Scene One Flashcards
Duality of exposition
Lyricism against depreciation of the setting. Presents a dual romanticized vision of New American setting against a harsh reality.
“invests the scene with a kind of lyricism and gracefully attenuates the atmosphere of decay”
“Naw! We gotta have odds!”
Stanley’s opening lines show his insistence on placing a bet on his own terms. Links to symbolism of the poker game in Scene Three- Stanley’s dominance and need for his own control of his domain.
“Her appearance is incongruous to the setting”
“white suit”, “pearl, white gloves”
Pureness, innocence found in the Southern Belle archetype against the tainted environment previously explored.
“streetcar named Desire and then transfer to one called Cemeteries”
The transferral to the “Cemeteries” streetcar figuratively connotes death and destruction, symbolising Blanche’s narrative route throughout the play, as it becomes a foreshadowing of her mental disintegration and spiritual death.
Elysian Fields
- resting place of souls
- foreshadows Blanche’s looming fate/ doom emerging from the Kowalski’s street.
“[uncomprehendingly]”
Blanche’s difficulty in understanding her sister’s new life against her resonating past presents a disconnection between the two sisters, especially between Blanche and Stella’s new life/ society, as she has been ill-informed as to what she is entering into.
Hesitancy in tone
“This- can this be- her home?”
Consistent hesitancy shows the extent of Blanche’s displacement in the setting and her huge uncertainty of how to find comfort/ belonging here, even from her first entrance.
This is juxtaposed by Eunice’s strong, unbroken speech upon Blanche’s arrival, with her pause being noted in the stage directions as it is such an infrequent occurrence, so it warrants direction rather than just punctuation.
“her hands tightly clutching her purse as if she were quite cold”
This action seems almost like a protective stance, an attempt to hold on to and defend her old identity and previous wealth in this unknown space.
“I’ve got to keep hold of myself!”
Double meaning of this line- relative to her mental state and her past identity she holds in a fantastical shroud. This creates a correlation between her lack of mental dispersion from her past, and the deterioration of her mental state.
“I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare!”
First spoken reference to the prevalent theme of light and dark.
Shows her unwillingness to confront the reality of change from her previous Southern Belle youth and beauty.
Presents sense of delicacy emphasised through harsh adjectives. Blanche is incapable of accepting of change and loss.
Protects herself from the “glare” with paper lantern in Scene Three, a symbol of fragility in itself, presenting her lack of defence from a harsh reality.
“Oh, what a convenient location and such-“
Inability to compliment, disdain of her setting in contrast to her past luxuries and her accustimation to wealth.
Desire to be complimented (“You haven’t said a word about my appearance”) - social superiority, and self immersion. Furthered through “Only Mr Edgar Allan Poe!- could do it justice!” as she clings to romanticised vision.
Reference to Southern Gothic writer furthers sense of doom within the setting.
“You haven’t said a word about my appearance.”
- Irony due to dominating discourse.
- Accusatory declarative- presentation of insecurity as she seeks validation despite a limited change from her past appearance (all white outfit). Seeks validation from only source of understanding within setting due to communal past.
(clinging to past of wealth + beauty)
Stella’s surrender to Blanche’s will
“dutifully” Through stage direction, Stella falls victim to the will of the heightened insecurity of Blanche’s displacement.
“They both laugh in the same way” - communal feelings whilst Blanche holds superiority (extended connection to upper class ideals)
“Stanley is Polish, you know”
Assumption of indecency through nationality that has to be expressed. Similar to Eunice’s disclosure of apartment upon Blanche’s arrival.
Underlying prejudice based around the working class and immigrants.
“Polacks?”
- derogatory language - self superiority that is attempted to be maintained; chooses intolerance over acceptance within multiculturalism of New America.
- reduces Stanley to this language to encapsulate his identity despite his later assertion of being “one hundred percent American”.
- Blanche as a sheltered figure of the Old South- categorises people on race-dependent basis.
