1. Scene viii & ix Scene viii is a disjointed scene with changes of mood from embarrassment to violence, from a pathetic attempt at normality to Stanleys brutality, ending with Stellas abrupt departure for the hospital. The tensions between Blanche and Stanley are highlighted. Why do you think Williams chose this point for labour to begin? What might Stellas labour pains represent? L/O: to read and explore scenes viii & ix

2. Examining scene viii 1.Look at Stanleys actions and Williams stage directions for his character. How is his character presented in this scene? 2.What does Stellas language show us about her character in this scene? 3.What actions/speech does Blanche perform in this scene reveal that she has yet to learn her lesson? 4.Who has won the fight this scene, Blanche or Stanley?

3. Characterisation: Stanley Stanleys rude table manners symbolise not only his primitive qualities but also his desire to upset Blanche and Stella Stanleys rude table manners symbolise not only his primitive qualities but also his desire to upset Blanche and Stella Stanley smashing the plate symbolises his potential for violence and foreshadows his violent behaviour in the rest of the play Stanley smashing the plate symbolises his potential for violence and foreshadows his violent behaviour in the rest of the play Stanleys reaction to Blanche calling him a Polack symbolises his deep frustration that Blanche views herself as superior Stanleys reaction to Blanche calling him a Polack symbolises his deep frustration that Blanche views herself as superior Stanleys birthday ticket to Blanche – a one way ticket back to Laurel – symbolises his cruel tendencies and his vicious nature Stanleys birthday ticket to Blanche – a one way ticket back to Laurel – symbolises his cruel tendencies and his vicious nature Stage Directions – grunts, stalks – remind us of his animalistic nature Stage Directions – grunts, stalks – remind us of his animalistic nature

4. Symbolism The occurrence of the Varsouviana music after Blanche receives the bus ticket shows that she is beginning to lose control again. Stanleys cruel action has pushed her over the edge The occurrence of the Varsouviana music after Blanche receives the bus ticket shows that she is beginning to lose control again. Stanleys cruel action has pushed her over the edge As Stella becomes angrier, her grammar becomes more formal. As Stanley grows angrier, his grammar becomes sloppier and he begins to speak in sentence fragments. This is symbolic of both the class and the intellectual divide between them As Stella becomes angrier, her grammar becomes more formal. As Stanley grows angrier, his grammar becomes sloppier and he begins to speak in sentence fragments. This is symbolic of both the class and the intellectual divide between them

5. Examining scene vii Explore at the use of symbolism in this scene… Music Music Alcohol Alcohol The paper lantern The paper lantern The Mexican woman The Mexican woman Crying Fire… Crying Fire… Use of language Use of language EXT: Compare this scene with scene iii – examine the difference between Blanche and Mitchs introduction and their break up.

6. Examining scene vii This scene marks a decisive stage in Blanches disintegration. She is drinking heavily and the past symbolised by the insistent polka music is pressing own upon her This scene marks a decisive stage in Blanches disintegration. She is drinking heavily and the past symbolised by the insistent polka music is pressing own upon her This scene is effective melodrama as Mitchs hostility and Blanches half hearted protestations lead up to the ending when he tries to sleep with her This scene is effective melodrama as Mitchs hostility and Blanches half hearted protestations lead up to the ending when he tries to sleep with her This scene also reveals what was motivating Blanche. Surrounded by the memories of her dead husband and dying members of her family, she felt so afraid of Deaths proximity that she sought the opposite - DESIRE This scene also reveals what was motivating Blanche. Surrounded by the memories of her dead husband and dying members of her family, she felt so afraid of Deaths proximity that she sought the opposite - DESIRE To Blanche desire symbolises life, youth and everything that is pleasant To Blanche desire symbolises life, youth and everything that is pleasant Ironically Blanche dies inside as a result of her moral decay Ironically Blanche dies inside as a result of her moral decay This scene is also the final confrontation between Blanche and Mitch This scene is also the final confrontation between Blanche and Mitch

7. Characterisation: Blanche Blanches strange behaviour at the beginning (drinking and huddled on a chair) coupled with the Polka music symbolises the premonition of a disaster which is about to occur Blanches strange behaviour at the beginning (drinking and huddled on a chair) coupled with the Polka music symbolises the premonition of a disaster which is about to occur Blanches incessant chatter at the beginning conveys how nervous she is and is perhaps her attempt to postpone their inevitable confrontation. She prefers illusion to reality Blanches incessant chatter at the beginning conveys how nervous she is and is perhaps her attempt to postpone their inevitable confrontation. She prefers illusion to reality Blanches admission that I dont want realism conveys that she wants to live in a make-believe world because it is not so painful. This is why she does not always tell the truth. She only tells what she thinks ought to be the truth and in her mind this is not really lying Blanches admission that I dont want realism conveys that she wants to live in a make-believe world because it is not so painful. This is why she does not always tell the truth. She only tells what she thinks ought to be the truth and in her mind this is not really lying Blanches drinking symbolises her inability to cope and her desire to blot things out. Blanches drinking symbolises her inability to cope and her desire to blot things out. Ironically the liquor is called Southern Comfort. Blanche has arrived in the southern states looking for comfort but neither the alcohol or her stay with Stanley and Stella are giving her any. Her journey to New Orleans was her quest for a new life Ironically the liquor is called Southern Comfort. Blanche has arrived in the southern states looking for comfort but neither the alcohol or her stay with Stanley and Stella are giving her any. Her journey to New Orleans was her quest for a new life This scene also offers an insight into Blanches character. For the first time we are given insights into her behaviour at Laurel. She admits her lies, but she also tells unequivocally the truth about herself. When her fantasies meet with incomprehension and brutality, she turns for good to her world of make-believe as Blanche says, I dont want realism This scene also offers an insight into Blanches character. For the first time we are given insights into her behaviour at Laurel. She admits her lies, but she also tells unequivocally the truth about herself. When her fantasies meet with incomprehension and brutality, she turns for good to her world of make-believe as Blanche says, I dont want realism

8. Imagery : The Paper Lantern The paper lantern represents the dressing up of reality The paper lantern represents the dressing up of reality Blanches fear of the light that Mitch wants conveys her fear and inability to deal with truth and brightness. She does not want Mitch to see her in full light. The darkness creates an illusory world for Blanche where she feels she can hide the truth of her past and the truth of her age Blanches fear of the light that Mitch wants conveys her fear and inability to deal with truth and brightness. She does not want Mitch to see her in full light. The darkness creates an illusory world for Blanche where she feels she can hide the truth of her past and the truth of her age Mitch tearing down the lantern conveys that Stanley has already metaphorically turned on the light for Mitch, but now he wants the truth for himself. His tearing down of the lantern symbolises his extermination of the fake persona she has concocted Mitch tearing down the lantern conveys that Stanley has already metaphorically turned on the light for Mitch, but now he wants the truth for himself. His tearing down of the lantern symbolises his extermination of the fake persona she has concocted It is ironic that this scene shows a reversal of conventional symbols. It is ironic that this scene shows a reversal of conventional symbols. For Blanche light is a cruel enemy while darkness is kind For Blanche light is a cruel enemy while darkness is kind Darkness is kind because not only is her appearance covered up but it hides the ugliness of the real world. This enables Blanche to maintain her illusions. When her illusions go, so do her sanity Darkness is kind because not only is her appearance covered up but it hides the ugliness of the real world. This enables Blanche to maintain her illusions. When her illusions go, so do her sanity