A Streetcar Named Desire Study Notes Scene 8 PDF

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A Streetcar Named Desire- Study Notes: Scene 8 _ scripted_ on TES Quotation

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[View… fading gradually into a still-golden dusk. A torch of sunlight blazes…]

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[Blanche has a tight, artificial smile… fourth place… left vacant] (76)

Character/Setting How is the character portrayed? Image created depending on descriptors/dialogue Blanche’s fate:  The setting immediately forewarn Blanche’s downfall, highlighting how little time she has.

Analysis Language or structural techniques? Effect? Perceptive points?

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“I didn’t think you liked my stories… I don’t know any refined enough… [Music fades]” (76)

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“Only way to hush the parrot up, was to put the cover back on its cage.” (77)

Tension and downfall:  The tension between Blanche and Stanley are apparent and even Stella’s discomfort cannot break this.

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[Stanley pays no attention… eats with his fingers] “Mr Kowalski is too busy making a pig of himself to think of anything else… disgustingly greasy.” [He hurls a

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Even with her fear, she glosses over reality. Everything she does requires her effort. The fact that she requests Stanley to liven the mood is ironic as he is the one destroying her illusions.

Stanley’s reaction to those challenging his power:  Stella is slowly drifting away from Stanley and gaining independence in the presence of her sister, who epitomises the old south and its values, whilst Stanley, in panic that power is being shifted to Blanche, feels threatened and reacts

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“Fading… still-golden dusk”- “Fading” is suggestive of how Blanche’s illusion is slowly fading as Stanley peels away her illusion. The pathetic fallacy of “stillgolden” highlights how the sun itself is watching with heightened tension as to Blanche’s downfall. “Golden” acts as a religious symbol, providing a façade for how Blanche will be forced out of this world. This could suggest how Stella refuses to believe Blanche’s accusations. The harsh consonance of “dusk” suggests a suffocating atmosphere, as Blanche’s lies envelop her. “Torch of sunlight blazes”- “Torch of sunlight” builds on the light motif and the word choice of “blazes” foreshadows how Blanche is destroyed by her own secrets. “Torch” is juxtaposed with natural blazing “sunlight” to reflect upon how Blanche cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality. “Tight, artificial smile”- Blanche’s face appears to be a canvas; word choice of “artificial” is ironic as her whole persona itself is feigned. “Tight” alludes to the societal restrictions she faces. “Don’t know any refined enough… music fades”- “Refined enough” further mocks Blanche’s position in society. Stella’s positivity almost mirrors a maternal state; she tries to protect Blanche’s fantasy from being destroyed. “Only way to hush a parrot… put the cover back on its cage”- “Parrot” symbolises a repetitive nature, which mirrors her cyclical and inescapable reverie, conveying that she cannot break away from the cycle. The phrase acts as a metaphor to suggest how Blanche “puts the cover” on those around her using her illusion, to prevent being judged by societal aspects; she is tired of trying to uphold her traditions and can only find freedom within her illusion. “Pays no attention… eats with… fingers”- “Fingers” suggest his primal nature, bringing Blanche back down to reality and suggesting his disrespect towards her persona. “Kowalski… too busy making a pig of himself”- Blanche influences Stella, bringing out Stella’s origins and backgrounds, further suggesting why Stanley is pushed to the edge, but it still cannot justify Blanche’s rape. “Disgustingly greasy… Go and wash up”- “Greasy” is symbolic of Stanley’s

Contextual/Thematic Significance What aspects of the context does it link to in relation to themes? 

Fantasy and reality

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Society and class: Society seems to have broken blanche through its numerous demands and expectations, none of which she could fulfil, especially regarding her late husband.

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Fantasy and reality

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Masculinity

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Society and class: Stella and Stanley’s opposing classes are only acmed in this scene, suggesting how opposites attract, whilst Blanche threatens Stanley’s position in society.

A Streetcar Named Desire- Study Notes: Scene 8 _ scripted_ on TES plate… seizes her arm] Pig- Polackdisgustingvulgar… them kind of words have been on your tongue and your sister’s too much around here. (77)

violently. 

