LIGHT IMAGERY:A StreetcarNamed Desire

"I don’t think I ever seen you in the light. That’s a fact! You never want to go out in the afternoon. You never want to go out till after six and then it’s always some place that’s not lighted much. […] What it means is I’ve never had a real good look at you.” (Mitch)

Why does she not like direct light?

Blanche equates darkness with lack of romance, civilisation and danger. Can you think of some examples from the play?

What might the naked lightbulb in the Kowalski’s apartment symbolise?

Why is it significant that Stanley smashes all the bulbs in the house when he and Stella first get together?

Stanley says that Stella likes the nights “with the coloured lights.” What does this mean?

When Blanche reminisces about her husband’s fate, the Varsouviana polka plays and she is lit by a bright light. What might this symbolise?

On her birthday, the candles on Blanche’s cake and the blowing out of them may suggest what?

WBlanche describes falling in love like this:

“You suddenly turned a blinding light on something that had always been half in shadow, that’s how it struck the world for me.”

Blanche describes the impact of her husband’s suicide like this:

“The searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that’s stronger than this — kitchen — candle…"

So…hiding herself (and her past/pain) from the world AND blocking the world out by pretending it is not there, is an important coping mechanism for Blanche. REALITY VERSUS FANTASY.

THE SYMBOLS GAME…..GUESS WHO?

Guess the character based on the symbol shown before the clock runs out.