A Streetcar Named Desire Summary and Analysis of Scene 1. She lives in his house, eats his food, drinks his liquor, criticizes his life, and so forth, but she is never his. After Stanleys drunken radio-hurling episode, Stella yells at him and calls him an animal thing, inciting Stanleys attack. Central Idea Essay: Is Blanche a Sympathetic Character? Immediately, Blanche wonders if Stella has heard some unkind gossip about her. Steve and Eunice live upstairs, and Stanley and Stella live downstairs. I told you already I dont want none of his liquor and I mean it. on 50-99 accounts. Young man! He demands that the radio be turned off and throws it out the window after Blanche turns it back on. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs She claims she could use the drink to calm her nerves, but insistswithout being askedthat she isnt a drunk. Stella is packing Blanche's things. She has also lied about her age because she wants Mitch to want her. Blanche is concerned about living in such close quarters with Stanley, and makes no effort to hide her discomfort with his blue collar background. Ace your assignments with our guide to A Streetcar Named Desire! He does not simply state the necessary movements, nor does he serve as a backseat director, programming every gesture before an actor has touched the text. In the first meeting between Stella and Blanche, Blanche tells Stella to "turn that over-light off!" (including. A Streetcar Named Desire Scene Ten Summary & Analysis | SparkNotes He is direct and blunt; she dances around every topic. In other words, since she once denied help to her young husband, she now tries to compensate by giving herself to almost anyone. Stanleys qualitiesvariously described as vitality, heartiness, brutality, primitivism, lust for life, animalitylead him over the course of the play into an unrelenting, unthinking assault on the already crumbling facade of Blanches world. Analysis. Blanche hesitantly introduces herself to Stanley, who did not know Blanche was coming to town. When Stella asserts that its time to stop playing for the night, Stanley refuses her request, tells her to go upstairs to Eunices, and disrespectfully slaps her on the buttocks. He bellows to Stella and throws her the raw meat which she catches as she laughs breathlessly. Stanley enters the apartment with Mitch and Steve, all returning from bowling. I couldnt stand that., Its just incredible, Blanche, how well youre looking., Blanche: You hear me? Waiting for Stella to finish in the bathroom, he and Blanche talk. How does Blanche react? Some people rarely touch it, but it touches them often. A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams Study Guide Mastery Quizzes PLUS Flashcards PLUS Quick Quizzes Scene One Quiz 1 of 5 Who lives in the apartment above Stella and Stanley? $24.99 $24.99 He told her that he went in the drug store and had a cherry soda. Blanches health and her sanity are waning as a result. A key to Blanche's character is given to us in this first scene by her reliance upon and need for whiskey. She has ridden Desire to the end of the line and has hit rock bottom before arriving here. She has absolutely no place to go and no one to turn to or else she would not be here in these surroundings. Blanche lost her husband and Mitch the girl who gave him the cigarette case with the poetic inscription. A Streetcar Named Desire Questions and Answers - eNotes.com At rise, we see a two-story building in a poor, charming, diverse section of New Orleans, called Elysian Fields. This. Bearing the raw meat home from the kill in the jungle; and you you here waiting for him." You haven't said a word about my appearance. The action begins with the arrival of Blanche DuBois, dressed in white, and both looking and feeling entirely out of place on this downtrodden street. Has anyone ever told you that you look like a young Prince out of the Arabian Nights? And Stella warns Blanche that Stanley's friends are not the type Blanche is accustomed to. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. She pours a half tumbler, carefully replaces the bottle and washes out the tumbler at the. (one code per order). "A Streetcar Named Desire": The Rape Scene - ThoughtCo At the end, when Stanley leaves, she is trembling and in need of a drink. They stare at each other and then rush together with animal moans. He falls to his knees, tenderly caresses her face and belly, then lifts her up and carries her into their flat. She romanticizes the situation, envisioning herself as an ingnue in a tragic narrative. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. But of course there were things to adjust myself to later on. Subscribe now. This is a first reference to Blanche's aversion to too much light. Audience sympathy may establish itself in Blanches favor, but nothing about Blanche suggests that she will emerge as a heroine. SCENE ONE The exterior of a two-story corner building on a street in New Orleans which is named Elysian Fields and runs between the L & N tracks and the river. Stella is perfectly happy with her lot, and doesn't take kindly to Blanche's questions. