Scene 9

• Why does Mitch come to see her? Mitch intentions of meeting her could range from rage to loneliness. His anger however gets the better of him when he demands the answers that he has been searching for about the real Blanche.
• How have Blanche and Mitch failed each other? Both have a sense of desperate longing for a person who will understand and care for them. This is especially shown in Blanches soliloquies which help us understand the wants that she needs. Mitch happens to have the same qualities Blanche wants, but as we know Williams does not want both characters  to be together.
• What is the significance of the Mexican flower lady? I find that the flower

Homework- Section B

Imagine that Steve talks to Eunice the morning after the first poker game.


- Write an extra section of dialogue for the play, in which steve reveals his thoughts about Stanley and the situation with Stella and Blanche.
- You should give careful consideration to your language choices and style, which should achieve a sense of the voices  of Steve and Eunice. You should use dramatic dialogue form.
  
(A sunny morning follows the poker scene, Eunice is making breakfast for Steve and herself, running around the kitchen)

(Both Eunice and Steve are irritated about the day before and wants to get his feelings off his chest about Stanely, Blanche and Stella)

Steve: Eunice, is that breakfast ready? (annoyed)
Eunice: Just give me a moment, I'll lay it out on the table.
Steve: I'm hungary.
Eunice: Alright, here. (Quietly)(She is still thinking about the day before) 
Steve: You still worrying about Stella? No need! Her sister just went downstairs. I don't know why you even agreed to her staying the night.
Eunice: What do you think I should have done? Stanley was going mad in that place, and I know you got caught up in it too. I just wonder what's gotten into him lately. Always banging this and banging that.
Steve: You can't talk, moaning in my head all day. (pause) It's not his fault. He's just insecure, you know what with Stella's sister in the way. I think she'd run out before the months gone, screaming her head off (laughing)
Eunice: Steve, be quiet. You don't seem to understand how these people feel.
Steve: Oh, I know.
Eunice: Do you?(Still standing, hands on hips)
(pause)
(She sits down and eats her breakfast)

 

Marginalized and madness (unfinished)

Marginalized :(British/International), or marginalization (U.S.), is the social process of becoming or being relegated to the fringe of society e.g.; "the marginalization of the underclass", "marginalisation of intellect", etc.Marginalization at the individual level results in an individual's exclusion from meaningful participation in society.
Madness: Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns.

When thinking about Blanche's tragic journey through the play, does William urge us to sympathize with her or see her aas mad?

All throughout the play, Tennessee Williams has a tendency to create a charged atmosphere when Blanche is present, her attitudes and behaviour seem to appear rigid and her communications skills are somewhat distant. We know from the description of her past, she unmistakeably has a distrubing history which has affected her in some way. This is shown by her choice of words that she says to the characters and her reactions towards others, especially when she is first introduced in scene 1.'(uncomprehendingly) I'm looking for my sister, Stella Dubois. I mean- Mrs. Stanley Kowalski '

Write a scene between Eunice and Stella where Stella tells about how she feels about Blanche.

Stella appears at Eunice's front door, knocking silently and slowly. Her face as solemn as a monk and her body limp showing how tired she is. She stares at Eunice with a blank look, then sits down on her chair.

Eunice: Hey, babe, what's the matter? You're not yourself. Is this to do with Stanely, because if it is-
Stella: No Eunice, it's fine. However...no I can't think like that.
Eunice: Think like what darling? Come on, tell. (soothingly)
Stella: (hesistently)It's...nothing.
Eunice: It's gotta be if you are coming in here, depressed with a sour look on your face.
Stella: I. Eunice, I can't help thinking that theres something going on between Blanche and Stanley. Every time I find both of them together, I get this peculiar feeling come over me...(shrugs the thought of)it may be nothing.
Eunice: You're damn right it might be nothing. Stella, I'm sure theres a reason, but I don't blame you for feeling that way. Stanley does come across now as shady, escepially now that your sisters in the picture. I say to keep an eye on them, especially him. Hes the one who has the loose ends. He can't keep his anger to a miniumum, slamming this and breaking that. I just wonder why you haven't split with him already.
Stella:hmm...I. I can't do that. I would be losing half of myself if he left me. He loves me even though he does not show it.
Eunice: And what about Blanche?
Stella: She has always been like this, ever since... but she can't feel attracted to Stanely. She always reminds me of how I should not be involved with a guy like Stanely. I somehow listen to her, because shes the older sister, the one whos experienced more than I have. I can't lose her either.

How does Stella respond to what Stanley says? Does she believe him?

• How does Stella respond to what Stanley says? Does she believe him?

Stella at first has the courage to defend Blanche, and refers to their life back home but as Stanley describes what had happened, Stella becomes drawn in and falls to Stanley's accusations. This may only because she knew how Blanche was in life and admits that it could be like her to act like that.The face that Blanche was singing the words, gives an effect on Stella's feeling and awareness. 

• Explain this stage direction using evidence from the text and commenting on language and dramatic irony.

