Scene Seven

Question 1

Stanley presenting his case against Blanche - element of melodrama, intentional antagonistic behaviour
Stanley and Blanche oscillate as villains
powerful use of tragedy - escalation of play and scene as truth is unravelled

Answer 1

Stanley and Stella duologue

Question 2

exclamations - genuine excitement in revealing the truth

Answer 2

“But now the cat’s out of the bag!

Question 3

grandstanding, extreme dedication to this scheme

Answer 3

“Lie number one:”

Question 4

mocks her façade of purity and femininity, degrading, pejorative

Answer 4

“Sister Blanche”
“Lily”

Question 5

exaggerated caricatures, mockery - European aristocracy, elegancy laced with ridicule

Answer 5

“Dame”

Question 6

juxtaposition of atmosphere, Blanche completely unaware of her life being dismantled beyond the door

Answer 6

“peals pf laughter” “as if a child were frolicking in the tub”
“but Sister Blanche is no lily!”

Question 7

song epitomises Blanche’s emotional journey and desire for others to accept her deceptions
heavy irony - singing, good spirits vs Stanley’s revelations
lyrics emphasise belief and validation by others - Blanche’s dependency on external affirmation. Her survival hinges on it, juxtaposes with what is onstage
tone - creates dramatic tension audience witnessing simultaneous disintegration of her facade

Answer 7

Saccharine Ballad Blanche sings

Question 8

translates to his victory over her alleged superior status

Answer 8

“practickly a town ordinance passed against her!”
“that girl calls me common!”

Question 9

euphemism and dysphemism for gay - outlook of 1940s America on homosexuality - humanity shares Blanche’s trait of avoiding the realities of their surroundings

Answer 9

“boy who wrote poetry”
“degenerate”

Question 10

birthday vs Stanley’s case
Blanche’s actions vs her song

Answer 10

contrasts

Question 11

shares some of Blanche’s aversion to hard realities - foreshadows her refusal to believe the rape

Answer 11

“what - contemptible - lies!”

Question 12

fraternity, unbreakable bond

Answer 12

“If I knew all that stuff and let my best friend get caught!”

Question 13

“A conflict existed, then, between his morality and his sexuality – never to be resolved, and never to be brought into the open in his plays”
focus on social issues

Answer 13

did Williams feel compelled to add homosexuality into his plays