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Summary A Streetcar Named Desire Scene 2
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A Streetcar Named DesireScene 2 notes
Interaction between Stella and Stanley
Blanche is bathing
Blanche has a repeated preoccupation with bathing-associated with
both her attempt to wash away her guilt at Alan’s death and her
preoccupation with aging
Link to Lady Macbeth-attempt to wash blood off her hands
She jumps up and kisses him which he accepts with lordly
composure
Emphasises Stella’s infatuation with Stanley
Adjective ‘lordly’ emphasises Stanley’s dominance and control he
has over Stella
STANLEY: How about my supper huh?
STELLA: I put you a cold plate on ice
STANLEY: Well, isn’t that just dandy!
Provides insight into relationship power dynamics-women expected
to take on domestic role
Sarcastic comment emphasises Stanley’s belief that, as the male,
he should take priority in the relationship
STELLA: You’d better give me some money
Female dependence on men-financially dependent (this could partly
explain / justify Stella’s actions at the end of the play)
STELLA: (vaguely) Oh, it had to be-sacrificed or something
Adverb ‘vaguely’-vagueness and evasion of Stella in contrast to
probing, direct questions from Stanley
Evasion of truth shared quality between Stella and Blanche-suggests
it is a feature of their shared heritage in contrast to the brash logic
of the new world (characterised by Stanley)
STELLA: When she comes in be sure to say something nice about
her appearance
Characterisation of Blanche-vanity and fear of aging-requires
constant reassurance about her appearance
STANLEY: Now let’s have a gander at the bill of sale
Characterisation of Stanley-practical-wants evidence of sale as
Stella’s portion of the property is also his under marriage laws-
dogged insistence emphasises Stanley’s preoccupation with his
financial rights as Stella’s husband
STANLEY: Have you ever heard of the Napoleonic code?
Pseudo-learned-Stanley’s attempt to sound learned and intelligent-
possible suggestion of his insecurity regarding his lower-class
background
, He pulls open the wardrobe trunk and jerks out an armful of
dresses
Verbs-rough, aggressive gestures-Stanley consistently presented in
violent, animalistic terms
This act is ambivalent-is it motivate by righteous indignation or is it
simply an invasion of Blanche’s privacy?
Act of looking through her possessions is an invasion of Blanche’s
privacy-foreshadows greater invasive action of rape at the end of
the play
STANLEY: Look at these feathers and furs she has come here to
preen herself in!
Verb ‘preen’-Stanley ruthlessly strips away Blanche’s pretentions
and illusions of grandeur
pulls up a fistful of costume jewellery
Fake jewellery suggests the façade of the old world is crumbling and
the image of the Southern Belle Blanche desperately tries to
maintain begins to fade
STANLEY: The treasure chest of a pirate
Hyperbolic metaphor emphasises Stanley’s distrust of Blanche-
comparison to a pirate suggests Stanley’s suspicion that Blanche is
stealing from him
STELLA: You have no idea how stupid and horrid you’re being
Stella doesn’t share her husband’s indignation-she has no interest in
Belle Reve now that she has adapted into the new world-for Stella,
her passionate relationship with Stanley compensates for the loss of
her childhood home
STANLEY: The Kowalskis and the DuBois have different notions
Stanley aware of class differences between him and Stella
She snatches up her white hat and gloves
Clothing choices suggests Stella’s attempt to recreate old world for
her sister-Stella’s facilitator of Blanche’s fantasies
STANLEY: Since when do you give me orders?
Rhetorical questions-Stanley aware of power dynamics in the
relationship and the authority he has over Stella
Interaction between Blanche and Stanley
drawing the curtains at the windows
Staging-flimsiness of partition helps create a charged atmosphere of
sexual tension
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