Scene 5: Mythology and Kissing Young Post Boys

Scene 5 of A Streetcar Named Desire further develops the character of Blanche DuBois and introduces new elements that contribute to the play's themes of desire, illusion, and the clash between fantasy and reality.

The scene opens with Blanche writing a letter to Shep Huntleigh, a wealthy man from her past. This action reveals Blanche's desperate attempts to secure a future for herself and escape her current situation.

Highlight: Blanche's letter to Shep Huntleigh demonstrates her reliance on illusion and her desperate search for a savior figure.

As Blanche writes, she engages in flirtatious banter with a young man collecting for the newspaper. This interaction showcases Blanche's inappropriate behavior with younger men, hinting at her troubled past in Laurel.

Quote: Blanche says to the young man, "Young man! Young, young, young man! Has anyone ever told you that you look like a young Prince out of the Arabian Nights?" This line illustrates Blanche's tendency to romanticize and sexualize her interactions, even with inappropriate partners.

The scene then shifts to a conversation between Blanche and Stella about Blanche's birthday. During this discussion, Blanche reveals more about her past, including her relationship with her young husband, Allan Grey.

Vocabulary: Ephemeral - lasting for a very short time. This word could be used to describe Blanche's brief marriage to Allan.

Blanche recounts how she discovered Allan in bed with an older male friend, revealing his homosexuality. This revelation provides crucial insight into Blanche's traumatic past and her subsequent behavior.

Analysis: The revelation about Allan's sexuality and Blanche's reaction to it sheds light on her current fragile mental state and her desperate search for male validation.

The scene also touches on the theme of mythology, with Blanche comparing herself to Diana, the goddess of chastity. This comparison is ironic given Blanche's behavior and past, highlighting the gap between her self-image and reality.

Example: Blanche's comparison of herself to Diana, the chaste goddess, contrasts sharply with her flirtation with the young newspaper collector, illustrating her conflicted relationship with sexuality and desire.

Stanley's growing suspicion of Blanche is also evident in this scene. He questions Stella about Blanche's past and her reasons for leaving her teaching job in Laurel. This foreshadows Stanley's later investigations into Blanche's history.

Quote: Stanley says to Stella, "I've been on to this dame from the start!" This line underscores Stanley's distrust of Blanche and his determination to uncover the truth about her.

The scene ends with Blanche expressing her fear of fading beauty and her desperation to find a man. This moment reveals the depth of Blanche's insecurity and her reliance on male attention for her sense of self-worth.

Highlight: Blanche's fear of aging and losing her attractiveness is a key aspect of her character, driving many of her actions throughout the play.

Scene 5 is crucial in developing Blanche's character and backstory. It provides context for her behavior and mental state, while also advancing the plot through Stanley's growing suspicions. The scene's exploration of desire, illusion, and the past's impact on the present continues to build the play's central themes.

Scene 8: Birthday Party

Scene 8 of A Streetcar Named Desire centers around Blanche's birthday celebration, but the festive occasion is overshadowed by the growing tensions between the characters. This scene further intensifies the conflict and foreshadows the impending tragedy.

The scene opens with preparations for Blanche's birthday dinner. Despite the celebratory context, there's an undercurrent of tension, particularly between Stanley and Blanche.

Highlight: The birthday party serves as a facade of normalcy that barely conceals the underlying conflicts and revelations of the previous scenes.

Stella tries to maintain a cheerful atmosphere, but her efforts are undermined by Stanley's hostile attitude towards Blanche. His knowledge of Blanche's past colors every interaction, creating a palpable sense of unease.

Quote: Stanley says, "Delicate piece she is," referring to Blanche. This sarcastic comment reveals his disdain for Blanche's affected refinement and his knowledge of her true nature.

Blanche, unaware that Stanley knows about her past, continues to maintain her facade of Southern gentility. Her behavior, however, becomes increasingly erratic as she drinks more, hinting at her fragile mental state.

Vocabulary: Facade - an outward appearance that conceals a less pleasant reality. Blanche's carefully constructed persona is beginning to crumble under the pressure of Stanley's knowledge and her own internal struggles.

The tension reaches a breaking point when Stanley gives Blanche his "birthday gift" - a one-way bus ticket back to Laurel, Mississippi. This cruel gesture makes it clear that he wants her out of his home and his life.

Analysis: Stanley's "gift" of the bus ticket represents his ultimate rejection of Blanche and his desire to expel her from his domain. It's a power move that strips away any remaining pretense of civility between them.

Blanche's reaction to the ticket is one of shock and distress. This moment marks a turning point, as she begins to realize that her carefully constructed world is crumbling around her.

Example: Blanche's distress at receiving the bus ticket illustrates how her attempts to escape her past and reinvent herself have ultimately failed.

Mitch's absence from the party is notable and adds to Blanche's distress. It's implied that Stanley has shared his discoveries about Blanche's past with Mitch, potentially ruining Blanche's last hope for a respectable relationship.

Quote: Blanche asks, "Why isn't Mitch here?" This simple question underscores her growing isolation and the unraveling of her plans for the future.

The scene culminates in a heated argument between Stanley and Stella, triggered by Stanley's cruel treatment of Blanche. Stella, heavily pregnant, goes into labor, adding to the chaos and tension of the scene.

Highlight: Stella going into labor during the argument symbolizes how the conflict between Stanley and Blanche is literally giving birth to a crisis that will change all their lives.

As Stanley rushes Stella to the hospital, Blanche is left alone, abandoned on her birthday. This moment of isolation emphasizes her vulnerability and foreshadows her impending breakdown.