Whilst Stella returns to the typical “Southernbelle” Stanley is left powerless, with merely an immigrant background to go by.

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“It’s gonna be sweet when we can make noise in the night that way we used to and get the coloured lights going.” (78) “I hope candles are going to glow in his life… I hope that his eyes are going to be like candles, like two blue candles…” “Candles aren’t safe… burn out in little boys’ and girls’ eyes… wind blows them out… electric lightbulbs go on and you see too plainly.”

Stanley and Stella’s physical relationship:  Stanley is desperate for Stella to return to his world. 

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Blanche always tries to stay a step ahead of thing so she can justify herself; she is tormented by the fact that Stella knows why Mitch is missing. 

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lingering need to ruin Blanche’s feigned innocence. Stella’s use of an imperative is seemingly out of place, to suggest how she crosses the line in the current society. “Hurls…plate… seizes her arm”Stanley throws away all that is associated with the old South, such as the refined “plate” and other cutlery, highlighting his dismissal of Blanche. Lexis of active verbs “hurls” and “seizes” echoes his anger and defensive nature when his power is being taken away. “Pig- Polack- disgusting- vulgar”Plosive alliteration of “Pig” and “Polack” emphasises Stanley’s utter anger as he notices the power shift. The overuse of hyphenations is suggestive of how every insult strips away a bit of Stanley’s dignity, forcing Stella to see him in the worst light; as merely an immigrant and “common” person in this world. “Them kind of words… been on your tongue… sister’s too much around here”- Colloquialism of “them” and broken syntax of “too much aroubd” is suggestive of how Stanley is being reduced to an outline of an immigrant, whilst Stella rises back to her original position in the old South through Blanche’s influence. “Gonna be sweet… make noise… way we used to and get them coloured lights going”- “Make noise” alludes to the physical heat and aggression involved within their marriage; it is the basic means of this world. “Get them” is suggestive of broken syntax, highlighting how their anger is subdued in a physical and non-verbal way. “Coloured lights” is suggestive of how the new world uses electricity and materialism in a daring way in order to deal with emotional aspects of their marriage. “Hope candles… going to glow in his life”- “Candles” symbolise the exposure of the truth, such as her real age. Her “hope” opposes the darkness she resides amongst; her words almost act as a final goodbye as Blanche delves into her fantasy for protection. Hash alliteration of “g” alludes to the danger of fire and natural light. “Eyes… be like candles, like two blue candles”- Double simile of “candles” emphasises her desperation for youth. “Blue” links to Stanley’s work clothes, suggesting the progression of the new world as her white and innocence persona is left to “decay” amongst the old world. “Candles aren’t safe… burn out in little boys’ and girls’ eyes”- “Burn out” alludes to her social immaturity as a result of Allan Grey’s death, suggesting how she is stuck in the darkness. “Wind blows them out… electric lightbulbs go on… see too plainly”- The juxtaposition of the natural “wind” and

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Marriage and sex Society and class Fantasy and reality

A Streetcar Named Desire- Study Notes: Scene 8 _ scripted_ on TES

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“People from Poland are Poles, not Polacks… I am… one hundred per cent American… proud as hell of it.” (80) [Blanche fiercely controls herself, drinking quietly… he reaches in a pocket… with false amiability]

Stanley vs. Blanche:  Stanley’s desire to be accepted is established, thus evoking a sense of pathos towards him.

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Blanche and reality:  The men in Blanche’s life were never accepting of her.

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Blanche can no longer maintain her illusion.

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“Ticket! Back to Laurel… [Varsouviana music steals in softly… springs from the table and runs… Coughing, gagging sounds are heard] (80)

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“You needn’t be so cruel to someone as alone as she is.” (81)

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“I was common as dirt… pulled you down off them columns and how you loved it, having them coloured lights going.” [Stella makes a slight movement… look goes suddenly inward… some interior voice had called her name] (81)

“Wasn’t we

Stanley and Stella’s relationship:  Stanley spirals downwards and Stella rises to her original position in the old South. 

