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Summary A Streetcar Named Desire Scene 10 notes
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A Streetcar Named DesireScene 10 notes
*This scene is the climax of the play. The seemingly inevitable
rape of Blanche allows Williams to reveal the ultimately
destructive nature of desire. Williams presents the audience with
no character to truly sympathise with. He advocates for neither
working class or upper class society as both have intrinsic flaws.
However, the fact that Blanche loses the struggle suggests that
Williams believes sophisticated morals and values she represents
will face extinction.
Opening stage directions
BLANCHE has been drinking fairly steadily
Alcohol pattern intensifies in this scene as Blanche’s descent
hastens
She has decked herself out in a somewhat soiled and crumpled
white satin evening gown
Fantasy and reality coincide in symbol of the dress-symbol of her
past heritage stained with present reality
Colour symbolism-loss of purity / decline of old south
Murmuring excitedly as if to a group of spectral admirers
Stage directions emphasise Blanche’s descent into madness
BLANCHE: How about taking a swim, a moonlight swim
Light symbolism suggests desire to purify herself-moonlight isn’t as
bright as the sun which suggests less scrutiny under its light
Slams the mirror face down with such violence that the glass
cracks
Symbolism of the broken mirror-signifies Blanche’s inability to face
reality
He still has on the vivid green-silk bowling shirt
Colour symbolism-signifies vibrancy and boldness of his character
He gives a low whistle
Ambiguous gesture-is it flirtatious or threatening (or both)? (staging
aids building of tension)
He has had a few drinks on the way
Suggestion of increasing inebriation-builds tension as audience
wonders what he will do
Conversation between Stanley and Blanche
BLANCHE: Does that mean we are to be alone here?
, STANLEY: Yep. Just me and you Blanche
Blanche’s question suggests her fear of Stanley
Stanley’s monosyllabic response is implicitly threatening and
creates a claustrophobic sense of building tension
*continued reference to Shep Huntleigh-symbol of Blanche’s
continued delusion and her desire for companionship and male
protection
STANLEY: And come up with that-gorgeous-diamond tiara?
Dashes and adjectives-Stanley’s remarks throughout this interaction
with Blanche are dominated by sarcasm-mocking Blanche as he
knows the truth about her delusion
BLANCHE: This old relic!...It’s only rhinestones
Exclamation-polysemous interpretation-could also refer to Blanche
herself
Rhinestones-symbol of Blanche’s illusions / false reality
STANLEY: It goes to show you never know what’s coming
Foreshadows later events of scene-builds tension
However, this is undercut by the sense of inevitability that has built
up throughout the play as Stanley’s assault on Blanche has been
foreshadowed since Scene 1
STANLEY: This is all I’m going to address right now
Dialogue-chilling foreshadowing of the rape at the end of the scene
STANLEY: Well it is a red-letter night for us both
Colour symbolism-red represents sense of danger / passion and
violence
Red letter-linked to Scarlett letter-novel dominated by theme of
sexual shame
BLANCHE: (drawing back) What are you doing in here?
Tone of fear embedded in question-Stanley’s invasion of Blanche’s
space precedes the more invasive act of rape
STANLEY: The silk pyjamas I wore on my wedding night
Pyjamas symbolic of his passion and vibrant vitality-act is even
more repulsive as he wears them while raping his wife’s sister the
night before his child is born
STANLEY: I guess we are both entitled to put on the dog
Colloquial phrase-‘to behave in an ostentatious way’-Stanley at peak
of his manhood and feeling more triumphant than ever
STANLEY: The millionaire from Dallas is not going to interfere
with your privacy any?
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