This scene is pivotal in the play's progression. It marks the point where the facade of civility completely breaks down, and the underlying conflicts come to the surface. The birthday party, which should have been a celebration, instead becomes a catalyst for the final confrontation between Blanche and Stanley.

The scene effectively builds tension and sets the stage for the play's climactic moments. It leaves the audience with a sense of foreboding, wondering what will happen to Blanche now that her illusions have been shattered and her position in the household has become untenable.

Scene 3: Poker Night

Scene 3, often referred to as the "Poker Night" scene, is a pivotal moment in A Streetcar Named Desire that intensifies the conflict between the main characters and reveals deeper aspects of their personalities and relationships.

The scene opens with Stanley hosting a poker game with his friends Mitch, Steve, and Pablo. The atmosphere is thick with masculine energy, alcohol, and tension. This setting serves as a stark contrast to Blanche's refined sensibilities and sets the stage for the clash of cultures that is central to the play.

Highlight: The poker game symbolizes the raw, masculine world that Stanley inhabits, which is at odds with Blanche's more delicate and feminine presence.

As the game progresses, Blanche and Stella return from an evening out. Blanche's presence immediately disrupts the poker game, much to Stanley's annoyance. Her attempts to engage with the men, particularly Mitch, highlight her need for male attention and her discomfort with the crude environment she finds herself in.

Quote: Blanche says to Mitch, "I'm sorry, but I can't hear a word you're saying. The music from that juke box!" This line demonstrates Blanche's attempt to create a connection with Mitch while maintaining her facade of refinement.

The tension escalates when Stanley, drunk and angry about losing at poker, becomes violent. He strikes Stella, shocking everyone present. This act of domestic violence is a turning point in the play, revealing the darker side of Stanley and Stella's relationship.

Analysis: Stanley's violent outburst serves as a catalyst, exposing the underlying tensions in the household and foreshadowing the more severe violence to come later in the play.

After the fight, Stella takes refuge with Blanche upstairs at the neighbor's apartment. However, in a powerful and controversial scene, Stanley calls for Stella, and she returns to him, drawn by their intense physical and emotional connection.

Quote: Stanley cries out, "Stella! Stella, sweetheart! Stella!" This famous line underscores the primal, almost animalistic nature of Stanley and Stella's relationship.

Blanche, witnessing this reconciliation, is both fascinated and horrified. Her reaction reveals her own complex feelings about desire and her inability to understand the raw passion between Stanley and Stella.

Vocabulary: Reconciliation - the restoration of friendly relations.

The scene ends with Mitch, the most gentlemanly of Stanley's friends, comforting Blanche. This interaction plants the seeds for their future relationship and provides a glimmer of hope for Blanche in her otherwise hostile environment.

Example: Mitch's kindness towards Blanche contrasts with Stanley's brutality, setting up Mitch as a potential ally for Blanche in the hostile environment of the Kowalski household.

This scene is crucial in developing the characters' relationships and setting up the conflicts that will drive the rest of the play. It exposes the volatile nature of Stanley and Stella's marriage, Blanche's vulnerability and need for protection, and the complex dynamics of desire and violence that permeate the household.

Scene 2: Blanche and Stanley's First Encounter

In this scene, the tension between Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski intensifies as they have their first significant interaction. The clash between Blanche's refined Southern manners and Stanley's direct, working-class approach becomes more apparent, setting the stage for future conflicts.

The scene opens with Stanley questioning Blanche about the loss of Belle Reve, the family estate. His suspicion that Blanche might be withholding money or property from Stella drives the conversation. This interrogation reveals Stanley's protective nature towards his wife and his possessions, as well as his distrust of Blanche's motives.

Quote: Stanley says, "In the state of Louisiana we have the Napoleonic code according to which what belongs to the wife belongs to the husband and vice versa." This statement underscores his belief in his right to know about and control all aspects of his and Stella's life.

Blanche, feeling cornered, attempts to deflect Stanley's questions with charm and flirtation. Her behavior demonstrates her reliance on her feminine wiles and her discomfort with direct confrontation. This strategy, however, proves ineffective against Stanley's blunt approach.

Highlight: The contrast between Blanche's evasive charm and Stanley's direct questioning illustrates the fundamental differences in their characters and approaches to life.

As Stanley rummages through Blanche's trunk, examining her possessions and costume jewelry, the scene takes on a symbolic quality. Blanche's belongings represent her attempts to maintain the illusion of her former status and beauty, while Stanley's invasive search symbolizes his determination to uncover the truth beneath her facade.

Example: Stanley's examination of Blanche's fake jewelry and furs represents his quest to expose the truth behind her pretensions.

The scene reaches a climax when Stanley discovers love letters from Blanche's deceased husband. This moment touches on Blanche's tragic past and her emotional vulnerability, adding depth to her character and hinting at the reasons behind her current state.

Vocabulary: Facade - an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality.

Throughout the scene, Williams continues to develop the theme of illusion versus reality. Blanche's attempts to maintain her illusions of grandeur and refinement are constantly challenged by Stanley's grounded, albeit crude, insistence on facts and tangible evidence.

The scene ends with a tense standoff between Blanche and Stanley, neither fully trusting the other. This encounter sets the tone for their future interactions and foreshadows the eventual breakdown of Blanche's carefully constructed world.

Analysis: This scene is crucial in establishing the central conflict between Blanche and Stanley, representing the clash between the fading gentility of the Old South and the rising, pragmatic working class of post-war America.