Scene iv & vScene iv & v

Draw a tragic timeline for Stanley and one for Draw a tragic timeline for Stanley and one for Blanch. Who has the upper-hand at the Blanch. Who has the upper-hand at the beginning of scene iv? Continue the timeline – beginning of scene iv? Continue the timeline – who is on top by the end of scene v?who is on top by the end of scene v?

L/O: to read and explore scenes iv & vL/O: to read and explore scenes iv & v

Examining scene ivExamining scene iv

Scene iv is known as the play’s Scene iv is known as the play’s ‘turning point’ and tends to be ‘turning point’ and tends to be where an interval is placed – by where an interval is placed – by the end of the scene, can you the end of the scene, can you say why?say why?

1.1. Look at the attitudes of Blanche Look at the attitudes of Blanche and Stella. How do their actions and Stella. How do their actions and language differ?and language differ?

2.2. What events in this scene What events in this scene solidify Stanley as Arthur Millar’s solidify Stanley as Arthur Millar’s tragic hero? (and therefore, tragic hero? (and therefore, Blanche becomes a tragic villain)Blanche becomes a tragic villain)

3.3. For Aristotle, is this the moment For Aristotle, is this the moment of Blanche’s of Blanche’s peripeteiaperipeteia??

Characters:Characters:

BlancheBlancheStellaStella

Why is Scene 4 the turning Why is Scene 4 the turning point?point? When Stanley returning home unheard by When Stanley returning home unheard by

either Blanche or Stella overhears either Blanche or Stella overhears Blanche’s condemnation of him, it is clear Blanche’s condemnation of him, it is clear that Blanche’s fate is now sealed as Stanley that Blanche’s fate is now sealed as Stanley will only rest when she is completely will only rest when she is completely removed from his liferemoved from his life

By the end of this scene the audience is By the end of this scene the audience is now aware that Stella has chosen Stanley now aware that Stella has chosen Stanley over Blanche, a decision which leaves over Blanche, a decision which leaves Stanley triumphant and Blanche isolatedStanley triumphant and Blanche isolated

Finally the scene introduces the metaphor Finally the scene introduces the metaphor of the streetcar. This in itself suggests that of the streetcar. This in itself suggests that there is now no turning back for Blanche there is now no turning back for Blanche and that she is now headed for disasterand that she is now headed for disaster

CharacterisatioCharacterisation: Blanchen: Blanche

Blanche tells Stella that sheer desire is no basis for a marriage. She Blanche tells Stella that sheer desire is no basis for a marriage. She invokes the streetcar, “that bangs through the Quarter, up one old narrow invokes the streetcar, “that bangs through the Quarter, up one old narrow street and down another” as a metaphor for what she believes Stella feelsstreet and down another” as a metaphor for what she believes Stella feels

Blanche fails to understand Stella’s passionate relationship with her Blanche fails to understand Stella’s passionate relationship with her husband. It seems that with all her sexual experience she has never husband. It seems that with all her sexual experience she has never experienced true loveexperienced true love

Stella asks whether Blanche has ever ridden the streetcar. Blanche replies, Stella asks whether Blanche has ever ridden the streetcar. Blanche replies, “It brought me here, where I’m not wanted and where I’m ashamed to “It brought me here, where I’m not wanted and where I’m ashamed to be……” This is true both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it was be……” This is true both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it was indeed a streetcar named “Desire” which brought her to Stella’s. indeed a streetcar named “Desire” which brought her to Stella’s. Metaphorically, Stella, Stanley and Mitch soon learn that Blanche’s search Metaphorically, Stella, Stanley and Mitch soon learn that Blanche’s search for sexual desire led to her expulsion from Laurel, while her family’s need for sexual desire led to her expulsion from Laurel, while her family’s need to shroud desire and cover up “epic fornications” led to the break-up of the to shroud desire and cover up “epic fornications” led to the break-up of the Belle Reve estate and the impoverishment of the present generationBelle Reve estate and the impoverishment of the present generation

This scene also reveals Blanche to be entirely calculating when it comes to This scene also reveals Blanche to be entirely calculating when it comes to relations with men, “I think of money in terms of what it does for you”relations with men, “I think of money in terms of what it does for you”

Blanche’s threat to “laugh in Stella’s face” if Stella tries to claim that her Blanche’s threat to “laugh in Stella’s face” if Stella tries to claim that her attraction to Stanley is just “one of those electric things” shows that attraction to Stanley is just “one of those electric things” shows that Blanche does not truly believe in love. Throughout the play she claims to Blanche does not truly believe in love. Throughout the play she claims to possess romantic notions but this scene reveals her to be a cold cynicpossess romantic notions but this scene reveals her to be a cold cynic

Scene Four also contains one of Blanche’s most famous speeches in which Scene Four also contains one of Blanche’s most famous speeches in which she describes how human kind has evolved too far past the beast that she describes how human kind has evolved too far past the beast that Stanley represents for Stella to reduce herself to his level, “There’s even Stanley represents for Stella to reduce herself to his level, “There’s even something – sub-human - something not quite to the stage of humanity”something – sub-human - something not quite to the stage of humanity”

CharacterisatiCharacterisation: Stanleyon: Stanley

Having overheard Blanche’s Having overheard Blanche’s condemnation of him as a “brute” condemnation of him as a “brute” and as an “ape-man”, Stanley now and as an “ape-man”, Stanley now has even more reason to dislike has even more reason to dislike Blanche and an even greater wish to Blanche and an even greater wish to find a way to get rid of her. His find a way to get rid of her. His “triumphant grin” at the close of the “triumphant grin” at the close of the scene promises ill for Blanchescene promises ill for Blanche