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. The play offers a romanticized vision of slum life that nevertheless reflects the atypical characteristics of New Orleans. Blanche is in no mental condition to withstand such scrutiny, so she has fashioned a tenuous make-believe world. Character List. Stanley comes in and is apparently irritated. on 50-99 accounts. Sometimes it can end up there. A Streetcar Named Desire has only one setting: a two-story flat in New Orleans. Stanley, drunk, hollers at them to be quiet. Left alone, Blanche surreptitiously takes a drink of whiskey, and puts the bottle and tumbler away. It is some weeks later. Stella yells at Stanley, and he advances violently toward her. she feared for either of them to stop and think. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. from your Reading List will also remove any A streetcar named desire- scene 1 Flashcards | Quizlet SparkNotes PLUS | Thus the conflict is between the oversensitive aristocratic world of Blanche and the brutal, realistic, present-day world represented by Stanley. Then the men attempt to revive the now limp and confused Stanley, but when they try to force him into the shower to sober him up, he fights them off. Loading Instant PDF downloads. Her effort to create a more flattering, untruthful portrait of herself for Mitch continues in upcoming scenes. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. The difference in their reactions to similar experiences and in their approaches to life suggests that they are not an ideally matched pair. Blanche asserts that the Flamingo is not the sort of place where she would be seen. A Streetcar Named Desire: Scene 5 Summary & Analysis Tossing the package of meat symbolically captures Stanley and Stellas sexual relationship: he hurls himself physically at her, and she accepts delightedly. Related Characters: Blanche DuBois (speaker) She is immediately on the defensive as she describes how hard she worked to keep the plantation running, while Stella left to live her own life in New Orleans. In Scene 3 Stanley's expression of his desires is blatant, forceful, and brutally honest. $24.99 By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. This depends on what scene you are referring to. Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 10 New orleans Click the card to flip Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by jskarr Terms in this set (10) In what city is the play set? 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Blanche tells him yes, but the boy died; then, she leaves thinking that she is going to be sick. You'll also receive an email with the link. A tale of hypocrisy, betrayal and utter madness, Williams captivates our attention through his vibrant characters, vivid descriptions, and a narrative hook that is bound to grip you. Stella agrees that Mitch is polite but claims that Stanley is the only one of them who will get anywhere.. He says youve been lapping it up all summer like a wild-cat! I stayed and struggled! When Stella asks how it happened, Blanche reminds Stella how there has been a long line of deaths in the family and that she had to stay there and fight while Stella was "in bed with your Polack." Struggling with distance learning? Dressed in a fine white suit appropriate for an upper-crust social event, Blanche moves tentatively, looking and apparently feeling out of place in Stellas neighborhood. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. -Graham S. Blanche considers herself to be above her surroundings. About your hair--. You can view our. Discount, Discount Code A Streetcar Named Desire: Scene 9 Summary & Analysis Next Scene 10 Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis It is later that night. This is the beginning that sets up the inevitable date they have with each other. could suggest Blanches movements and the things she seems to appreciate. It correlates with her moth-like appearance and will later develop into one of the controlling motifs throughout the play. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Scene 1 Quotes They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off atElysian Fields! Her concealed drinking shows her desire to escape reality as well as the fact that she is quite adept at hiding facts about herself. The surrounding areas dim out as the, Two rooms can be seen, not too clearly defined. Which of the following accurately describes Elysian Fields? ], Will Stanley like me, or will I just be a visiting in-law. A tiara, usually signified royalty, which is how Blanche perceives herself. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. the library book readinggroupguides com, a streetcar named desire reading guide . Summary and Analysis Scene 1. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Blanche stares at the building in disbelief her directions brought her to Elysian Fields, but it looks nothing like what she expected. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. We find out that Stanley was born under the sign of Capricorn (the Goat) and Blanche was born under Virgo (the Virgin). She prefers, instead, the dim, illusionary world of semi-darkness. