Scene 6
On the characters
Why does Blanche want to marry Mitch? List some reasons.
Why does Mitch have an interest in Blanche? What is his situation?
On the writer's techniques
Why does Williams show such a contrast between the language that Mitch and Blanche use? Find three or four quotes that illustrate the different ways they use language.
Why does
On the writer's purposes
Why did Williams create this scene between Blanche and Mitch?
Scene 7
On the characters
Why is Stanley so interested in Blanche's past?
Why is Blanche so evasive -- i.e. she doesn't want to discuss things...
On the writer's techniques
Why does Stanley use such blunt language? Quote and analyse.
Why does Blanche use such vague language? Quote and analyse.
Why and how does Williams make things more tense in the household?
Scene 8
On the characters
Why is Stanley so angry with both Stella and Blanche?
Why has Stanley spoken to Mitch?
On the writer's techniques
Why did Williams write this scene of "domestic tension", i.e. a scene which shows all the tensions about all three of them living together in a cramped apartment.
Scene 6
ReplyDeleteBlanche wants to marry Mitch because it would help her fit in with the community and allow her to spend more time with Stella. It would also give her a place to settle down as she has been moving around. It would also give her financial support and a way to fit back into society. It could also be to make sure that Stanley does not continue to mistreat her; Mitch is his friend so he would no longer do that.
Mitch has an interest in Blanche because his mother is unwell and on the verge of death, but first she wants to see Mitch get married. Mitch instantly falls in love with Blanche and wants her to be the girl which he marries.
Williams shows the contrast between the language to show their differing backgrounds and how they are an unlikely couple. Blanche is better spoken whereas Mitch has a more rough tone; however they have still ended up in the same predicament. Mitch replies to certain things by saying ‘huh’ whereas Blanche has more creative responses. This shows Blanche is more comfortable than Mitch when talking. Mitch also says ‘we was together’ while Blanche uses more formal language, showing their differing backgrounds. Blanche also says ‘oh’ throughout while Mitch has a much rougher tone.
Williams created this scene to show the reader how difficult a life Blanche has had and how she has to keep it bottled up inside. It shows that not all men in society were as bad as Stanley and some were understanding and caring. It also shows that Blanche desperately needs some support, she pours her heart out to a relative stranger whom she has known for little over a month. This shows how tough society was at the time.
Scene 7
DeleteStanley is interested in Blanches past because he knows she is not telling the truth and he wants to find out what the truth is. He has found out details of Blanche’s past from the supply man in Laurel, but wants the satisfaction of hearing it from Blanche. As Blanche has unsettled himself and Stella, Stanley wants to regain control. He can only do this if Blanche goes away and so will need Stella to want Blanche to leave. If Blanche tells Stella about her past, Stanley feels that Stella will want nothing more to do with Blanche.
Blanche is evasive because she knows how damaging her past is and therefore cannot directly answer the questions. She also knows that it would damage her relationship with Stella and she would have nobody to support her. Blanche is insecure enough as it is, but without Stella she would be in real trouble and so feels she cannot leave, despite disliking Stanley. She also feels her past is her own private information and so nobody should be able to know about it except for her.
Stanley tells Stella that Blanche was ‘regarded as not just different but downright loco – nuts.’ He says this without sympathy and a seemingly menacing tone. He wants Stella to see Blanche for what she is and so uses a blunt tone to get his message across. The word ‘loco’ signifies he has no respect for her and does not want Blanche to stay. He has to put it in this way for Stella to see his point of view. Stanley also tells Stella ‘a seventeen year old boy – she’d gotten mixed up with!’ was the reason Blanche could no longer teach. His wording is blunt and damaging, creating a divide between Stella and Blanche that could never be repaired. Williams uses these words to show how harsh society was at the time and how nobody got sympathy.
Blanche tells Stella she ‘feels so good after my long, hot bath.’ Blanche is oblivious to the conversation that Stella has just had with Stanley and so continues on as normal. Throughout the play Blanche bathes and we can draw the conclusion that she does this to detach herself from the other characters. She is particularly vague over why she bathes so much and it seems when she does this she can go into her own mind and break away from her horrible time in Laurel and Elysian fields. Also Blanche realises ‘something has happened!’ This statement is vague as she does not know what Stella and Stanley were discussing. However it is probable that Blanche has realised what has happened and the vague language shows the reader that Blanche is still in denial and doesn’t want to face up to the truth.
Stanley tells Blanche to ‘get OUT of the BATHROOM.’ This makes Blanche leave the bathroom and leaves her in a state of shock. It also shows Stanley’s disdain for her and Blanche probably realises she is no longer wanted there. It creates a tense atmosphere as she does not know what Stanley will do next and leaves her wondering what has just happened between Stella and Stanley. Stanley tells Stella that Blanche will ‘go on a bus and like it.’ This creates a tense atmosphere as Stella is now forced to pick either Stanley or Blanche. As Stanley is demanding that Blanche leaves it creates an unwelcome household and thus a tense atmosphere.
Scene 8
DeleteStanley is annoyed that Stella is still treating Blanche as she did before, despite what Stanley has told her. He feels she is siding with Blanche over him and he does not understand why. He is also annoyed that they are trying to be superior by calling him names such as ‘vulgar’ and ‘polak.’ He feels that he is the person in control and that they should not try to challenge his authority.
Stanley has spoken to Mitch to inform him of Blanches past and why he should not start a relationship with her. He also does not like Blanche and wants to take away the one thing in the world that she loves, in order to get revenge for her trying to divide him and Stella. Also he is looking out for Mitch because he realises that Blanche is slightly insane. He is trying to get rid of Blanche so that he and Stella can continue on with their lives as they were before Blanche arrived.
Williams created this scene of domestic tension to show that even though Stanley is outnumbered by the women in the apartment he is till the dominant force. This shows how unfair society was at the time as Stanley use violence and force to intimidate both Stella and Blanche. It shows how they are struggling to keep their emotions in check and how one of them must o in order to get the balance right. They are all tense around each other as Stanley tries his best to upset Blanche but Stella wants to protect her, leading to a confrontation with Stanley. Although they love each other Williams tries to show how a relationship can be affected by somebody from the past and how society at the time was an un-supporting one.