A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennesee Williams Scene 11 notes End of Play Notes
Scene 11 Setting: Some weeks later Setting: Some weeks later Blanche is leaving-Stella is packing her Blanche is leaving-Stella is packing her Stella had her baby Stella had her baby Mitch is there (Poker game) –he is feeling angry Mitch is there (Poker game) –he is feeling angry Stanley is bragging about his luck! Stanley is bragging about his luck!
Scene 11 Stella has told Blanche she is going to rest in the country Stella has told Blanche she is going to rest in the country Where is she really going? Where is she really going? “I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley” (Stella to Eunice) “I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley” (Stella to Eunice) -Blanche told Stella about the rape -Stella doesn’t/can’t believe her Why CAN’T Stella believe Blanche?
Scene 11 Stella would have to leave if she accepted Blanche’s story as true Stella would have to leave if she accepted Blanche’s story as true She has not where to go- has a baby, new mother, no job or prospects She has not where to go- has a baby, new mother, no job or prospects Institution people come for Blanche- She thinks Shep is coming to get her Institution people come for Blanche- She thinks Shep is coming to get her “Varsouvania” music is playing- Blanche has lost her mind “Varsouvania” music is playing- Blanche has lost her mind
Scene 11 Mitch- He is upset with Stanley and with himself for believing Stanley Mitch- He is upset with Stanley and with himself for believing Stanley Did Mitch have to end everything? Did Mitch have to end everything? What has he lost? What has he lost? -love, companionship Mitch is also needy and lonely Mitch is also needy and lonely The Matron went in to get Blanche- she does not want to go with her The Matron went in to get Blanche- she does not want to go with her
Scene 11 Blanche goes back into bedroom for something she forgot- Stanley stops her Blanche goes back into bedroom for something she forgot- Stanley stops her Stanley rips paper lamp off light (What Mitch did already) Stanley rips paper lamp off light (What Mitch did already) Symbolic- end of illusion Blanche was creating Symbolic- end of illusion Blanche was creating -Symbol of the rape: Light is Blanche, the lampshade is her clothes Stanley has to kick her when she is down one more time. Stanley has to kick her when she is down one more time.
Scene 11 Mitch tries to get Blanche and Stanley physically blocks him- Shows more of Stanley’s anger and aggression (even to friends) Mitch tries to get Blanche and Stanley physically blocks him- Shows more of Stanley’s anger and aggression (even to friends) Dr. asks Matron to release her and lets her up. Dr. asks Matron to release her and lets her up. Blanche goes with the dr. who is a man and is gentle with her Blanche goes with the dr. who is a man and is gentle with her
Scene 11 Blanche to Dr.- “Whoever you are- I have always depended on the kindness of strangers” Blanche to Dr.- “Whoever you are- I have always depended on the kindness of strangers” Dr. becomes the gentleman savior she has been looking for- he leads her away (Dependance on men) Dr. becomes the gentleman savior she has been looking for- he leads her away (Dependance on men) Her intimacies fill her sense of loss and get her back to the idea of her husband- what she so desperately longs for. Her intimacies fill her sense of loss and get her back to the idea of her husband- what she so desperately longs for.
“Whoever you are- I have always depended on the kindness of strangers” This is IRONIC: This is IRONIC: The doctor is not the chivalric Shep Huntleigh type of gentleman Blanche thinks he is. (she is crazy) The doctor is not the chivalric Shep Huntleigh type of gentleman Blanche thinks he is. (she is crazy) Blanche’s dependence “on the kindness of strangers” rather than on herself is the reason why she has not fared well in life. Blanche’s dependence “on the kindness of strangers” rather than on herself is the reason why she has not fared well in life. Most strangers have been kind only in exchange for sex Most strangers have been kind only in exchange for sex Strangers like Stanley, Mitch, and the people of Laurel have denied Blanche the sympathy she deserves. Strangers like Stanley, Mitch, and the people of Laurel have denied Blanche the sympathy she deserves. Blanche’s final remark indicates her total detachment from reality and her decision to see life only as she wishes to perceive it. Blanche’s final remark indicates her total detachment from reality and her decision to see life only as she wishes to perceive it.
Scene 11 Steve: “This game is seven card stud” Steve: “This game is seven card stud” Play ends with a game- whole thing is a game Play ends with a game- whole thing is a game Life is a game of chance (Metaphor) Life is a game of chance (Metaphor) Stanley sees himself a a winner- lucky Stanley sees himself a a winner- lucky Stanley is the lucky “stud” Stanley is the lucky “stud” Poker- symbol of deception/bluffing Poker- symbol of deception/bluffing
Stella Is now living in a fantasy of her own Is now living in a fantasy of her own She has to retreat into a world of lies and deception in order to survive with Stanley She has to retreat into a world of lies and deception in order to survive with Stanley Stanley ends to play opening the blouse of his wife- going for that passion that always brings her back to him. Stanley ends to play opening the blouse of his wife- going for that passion that always brings her back to him.
Allusion (NOT ILLUSION) Illusion- Image, dream, fantasy Illusion- Image, dream, fantasy Allusion (Literary term)- a reference to something else: Allusion (Literary term)- a reference to something else: Historical Historical Religious/Biblical Religious/Biblical Mythological Mythological Literary Literary Geographical Geographical
Allusions in Streetcar Mitch’s cigarette case- allusion to poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Mitch’s cigarette case- allusion to poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Aries sign- Allusion to God of war Aries sign- Allusion to God of war Huey Long Huey Long Mardi Gras Mardi Gras Napoleonic Code Napoleonic Code The Lady of the Camellias The Lady of the Camellias Van Gogh Van Gogh Elysian fields- Greek Paradise (Irony) Elysian fields- Greek Paradise (Irony) Samson Samson What else? What else?
Theme- main idea or message Illusion vs. Reality Illusion vs. Reality Old South vs. New South Old South vs. New South Dependence on Men Dependence on Men Desire Desire The relationship between death and desire The relationship between death and desire lonliness lonliness
Motif- an often repeated idea or theme in literature Light Light Bathing Bathing Drunkeness Drunkeness
Color imagery Blue- Piano, sky Blue- Piano, sky Black/white- Blanche’s name (IRONY) Black/white- Blanche’s name (IRONY) Black-Death, Belle Reve, husband, job, woman with flower Black-Death, Belle Reve, husband, job, woman with flower Red-Stanley and Blanche- passion violence Red-Stanley and Blanche- passion violence
Symbol- a concrete thing used to represent something else Paper lantern- insecurity about Blanche’s looks, age –Illusion-Blanche Paper lantern- insecurity about Blanche’s looks, age –Illusion-Blanche Alcohol- Blanches’ nervousness and unease- mental instability Alcohol- Blanches’ nervousness and unease- mental instability Candles (less light)- loss of Blanche’s husband Candles (less light)- loss of Blanche’s husband Red- Violence (Stanley) Red- Violence (Stanley) Blue- piano (sad) Blue- piano (sad) White- clean/innocence White- clean/innocence Polka music- Memory of Allan’s death Polka music- Memory of Allan’s death What else? What else?