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Now don't get worried, your sister hasn't turned into a drunkard. You're a fine one to sit there accusing me of it! Blanche introduces herself to him. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Read more about the unnamed Black womans role. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Stella is packing Blanche's things. A Streetcar Named Desire: Scene 1 Summary & Analysis "Animal joy in his being is implicit in all his movements." A Streetcar Named Desire Scene One Summary & Analysis | SparkNotes A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams Study Guide Mastery Quizzes PLUS Flashcards PLUS Summary Scene One They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off atElysian Fields! Williamss romanticizing is more evident in his portrayal of New Orleans as a city where upper-class people marry members of the lower class, fights get ugly but are forgotten the next day, and the perpetual bluesy notes of an old piano take the sting out of poverty. Sometimes it can end up there. Blanche DuBois means white of the woods. Williams uses music to play with the boundary between the interior and the exterior. A Streetcar Named Desire [Scene 11] - Genius He is antagonistic toward Blanche. Scene 10 - CliffsNotes [Her voice drops and her look is frightened. New orleans During the time period in which the play was set, New Orleans was transforming from the old "aristocratic" south to the new "industrialized" south. Blanche's dress hides her inner sins and contributes to her mothlike appearance. In an instance of dramatic irony, Blanche lies about her consumption of what in Scene 1? She asks Stella to tell her how she looks, fusses over Stellas plumpness and disheveled appearance, and is surprised to learn that Stella has no maid. for a customized plan. Known by many as "The Rape Scene," scene 10 of " A Streetcar Named Desire " is filled with dramatic action and fear inside the flat of Stanley Kowalski. A summary of Scene Ten in Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire. The idea expressed is that desire can lead to ones literal or figurative death. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! What happened to Belle Reve, the DuBois family home? Eunice lets Blanche into the apartment and goes after Stella. I won't be looked at in this, I thought you would never come back to this horrible place! A Streetcar Named Desire Scene 1 Summary and Analysis Blanche fibs that she is actually younger than Stella, and that she has come to New Orleans because Stella is ailing and needs her assistance. After calling again to no avail, he hurls the phone to the floor. Her actions also suggest the fluttering of a delicate moth. The stage directions say that the music is playing in Blanche's mind and that she is drinking to escape it. Blanche explains that she is nervous because Mitch is coming for her at seven. As the play progresses, the split between Blanches fantasy world and reality becomes sharper and clearer to every character in the play except Blanche, for whom the interior and exterior worlds become increasingly blurred. tennessee-williams-a-streetcar-named-desire.pdf - Google Docs . March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Blanches journey is both literal these are real places in New Orleans and allegorical. I cant stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action. Blanche sings Paper Moon in the bath offstage while, onstage, Stanley reveals to Stella Blanches hidden and sordid history. Blanche slowly nods. Although the blue piano is a part of the exterior world, it expresses the feelings occurring inside the characters. A Streetcar Named Desire Summary and Analysis Scene 5 Summary Blanche has been visiting now for three months. Sometimes it can end up there. By the end of the first encounter, Blanche is feeling sick. In addition, probing questions and honest speech function as a metaphorical light that threatens to reveal Blanches past and her true nature. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. He and Blanche stare each other down. Almost immediately, Blanche appears trying to find a certain street number. Mitch returns and tells her not to worry because Stella and Stanley are crazy about each other. Continue to start your free trial. Blanche's emphasis that she can't be alone suggests that she is at a point of desperation at the opening of the play. