Streetcar Motifs Flashcards
What is a motif?
A recurring structure or literary device that helps to inform or develop the text’s major themes
When is light used as a motif?
All throughout the play
Which character utilizes the light motif the most?
Blanche
How does Blanche use the motif of light?
She avoids appearing in direct, strong light
Especially in front of Mitch
What large lie about Blanche’s person can we attribute to the motif of light?
Her age, she avoids the ‘light’ to prevent Mitch from seeing the truth of her fading beauty
What does light symbolize for Blanche?
The reality of her past and what she has lost.
Her first love, dignity, life purpose, and genteel society of her ancestors
What does ‘genteel’ mean?
Refined, belonging, suited
What are some examples of Blanche avoiding light?
Her refusal go go on dates with Mitch during the day or in well-lit locations
Covering a light bulb in the apartment with a Chinese paper lantern
When does Mitch confront Blanche about her avoidance of light?
Scene 9, when he confronts her with the stories from her past from Stanley
When is Blanche forced to confront the light?
Mitch forces her to, as he tells her he doesn’t mind her age; just her lies.
She states that magic is how life ought to be
When is it alluded that Blanche began to dislike light?
Scene 6, since Allan’s suicide the bright light of her life left
Through her sexual affairs with other men, she’s only experienced dim light
What does bright light vs dim light represent for Blanche?
Her youthful sexual innocence vs sexual maturity and disillusionment
What affect does bathing have on Blanche?
Calms her nerves
Why does Blanche bathe so often?
It is her continuous attempt to cleanse her of her past actions
What do the baths represent?
Her efforts to cleanse her of her odious history, even in the new community of New Orleans
What characters do we see turn to the motif of bathing to soothe their emotions?
Blanche and Stanley
When do we see Stanley use water to relax?
He turns to showering to undo his misdeeds after beating Stella
How does the showering change Stanley’s demeanor?
It soothes his violent temper
When he leaves the bathroom he is remorseful and he longs for Stella
How is drinking used as a motif for Stanley?
Socially
How is drinking used as a motif for Blanche?
Anti-socially, she attempts to hide it
When do we see Stanley drinking?
Poker night, with friends at the bar, celebrating the birth of his child
Why do we see Blanche drinking?
To withdraw from reality
It enables her to be imaginative and deluded
What do Blanche and Stanley have in common when it comes to drinking?
They both become destructive
What affect does alcohol have on Stanley?
He commits domestic violence
But, he is able to rebound from this
What affect does alcohol have on Blanche?
She becomes deluded
Alcohol contributes to her gradual departure from sanity
