Summary
Summary A Streetcar Named Desire Scene 9 notes
- Course
- Institution
Summary of key quotes from A Streetcar Named Desire Scene 9
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
ncarlin1998
Reviews received
Content preview
A Streetcar Named DesireScene 9 notes
Opening stage directions
BLANCHE is seated in a tense, hunched position
Adjectives-Blanche anxious and on edge due to the events of the
previous scene-reminiscent of her demeanour in Scene 1
She has on her scarlet satin robe
Colour symbolism-red associated with sexuality and danger
Beside the chair is a bottle of liquor…she is drinking to escape it
Repeated reference to alcohol implies Blanche has again use it to
distract herself from reality
Explicit reference to drinking as a form of escapism
The rapid feverish polka tune, the Varsouviana
Varsouviana plays throughout the scene when her past is brought
up-with Mitch’s appearance, she begins to play the role of innocent
young girl and music stops-however, immediately begins when she
knows something is wrong (impact of her past)
Fast and feverish pace of music suggests her impending madness
He is unshaven
Mitch’s physical appearance emphasises his fading concern for
Blanche-no longer tries
Conversation between Mitch and Blanche
She rushes about frantically, hiding the bottle in a closet
Adverb-physical actions mirror her mental state
BLANCHE: So utterly uncavalier!
Blanche scolds Mitch unaware that he knows the truth about her
He ignores it and pushes past her into the flat. She looks fearfully
after him
Alliteration evokes his anger at her deceit
Adverb suggests Blanche is beginning to sense that something is
wrong
BLANCHE: But I forgive you. I forgive you because it’s such a
relief to see you
Repetition of ‘forgive’-irony-Blanche has done much worse than
Mitch
Repetition of forgiveness may also be Blanche’s attempt to subtly
ask for forgiveness for what she thinks he knows
It is obvious that he has had a few drinks on the way over
Alcoholism is a recurring theme in the play-here we see the impact
of alcohol on Mitch and how it changes his earlier characterisation
, MITCH: I don’t want Stan’s liquor
Possessive-Mitch’s innate acknowledgement of Stanley as the
dominant force in the house
The polka tune starts up again
Varsouviana signals Blanche’s past coming back into the scene
MITCH: Are you boxed out of your mind?
Colloquial language-Mitch’s perception of Blanche’s declining
mental state
MITCH: I wasn’t going to see you anymore
Mitch’s brief, curt responses contrast with Blanche’s rambling
monologue-contrast between Mitch and Blanche’s personalities is
doomed from the start
BLANCHE: Southern Comfort! What is that I wonder?
Question-feign ignorance-continued attempt to portray herself as a
respectable woman-Mitch’s brief responses undercut this
BLANCHE: This room is almost – dainty! I want to keep it that way
Adjective-‘dainty’-Blanche’s desire for physical beauty is imposed on
her physical environment
MITCH: You ought to lay off his liquor. He says you been lapping it
up all summer like a wild-cat
Simile-emphasises extent of Blanche’s addiction
Repetition of ‘his liquor’ emphasises that Mitch sees through
Blanche’s lies
BLANCHE: I like it dark. The dark is comforting to me
Repetition of ‘dark’-avoidance of light is a repeated pattern
throughout the play
On a physical level Blanche avoids light because of her fading
beauty
Light is also associated with her past-present world dulls in
comparison
MITCH: I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in the light (BLANCHE
laughs breathlessly)
Mitch begins to uncover Blanche’s insecurity and delusions-stage
directions emphasise Blanche’s nervous reaction
He tears the paper lantern off the lightbulb
Symbolic action-tearing of the paper lantern reflects tearing away
Blanche’s illusions/ vanity
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller ncarlin1998. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.87. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
67474 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now