Streetcar - Desire and fate Flashcards
‘They told me to …
take a streetcar named Desire and transfer to one called cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at - Elysian field’
(Scene 1)
‘She pours …
a half tumbler of whisky and tosses it down’
Scene 1
‘I’ve got to…
keep a hold of myself’
Scene 1 - Blanche to herself after fluffing down alcohol before she sees Stella
Blanche’s streetcar journey
‘They told me to take a streetcar named desire and then transfer to one called cemeteries’
and get off at ‘Elysian fields’
Sexual desire of Stella
When he is away for a week she ‘nearly goes wild’
Williams fate context
Williams was a hypochondriac, obsessed with sickness and death and was constantly worried he would turn insane. This was as a result of being traumatised by his sisters lobotomy which then led to her schizophrenia.
Male sexual desire (homosexuality context)
1948 ‘The sexual behaviour of the human male’ was published - stating 10% of male population are homosexual for at least three years of their life
‘Fat Monday Luncheon’ - gay event in 1949
Statistic about homosexuals in 1940s America
Blanche was married to a homosexual, Allan Gray. Nearly 80% of homosexuals were forced to marry the opposite sex, hiding their sexuality in tiens where it was seen as evil and morally wrong.
Quite about New Orleans being more accepting of homosexuality
Homosexuals were ‘put on a train and sent to New Orleans’
Sexual desire of Stanley and Stella’s relationship
Stanley’s animalistic physicality is the driving force behind their marriage
Thrilled by smashing light bulbs quite
The blind are…
‘The blind are leading the blind’
Fantasy Blanche leading Stella who is blinded and disillusional about her marriage
Blanche talking about Stella’s desire for sex
‘Brutal desire’
Blanche desiring Mitch
‘ I want Mitch…. I want him very badly’
Blanche flirting with paper boy
‘I want to kiss you just once, softly and sweetly on the mouth’
Blanche desires security and protection
X
Blanche about how she felt with Mitch desiring her
‘I was somewhat flattered that you desired me’
Blanche’s IRONIC quote about being alone in the world when she’s talking to Mitch after their date !!
‘“A girl alone in the world, has got to keep a firm hold on her emotions or she’ll be lost!”
Stanley about Blanche’s future
‘Her future is mapped out for her’
Caged parrot in Blanche’s story symbol
Blanche is like the caged parrot, about to have the lights put out
Blanche and Mitch held together by their desires for protection/someone
‘You said you needed somebody. I needed someone too’
What does Blanche say about death and desire?
Death is ‘the opposite of desire’
Blanche desperation for Mitch
‘Then marry me!’
Blanche final reaction once Mitch has left because she called fire
And quote about piano
‘Falls to her knees’
‘Staggering’
‘Distant piano is slow and blue’
Blanche making Stella feel insecure
“I was flirting with your husband Stella”
sexual desire so much she is flirting with Stanley!
Stella’s sexual desire for Stanley overrides her love for Blanche
‘I couldn’t believe Blanche and go on living with him’
