- [A street in New Orleans which is named Elysian Fields] 1 Allusion to Greek mythology,
referencing the afterlife paradise reserved for heroes. This is ironic as the area is poor
and “weathered”. It is symbolic of the characters’ desire to escape from their bleak
reality, and foreshadows Blanches metaphorical death at the end of the play.
- [You can almost feel the warm breath of the brown river beyond the warehouses with
their faint redolences of banana and coffee. A corresponding air is evoked by the music
of Negro entertainers.] 1 This anthropomorphic description conveys that the city is
alive and thriving as a centre of commerce and trade. The synaesthesia evoked by the
intermingling of smell and sound creates sensual and exotic atmosphere. New Orleans’
status as a vibrant city of multicultural heritage is evoked by Williams in the opening
stage directions and enforced throughout the play by the diverse ensemble of minor
characters including Pablo and the Mexican street vendors.
- [New Orleans is a cosmopolitan city where there is a relatively warm and easy
intermingling of races] 1
- Blanche “What I meant was I’d like to be left alone” Eunice [offended] 5 Blanche’s
abrupt dismissal of Eunice and the off-hand manner in which she takes Eunice’s
kindness for granted demonstrates her awareness of social distinctions. Alternatively,
she is downplaying her distress and desiring privacy in order to maintain dignity.
- [Blanche sits in a chair very stiffly with her shoulders slightly hunched and her legs
pressed close together and her hands tightly clutching her purse as if she were quite
cold.] In terms of proxemics, she is making herself appear as small as possible and
therefore, her physical posture and demeanour convey discomfort and unease. The
description of her legs being pressed close together suggests a sense of propriety and
formality, while her clutching her purse “tightly” conveys anxiety and vulnerability in
this new setting.
- [She springs up and… pours half a tumbler of whiskey and tosses it down. She carefully
replaces the bottle and washes out the tumbler at the sink] 5 Introduces Blanche’s
dependence on alcohol. She takes great care to hide this habit. That she “springs up”
suggests that she did not deliberate over this action, and that it came to her
instinctually, thus emphasising her reliance. Williams’ father was an alcoholic.
- Blanche “Where could it be I wonder? Oh, I spy, I spy!” 6 The rhetorical question here
is a blatant lie that would surely instil mistrust in an audience. The childish exclamative
conveys a mischievous excitement that contrasts with the unease Blanche displayed
when she was alone.
- Blanche “Never, never, never in my worst dreams could I picture – Only Poe! Only Mr
Edgar Allan Poe! – could do it justice” 7 Blanche’s use of epizeuxis and fragmented
speech convey her tendency to be melodramatic. She references the southern gothic
writer “Edgar Allan Poe” both to demonstrate her cultured background, and to
compare her experience of progressive New Orleans with Poe’s macabre stories.
, - Blanche “But you – you’ve put on some weight, yes, you’re just as plump as a little
partridge” 8 The repetition of the pronoun “you” creates a condescending an
accusatory tone. This is emphasised by the plosive simile Blanche that Blanche uses to
disguise cruelty with sisterly endearment. She objectifies Stella, likening her to prey in
a way that will later be paralleled by Stanley.
- Stella “A Master Sargent in the Engineers’ Corps” 10 Stella proudly tells Blanche that
Stanley was a decorated officer during the war. The play is both set and written in 1947
– in the aftermath of World War II. As a high ranking officer, Stanley would likely garner
considerable respect and admiration from the original audience.
- “[The music of the blue piano grows louder. Blanche touches her handkerchief to her
forehead]” 11 Blanche’s idiosyncratic behaviour. In the introduction, the Blue Piano
seems to symbolise the liveliness and vitality of New Orleans. Here, it works to create
an atmosphere of hopelessness and loss that reflects the experience of the sisters as
they reflect on their childhood home. This is plastic theatre, a term coined by Williams
himself to describe the use of dramatic techniques in order to create an experience
greater than reality.
- Blanche “I, I, I took the blows in my face and my body!” 12 Here, a metaphor of a
physical altercation is used to describe the harrowing loss of Belle Reve, with epizeuxis
for emphasis. The use of punctuation suggests that her speech is frantic and disjointed,
and reflects her mental state.
- [He sizes women up at a glance, with sexual classifications]… Blanche [drawing back
involuntarily from his stare] 13 Stanley is presented as a hedonistic, hegemonic man.
He has the derogatory and demeaning view that women are sexual objects, and is
proudly aware of his masculinity. Blanche clearly senses the crude edge to his stare as
she moves away from him subconsciously, beginning their predator-prey dynamic.
- Stanley “Not in my territory. Liquor goes fast in hot weather” 14 Zoomorphic language
makes Stanley appear animalistic and possessive. He shrewdly observes that Blanche
has had some of his liquor and as a result Blanche assumes the role of an antagonist
who has invaded Stanley’s home. At this point, Stanley’s standoffish behaviour seems
reasonable and justified.
- Stanley “Do you mind if I make myself comfortable?” [He starts to remove his shirt] 14
This supposedly cordial question is in fact a rude gesture as Stanley doesn’t wait for
her to response before removing his shirt . He mitigates and reaction she could have
by making the question rhetorical.
2 Stanley searches valise
- Stanley “How about my supper, huh? Stella “I put you a cold plate on ice” 16 The
mostly monosyllabic phrase is direct and demanding, revealing Stanley’s sense of
entitlement. The interjection, ‘huh?’ suggests a certain level of aggression and
impatience. Stella has already anticipated this response form her husband, and taken
measures to ensure that he has a meal to his liking. However, Stanley’s somewhat
outraged response suggests that Stella wouldn’t normally act this way so perhaps it is
Blanche’s presence that has inspired Stella’s slight defiance.
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