Characterisation StellaCharacterisation Stella Although Stella technically condemns Stanley’s propensity Although Stella technically condemns Stanley’s propensity

for violence, it is clear that his violent nature heightens for violence, it is clear that his violent nature heightens Stella’s desire for him e.g. she finds the light bulb incident Stella’s desire for him e.g. she finds the light bulb incident on their honeymoon “thrilling”on their honeymoon “thrilling”

The stage directions at the beginning of the scene which The stage directions at the beginning of the scene which liken Stella’s face after a night with Stanley to an “Eastern liken Stella’s face after a night with Stanley to an “Eastern idol” suggest that there is something mystical about their idol” suggest that there is something mystical about their relationshiprelationship

Stella has lost patience with Blanche’s hysterical plans and Stella has lost patience with Blanche’s hysterical plans and her irritation shows in her dry, ironical comments. She her irritation shows in her dry, ironical comments. She begins to resent her sister’s disapproval and harsh criticism begins to resent her sister’s disapproval and harsh criticism of Stanleyof Stanley

Indeed the difference in the sisters’ attitudes to passion, Indeed the difference in the sisters’ attitudes to passion, shows that despite their common background and social shows that despite their common background and social values, they are very different characters and this values, they are very different characters and this influences Stella’s decision to choose Stanley, “I’m not in influences Stella’s decision to choose Stanley, “I’m not in anything I have a desire to get out of” and “Stella has anything I have a desire to get out of” and “Stella has embraced him with both arms, fiercely and in full view of embraced him with both arms, fiercely and in full view of Blanche”Blanche”

Blanche and MitchBlanche and Mitch

Mitch is the complete opposite of Stanley. Mitch is the complete opposite of Stanley. He is kind, understanding, sympathetic and He is kind, understanding, sympathetic and shyshy

Blanche’s conversation with Mitch at the end Blanche’s conversation with Mitch at the end of the scene emphasises the class of the scene emphasises the class differences between them and highlights the differences between them and highlights the efforts he is making to overcome themefforts he is making to overcome them

The description of their dancing symbolises The description of their dancing symbolises that ultimately they are ill-suited to each that ultimately they are ill-suited to each other – “Mitch dances clumsily, mimicking other – “Mitch dances clumsily, mimicking Blanche’s grand movements”Blanche’s grand movements”

StagecraftStagecraft

The use of the locomotion is clever as its The use of the locomotion is clever as its noise means that Stella and Blanche are noise means that Stella and Blanche are unaware that Stanley has returned. It also unaware that Stanley has returned. It also symbolises the idea of fate as once Stanley symbolises the idea of fate as once Stanley overhears Blanche’s condemnation of him, overhears Blanche’s condemnation of him, her fate is now sealed and he will not rest her fate is now sealed and he will not rest until she is goneuntil she is gone

The constant sound of the Blue Piano The constant sound of the Blue Piano symbolises sadness and loss. It plays again symbolises sadness and loss. It plays again at the moment that Stella chooses Stanleyat the moment that Stella chooses Stanley

Examining scene vExamining scene vThere are undertones of violence There are undertones of violence

throughout the scene, as well as throughout the scene, as well as reminders of the characters reminders of the characters weaknesses.weaknesses.

1.1. How does Blanche react to Stanley in How does Blanche react to Stanley in this scene?this scene?

2.2. What events give viewers hints to What events give viewers hints to Blanche’s past – is this part of her Blanche’s past – is this part of her tragic flaw? Does the ending of the tragic flaw? Does the ending of the scene prove Stanley’s accusations?scene prove Stanley’s accusations?

This episode is important as it is now This episode is important as it is now clear that there is absolutely no clear that there is absolutely no possibility of a happy ending for possibility of a happy ending for Blanche. Does this fit with Aristotle’s Blanche. Does this fit with Aristotle’s ideas about tragedy?ideas about tragedy?

CharactersCharacters::

BlancheBlancheStellaStellaEuniceEuniceSteveSteveStanleyStanleyYoung ManYoung Man

Scene v Characterisation: BlancheScene v Characterisation: Blanche Blanche’s description of her efforts to attract and hold Blanche’s description of her efforts to attract and hold

men, dressing in the soft colours of butterfly wings, men, dressing in the soft colours of butterfly wings, recall her first moth-like appearance in Elysian Fields. recall her first moth-like appearance in Elysian Fields. This reminds the audience of her fragility and This reminds the audience of her fragility and vulnerabilityvulnerability

She is fearful of losing her beauty. She is aware that She is fearful of losing her beauty. She is aware that she is growing older, but does not want men to see thisshe is growing older, but does not want men to see this

The episode with the young man is important in that it The episode with the young man is important in that it is used to convey the contradictions within Blanche’s is used to convey the contradictions within Blanche’s character:-character:- She is desperate to marry Mitch, yet she is ready to risk her She is desperate to marry Mitch, yet she is ready to risk her

future to flirt with a paper boyfuture to flirt with a paper boy Is this part of her urge to self-destruct?Is this part of her urge to self-destruct? Is it more simple? Does that she know that she cannot marry Is it more simple? Does that she know that she cannot marry

Mitch as she is incapable of settling down permanently with Mitch as she is incapable of settling down permanently with one man? Will the metaphorical flutter but not settle down?one man? Will the metaphorical flutter but not settle down?

It shows how hypocritical she is. She condemns Stanley and It shows how hypocritical she is. She condemns Stanley and Stella’s sexual relationship, but she is prepared to engage in a Stella’s sexual relationship, but she is prepared to engage in a inappropriate sexual encounter with a young boy. Her inappropriate sexual encounter with a young boy. Her behaviour with the young boy makes Stanley and Stella’s behaviour with the young boy makes Stanley and Stella’s relationship appear almost normalrelationship appear almost normal