stanley’s coarseness and sexuality is implied to be a product of his working class background.

Answer 19

“package” “bellowed” “Meat!”

Question 20

Stanley’s exchange with Blanche becomes reminiscent of interrogation as he gains near total discursive domination and Blanche’s turns are reduced to single-word sentences and fragments.

Answer 20

“How long you here for Blanche?”, “You going to shack up here?”…

Question 21

Blanche’s desire for power and autonomy is superseded by her desire for order.

Answer 21

Shown by her reticence in exchange with Stanley (“Yes”)

Question 22

Conflict represented with Blanche’s comparative reticence in communication with Stanley in comparisons with her verbose exchanges with Stella.

Answer 22

May demonstrate the conflict in social hierarchies of class and gender.
Else, illustrates the comfort provided by shared cultural identity in the form of class between Stella and Blanche. Blanche takes comfort in familiarity.
Or Stella is aware of pre-established conversational precedent of Blanche’s discursive control.
Foregrounds the terror Blanche feels towards Stanley.
Reluctance to communicate with Stanley- class prejudice.

Question 23

(Stanley’s interrogation) may reflect the conflict between class and gender hierarchy as Blanche ______________.
The breakdown of Blanche’s isolation to the Old Southern domain instigates new challenges arising alongside multiculturalism. The ________________ upholding Blanche’s status don’t allow her image to harden and her fragility victimises her in the wake of the New America’s sudden arrival into her life.

Answer 23

submits herself to a man of a lower class.
suddenness of multiculturalism and breakdown of Old Southern values

Question 24

Williams imbues innuendo into Stanley’s speech, implying coarseness as a product of his working class background.

Answer 24

“Meat!”