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Summary A Streetcar Named Desire Scene 9 notes
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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
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