Scene one Flashcards
“Elysian …
“Elysian Fields”
Irony - no heroes in the play
Greek mythology of where heroes are sent to die - contrasts the “weathered” new Orleans
Blanche gets “desire” to take her to her death essentially “elysian fields” although this is a largelky metaphorical death - largely as an insult to her perceived “old south” culture.
“Faded white…
“Faded white stairs”
reminiscent of a staircase ascending into heaven - developing the idea of the street being Blanches resting place
The white signifies purity however this purity is faded suggesting it has been lost.
Blue pi…
Blue piano
plastic theatre - he use of expressionism and unconventional techniques such as props, sound imagery and stage directions, to convey a blatant parallel with the characters states of mind on stage.’]
stands for blanches longing for love
Mea…
Meat!
sexual innuendo - introduces the motivations in their relationship
monosylabbic - agressive and primative - Stanley is the one who orders Stella around from the very beggining
Primal - he is the breadwinner, a provider for his family - animalistic nature that Stella has adapted to despite her aristocratic upbringing.
troglodytic
masculinity and strength - he “heaves” the package at her
caveman
Laughs…
Laughs breathlessly
Stellas initial reaction we see to Stanleys Meat display of manliness
sexual excitement to his primitive actions
takes a submissive role in the relationship
incongr…
incongruous to this setting
Blanche is out of place in New Orleans
an angelic “white suit” contrasting her surroundings - although this is ironic as she is far from pure yet always attempts to seem so
fragility and vulnerability due to her class divide that is leaving her out of place in this area with a lack of chivalry or sympathy.
her “delicate beauty must avoid a strong light” - idea of concealing her true appearance and person with a need to be pretty in this judgmental society.
yes (Blanche when talking to negro woman)
monosyllabic creates tension and awkwardness between the two - signifies blanches intent to project her class divide on others. Could also signify to her conditioned racism of the old south which she symbolises.
and turn that…
and turn that over-light off
removal of light = removal of truth
while Blanche is afraid of her appearance, she is more afraid that her impurity will be uncovered by the light.
she tries to …
she tries to laugh
paralinguistic feature of laughter used to conceal emotions by both sides
only Poe…
only Poe! Only Mr Edgar Allan Poe!
exerting a superiority on stella by using her literary knowledge to present her educational background
Poes poem is “ulalume” in which the protagonist visits the dead lovers grave - Blache is saying that Stellas home is a tomb. - we know this as blanche then refrences the poem s “ghoul-haunted woodland “
Blanche only feels like this as she is from colonial belle reve.
youre all iv…
youre all ive got in the world
blache being manipulative to stella
ambiguous, we dont know exactley what blanche really thinks or feels-blanche may just be manipulating stella for protection
Mr…
mr graves
semantic field of death is continued - follows blanche everywhere
tomb of innocence
no ones…
no ones my limit
dramatic irony - the audiance know this is not true - early sign of blanches insincerity
plays into motif of fantasy vs reality
continued when blanche says “god love you for a liar” to Stella which is hypocrisy
Theyre somet…
Theyre something like irish arent they?
reflective of the social prejudices of the time - irish were discriminated against for being uncultured - Blanche sees polaks as the same
blanche is clinging onto an outdated perception
ignorance
not going to p…
not going to put up at a hotel
Blanche is constantly afraid of things that remind her of her past - bad hotwel memory foreshadowed
her mental condition is foreshadowed
Blanche cant “compare” Stanley with men from back home - represents disparities in new and old south.
