Streetcar - Deceit

Question 1

‘I want to deceive …

Answer 1

him enough to make him want me’

Scene 5 about Mitch

Question 2

Blanche on how much alcohol she drinks

Answer 2

‘No, one’s my limit’

‘I rarely touch it’

‘Frantically hiding the bottle’

Question 3

Blanche’s trunk is full of

Answer 3

‘Costume jewellery’

Question 4

Stanley deceiving women

Answer 4

‘Determining the way he smiles at them’ - choosing how to act

‘Sises them up with a glance’

Question 5

How does Stella deceive Blanche?

And what context does this link to

Answer 5

Stella deceives Blanche into thinking she is going to ‘rest in the country’ when her true destination is a mental institution.

The theme of betrayal running through these lines is perhaps heightened by Williams’ first hand experience as he felt betrayed by his mother who allowed his sister, Rose, to have a lobotomy in 1943.

Question 6

Blanche and light quotes

Answer 6

‘She moves out of the yellow streak of light’

‘Put it over the lightbulb’

‘I can’t stand a naked light bulb’

Question 7

Blanche letter to Shep

Answer 7

‘Bursts into peals of laughter’

At ‘myself, for being such a liar’

Question 8

Blanche deceiving Mitch about her age

Answer 8

‘I haven’t informed him of my real age’

Question 9

Mitch deceived by Blanche during their date

Audience feel sympathy for a Mitch - he’s so oblivious

Answer 9

‘I like you to be exactly the way you are’
Because ‘I have never known anyone like you’

Blanche then: ‘bursts into laughter’ and says ‘let’s leave the lights on’

Contrast of ‘solemn’ Mitch and Blanche ‘laughing’ and ‘clapping her hand over her mouth’

Blanche finds deceit funny (link to Shep letter - similar reaction)

Question 10

Blanche about lights when wnet wring apartment with Mitch after their date

Answer 10

‘Let’s leave the lights of shall we’

Question 11

Blanche reaction to Mitch asking how old she is

Answer 11

‘Makes a nervous gesture’

Question 12

Locomotive light symbol as Blanche reveals some truth about her past

Answer 12

“The headlight of the locomotive glass into the room as it thunders past”

Question 13

Blanche description at her birthday supper

Answer 13

‘Tight artificial smile’ on her ‘drawn face’

Question 14

Blanche about darkness

Answer 14

“I like it dark. The dark is comforting to me”

Question 15

Mitch about never seeing Blanche in the light

Answer 15

“I don’t think I have ever seen you in the light”

Question 16

Blanche reaction to Mitch wanting to see her in her light

Answer 16

After Mitch says ‘let’s turn the light on’

‘Light? Which light? What for?’ - short stuttered phrases, monosyllabic

‘Fearfully’

‘Utters a frightened gasp’

‘Don’t turn the light on’ - imperative

‘Cries out and covers her face’

Question 17

Blanche about telling the truth

Answer 17

“I don’t tell the truth. I tell what ought to be the truth”

Question 18

Mitch confronting Blanche about lying

‘You lied…

Answer 18

‘You lied to me Blanche’

‘Lies, lies inside and out, all lies’

Question 19

Blanche réaction to Mitch sayings she lies

Answer 19

‘Never inside, I didn’t lie in my heart…’

What does this mean ???

Question 20

Where did Stella tell Blanche she was going?

Answer 20

‘To rest in the country’

Question 21

whole scene of Blanche being taken away

Answer 21

all about deceit because Stella deceived Blanche and now she is actually sending her to a mental institution

Question 22

Stage direction of Stella (fist) when matron enter

Answer 22

‘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 23

Stella broken syntax to Blanche in last scene

Answer 23

‘Sit down and…’

Ellipsis
Broken syntax reflecting broken sisterly relationship

Question 24

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

Answer 24

‘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 25

Stella once Blanche has gone quite

Sob
Luxurious

Answer 25

‘Sobs with inhumane abandon’

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