Stella

Question 1

First description of Stella’s physical appearance (stage directions)

Answer 1

‘Gentle young woman’

‘Background obviously quite different from her husbands’

Question 2

Meat symbolises

Answer 2

Stella being controlled and carelessly chucked around by her husband

Question 3

Stella reaction to meat being thrown at her

Answer 3

‘Cries out in protest’

‘Laughs breathlessly’

Question 4

Stella when she sees Blanche

Answer 4

‘Calling out joyfully’

Question 5

Stella submissive to Blanche

Answer 5

When Blanche tells Stella to stand up so she can see her figure ‘Stella complies reluctantly’

Stella tels Blanche it’s ‘incredible’ she has remained the same weight but she does it ‘wearily’

Stella compliments Blanche ‘dutifully’ (stage direction)

Question 6

How does Stella describe her husband?

Answer 6

‘A different species’

Question 7

Sexual desire for Stanley

Answer 7

When he is away for a week she ‘nearly goes wild’

Question 8

Quite to show Stella is in love with Stanley

Answer 8

When she talks about him to Blanche she has a ‘radiant smile’

Question 9

How Stanley describes Stella

Answer 9

‘Little woman’

Question 10

Similarly to Stella’s betrayal of Blanche…

Answer 10

Similarly to Stella’s betrayal of Blanche as she admits her to a mental institution, Williams’ too felt appalled at his mother’s Dravidian to allow his sister, Rose to have a lobotomy in 1943.

Question 11

Stella defending Blanche

Answer 11

‘Blanche is sensitive and you’ve got to realise that’ (to Stanley)

When Stanley exposes Blanche’s lies Stella repetitively says ‘My sister’ rather than calling her Blanche - reminds Stanley who he is talking about is her relative and he should watch what he says (what’s a better way of phrasing that)

‘What - contemptible - lies!’
‘I don’t want to hear anymore!’
‘This is making me - sick!’

‘You needn’t to be as cruel to someone as alone as she is’ (after he gives her bus ticket)

‘People like you abused her, forced her to change’

Question 12

Stella emotional reaction to Stanley telling her about Blanche

Answer 12

‘Dazed’
‘Faintly’
‘Strange expression’

Question 13

How does Stella describe Blanche that hints she knows about a little bit of her past?

Answer 13

‘Flighty’

Question 14

Stella insulting Stanley

Pig
Greasy
Wash up

Answer 14

‘Making a pig of himself’
‘Your fingers are disgustingly greasy’
‘Go and wash up’

Question 15

Stella going into labor

Answer 15

‘Look goes inward’

‘Slow and shuffling’

Question 16

Blanche dominating over Stella (little sister big sister)

+ stage direction when B tells S to stand up

Answer 16

‘You messy child’
Blanche tells her to stand up and Stella ‘complies reluctantly’
‘My precious little sister’

Question 17

Blanche mocking Stella’s home and Stella’s reaction

Answer 17

‘two rooms’

Two is in italics

Stella - ‘she is embarrassed’

Question 18

Blanche comparing her weight and Stella’s and then Stella reacting

Answer 18

Stella has to ‘watch the hips a little’ whilst Blanche says ‘I haven’t put on an ounce in ten years’

Stella describes Blanche as ‘incredible’ but she does it ‘wearily’

Question 19

Stella and Blanche reaction to Stella pregnancy

Answer 19

‘Embrace’

‘Convulsive sob’

Question 20

Blanche making Stella feel insecure

Answer 20

“I was flirting with your husband Stella”

Question 21

Stella reaction to when Blanche starts beefing about Stanley

Answer 21

‘Go on and say it all Blanche’

‘Coldly’ stage direction

Question 22

How does Stella act with Stanley in front of Blanche after Blanche has beefed about him

Answer 22

‘Embraced him’
‘Fiercely’
‘Within full view of Blanche’

Question 23

Stella encouraging Blanche that She will get Mitch

Answer 23

‘Kissing Blanche impulsively’

‘It will happen’

Question 24

Stella and Blanche Interaction when Stanley takes the phone call that Blanche thought might be from Mitch

Answer 24

‘Frightened look’
‘Stella leans over and touches her shoulder’
‘Keep your hands off me Stella’ - why do you give me that ‘pitying look’

Question 25

Where did Stella tell Blanche she was going?

Answer 25

To rest in the country

Question 26

Stella questioning if sending Blanche a mental institution is the right thing quote

Answer 26

I don’t know if I did the right thing

Question 27

Modern audience reaction to Stella siding with Stanley about rape

Answer 27

Shocked

Stella presented as a traitor to Blanche

Question 28

How does Stella talk to Blanche in the last scene?

Answer 28

Role reversal

Stella now talking to Blanche as though Blanche is the child ‘Hush! Hush!’

Question 29

Stage direction of Stella (fist) when matron enter

Answer 29

‘Presses her fist to her lips’

Same action as Blanche who ‘presses her knuckles to her lips’

Reminds us of their similarities and sibling relationship

Question 30

Stella broken syntax to Blanche in last scene

Answer 30

‘Sit down and…’

Ellipsis
Broken syntax reflecting broken sisterly relationship

Question 31

Stella reacting to Blanche being taken away at end of play (her regret)

Answer 31

‘What have I done?’
‘Oh god’
‘What have I done?’

‘Cries out’
‘Blanche! Blanche, Blanche’ - product of the patriarchy; if she had sided with Blanche her world would have come crumbling as well

Prayer desperation
Repetition of what have I done
Moment of anagnorisis

Question 32

Stella once Blanche has gone quite

Sob
Luxurious

Answer 32

‘Sobs with inhumane abandon’

And yet there is ‘something luxurious’ in the ‘complete surrender to crying’ - relief