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." I never met a woman that didnt know if she was good-looking or not without being told, and some of them give themselves credit for more than theyve got. Interior and Exterior Appearance Theme Analysis - LitCharts (one code per order). What am I saying? Once he has left the room, Blanche remarks that there is something superior to the others in Mitch. While conversing with Mitch, she asks him to place a Chinese lampshade on the bare lightbulb in the bedroom, claiming that the naked bulb is rude and vulgar. Bright light, whether from a naked bulb or the midday sun, reveals Blanches true age. Stella makes polite introductions, but the men show no interest in Blanches presence. You're all I've got in the world, and you're not glad to see me! on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. SparkNotes PLUS Stanley says that he will have this man check it out and "clear up any mistake." She tells Stella that she has created an illusion with Mitch that she is all prim and proper. The scene also sets a tone of commonplace brutality and reality into which the delicate and sensitive Blanche is about to appear. Refine any search. When Blanche declines to go to the bowling alley, the Black woman goes instead to tell Stella of her sisters arrival. Provide an explanation of the multiple ironies of this passage from scene 4, where Blanche lays out her objections to Stanley. He then goes bowling and Stella follows. A Streetcar Named Desire Scene Three Summary & Analysis - SparkNotes For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! and any corresponding bookmarks? Blanche is trying to keep up appearances in all aspects of her life. Free trial is available to new customers only. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Scene 1 - CliffsNotes The instant animus between the characters is powerful and binds them together much more so than more positive emotions. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. It is around 2:30 a.m. Steve, Pablo, Mitch, and Stanley are playing poker in the Kowalskis kitchen, which is bathed in a sinister green light. A Streetcar Named Desire: Scene 11 Summary & Analysis Next Themes Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis It is several weeks later. She has dressed herself in a white satin gown and her rhinestone tiara. In a way, the play is a mystery, with Stanley investigating Blanche's background and an ever-unraveling layer of truth and un-truth is exposed to the ugly glare of the light. Set among the back drop of the multicultural landscape of New Orleans during the post-war period, Williams explores the boundaries between the traditional and modern lifestyles of America, predominantly represented through sisters Blanche DuBois, and Stella Kowalski. (Williams notes that the music from this piano is to set the mood throughout the play.) Read the Study Guide for A Streetcar Named Desire, Chekhov's Influence on the Work of Tennessee Williams, Morality and Immorality (The Picture of Dorian Gray and A Streetcar Named Desire), Traditionalism versus Defiance in a Streetcar Named Desire, Comparing Social and Ethnic Tensions in A Streetcar Named Desire and Blues for Mister Charlie, The Wolf's Jaws: Brutality and Abandonment in A Streetcare Named Desire, View our essays for A Streetcar Named Desire, View the lesson plan for A Streetcar Named Desire, View Wikipedia Entries for A Streetcar Named Desire. Thus in this encounter between Blanche and Stanley, Blanche is seeing her own valued world disintegrate under the force of Stanley's attack. This Blanche has been twisting and manipulating truths and lies for a long time, and her method seems at first like it will succeed in her new life as well. Stellas quietness unnerves Blanche, who suggests that Stella isnt happy to see her. Blanche is sitting in her red satin robe in the bedroom. You messy child, you, you've spilt something on the pretty white lace collar! Stanley laughs contemptuously when he hears this and then abruptly asks her about a man named Shaw who had known Blanche in a Hotel Flamingo. As the scene ends, it is revealed that Blanche was married once, when she was young, but the boy died. After Eunice lets Blanche into the apartment, she runs around the corner to fetch Stella. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. She tries to check her criticism, but the reunion begins on a tense note. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. alcohol. Please wait while we process your payment. Ethnically diverse, working class, quiet. BLANCHE [with faintly hysterical vivacity]: At the sound of Blanche's voice Mitch's arm supporting his cards has sagged and his gaze is, And I'll be buried at sea sewn up in a clean white sack and dropped overboard--at noon--in the. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Stanleys return interrupts Blanches apology. It was so sudden that she wasn't able to let Stella know about it. A Streetcar Named Desire: Scene 11 Summary & Analysis A Streetcar Named Desire: Scene 1 Flashcards | Quizlet What happened to Belle Reve, the DuBois family home? The blue piano that frequently plays outside evokes tension and fraught emotions inside the apartment. When he's away for a week I nearly go wild! You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. After the drink is poured, Blanche asks how Stella has allowed herself to stoop to such poor living conditions. The atmosphere of the kitchen is now the same. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! He wonders about the outfit that Blanche . Stanley, the son of Polish immigrants, represents the changing face of America. But this is not Williams prescribing the elements of what we see, but rather the overall effect "there is something about her uncertain manner that suggests a moth."