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Stanley’s desperation in keeping hold of Stella reflects upon his love for her.

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Stella’s dependence upon

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the artificial “bulbs” suggest how Blanche cannot distinguish between reality and fantasy. “People from Poland are Poles, not Polacks”- Plosive alliteration suggests his desperation to be accepted into a society where he is not judged for his immigrant background. We can note that despite his violent nature, Stanley also fears what Stella may do. “Fiercely controls herself, drinking quietly”- Blanche is at the point of breaking; she cannot even maintain control over her “drinking,” as those around her slowly peel away her illusion. “Fiercely” and “quietly” are juxtaposed adjectives to highlight how she is in a battle with her fantasy and reality. “Reaches in a pocket… with false amiability”- The word choice of “false amiability” highlights a snake-like demeanour. Blanche also begins to reach her limit of capacity for niceness and openly expresses her emotions when he hands her the ticket. “Varsouviana music steals in softly… runs… coughing, gagging”- She is aware that others can see through her illusion yet, still chooses to maintain it as she does not know what else to do. The “Varsouviana” reminds her of when she was not wanted, when her life spiralled downwards. Her “coughing” and “gagging” highlights how she crumples and her illusion breaks. Stanley’s lack of mercy nearly kills her. “Needn’t be so cruel to someone as alone as she is”- Stella seems to understand Blanche’s situation, further evoking a sense of pathos as she chooses to do nothing to help, as reflective of the careless contraction of “needn’t” “Common as dirt… pulled you down off them columns”- “Them columns” suggests how Stanley’s grammar becomes more fragmented whilst Stella becomes more formal; the distinct dialogue and dialect loses its structure as he retreats to his background. “Pulled you down” suggests the effort he put into pursuing Stella, emphasising his love for his wife. In another sense, it seems as though Stanley pulled Stella down from a prison that is the old South, further reflecting upon how Blanche is stills trapped in her world. “Look goes suddenly inward… interior voice had called her name”The metaphorical reference to the unborn child via a religious reference of “interior voice” suggests that though Stella pities her sister, she does not reject Stanley; she is part of the new world. “Wasn’t we happy… describing me as

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Society and class

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Fantasy and reality

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Society and class

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Marriage and sex

A Streetcar Named Desire- Study Notes: Scene 8 _ scripted_ on TES happy together… Till she showed here… describing me as an ape.”

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[He is with her… supporting her… murmuring… Varsouviana is heard… music rising with sinister rapidity]

Stanley:  Just when Stella begins to think independently, she goes into labour; the baby reinforces her connection to Stanley, thus making her dependent on him and placing the control back into his hands. 

“El pan de mais, el pan de mais, El pan de mais sin sal. (82)

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Stanley’s actions towards Blanche are crueller as ironically, he says that he sees through her illusion yet he is also fooled by her façade and misunderstands how weak she is to begin with. This scene forewarns Stanley’s enraged violence towards blanche, which expresses his need for ownership in a different way.

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an ape”- Their physical fight ends with labour, further suggesting Stella’s connection to the new world. “With her… supporting… murmuring”His sudden transformation employs the hope for the new world; soft assonance of “supporting” and “murmuring” permeate the end of this scene, to highlight how Stella is dependent upon him. The fact that he is “with her” in the present unlike Blanche who is stuck in the past, is Stella’s final deciding factor to side with the new world; thus Blanche’s fantasy only destroys rather than helping her. “Varsouviana is heard… rising with sinister rapidity”- Word choice of “sinister rapidity” is suggestive of how Blanche’s life will come to an end. Word choice of “rising” is ironic as we are forewarned of Blanche’s downfall, further suggesting how she resorts completely into fantasy. “El pan de mais sin sal”- Williams;’ use of an incantation confirms Blanche’s mental instability; it is ironic that she sings a Mexican song about corn bread , which seems out-of-place for her character, who is so prejudiced against those of a different class and background....