When Blanche is singing in the scene, the author, Williams creates some sort of dramatic irony which expresses the types of situations going on, including how Stanley is talking to Stella about the news and Blanche not being aware of this. The song that she sings is dramatic irony in itself because the specific words add up to create a foreshadow of whats to come, especially when the words,"...But it wouldn't be make-believe. If you believed in me, "is sung by Blanche. The fact that she sings may give us an impression that she really means and that she really is the innocent one, only because of how powerful words are when they are sung. In this case Stella doesn't know the truth but she either has a choice to believe Blanche or not.

Another point is that the conversation is going on while Blanche is singing, giving a very tense atmosphere to be set off. For some reason, Stella seems to be in the middle of it, either siding with Stanley's words of choosing Blanches singing- distinctively her words. Somehow, Williams wanted the audience to understand that Stella is caught up in this abstract fight between the other two characters.

• Discuss the reasons why Stanley wants to 'expose' Blanche as a fraud.

-Jealous: He does not think highly of Blanche as she is of an upperclass status, and throughout the play we can identify that Stanley is against this.

-Understands her: He seems to think there is a dark side to her because she appears to be a 'good girl.' ;Wants to be proved right

-Reputation: He might want to get rid of her because of what she had been doing in her past which may have been looked upon.

-Revenge: referring the scene where Stanley overhears Blanche describing him negatively, which may have given off a dangerous spark that Stanley wants to get rid of, to get rid of her.

-Mitch: Seeing as he has a good relationship with Mitch he may not want him to get hurt in any way form Blanche.

Scene 6

1. What impression do you get of the evening Mitch andBlanche have had before the scene starts? The atmosphere seems to be very tense between the two characters which explains their different reactions from the evening earlier on. we can imagine the type of feelings both characters had had. Eg, Mitch does not seem to be relaxed or content about the night as he says, "well.."

Blanches Diary

Dear diary,

What a day. I have seen and felt so much, it doesn't feel real, especially now, I have some hope. Mitch. He's the one that seems to be my hope, I think I can admit it now. Not that he is there to replace Alan, but he's my lifeboat to my drowning. Whenever I'm, around him I can somehow be myself. For so long I have searched and searched, for someone, something to bring me back to life, to bring me back to me and I'm sure that someone is Mitch. It has to be. It doesn't seem to be anyone else out there. I mean, Stella is there for me. Always. However, it is like she does not understand me, she does not feel what I feel, maybe because she hasn't felt the hurt I have yet. Stanley is not good for her, and I don't know if she'll be able to survive?

A streetcar named desire (writing task)

a) Imagine that while Stella is in hospital after having the baby, she writes an entry in her diary about how she feels about returning home to Stanley and Blanche. Write this diary entry in which Stella expresses her hopes and fears for the future. 

You should give careful consideration to your language choices and style. Write in dramatic form and dialogue suitable for the characters.


Dear Diary,


This is the second day in hospital and I'm feeling very tired and stressful. I am still thinking of Blanche and her smiles, her laughs and cries. I'm just hoping that my baby can be able to see his aunt, still at home, waiting for us, for me. I'm such a fool! What would happen in the future, would we still be a family Stanley and I ? I still cannot believe that he would do such a thing, it can't be true. He wouldn't do that to Blanche, he didn't do that to me but then again, he has been slightly rude to me nowadays. I should have listened to her. I remember back when we were in Belle Reve, she was the quiet one and I was always the 'loud one' as she would say. Now it seems that she's the loud one.

Scenes 2/3

(Mitch, Stanley and Steve are sitting down at the table, playing cards, talking amongst each other, While Blanche and Stella have gone for a walk.)

Steve: Have you heard about Blanche recently? I feel sorry for stella, she has to put up with that drama.

Stanley: Yeah, its kind of stressful, but why you bringing it to heart. I feel sorry for you; you've got Eunice.

Steve: Ok. point taken but I wonder how Stella putting up with it?

Mitch: Hey, would you two stop gossiping? You even worse than Stella and Blanche put together. I don't think anythings wrong with Blanche, maybe she just needs someone for company.

Steve: Hey, have you got a thing for her?Eh? Hey, our boys in love!

Mitch: Close your mouth. Defending her is not falling for her.

(Stanley looks at Mitch intently, shuffling his cards)

Scene One of A Streetcar Named Desire

Scene One
(First the audience is introduced to a calmful surrounding with a stop for waiting passengers for Streetcar uses. Sounds of seagulls and calmfull waves are present as it drifts through the neighbourhoods and streets.The character, 'Blanche' is looking around the area as she gets off a streetcar however she is lost.)

(Blanche looks around the stop and spots two rich white ladies who wear fur scarves and expensive jewellery, talking amongst each other, she takes her chance and goes to ask where her destination is.)

Blanche:(Nervously) Excuse me? er... do you know which streetcar I need to get, to get to 'Elysian fields'?

Woman 1: No ( Looking Blanche and down)
Woman 2: Err, wait I think I do. You have to get the Desire Line. You can wait here for it.(Politely)

(The Character Blanche is nervously travelling on the streetcar to Elysian fields. The sound of cars and traffic are a mere distraction to her as she thinks of what her sister will say to her. She fidgets looking around unsure and disappointed that her sister may live around a 'dirty' part of New Orleans. Her face holds a number of experssions helping us determine exactly how shes feeling, while we get to familiar ourselves with the area in which Blanche arrives in.)

A Streetcar Named Desire (unfinished)

A Streetcar Named Desire was written by Tennessee Williams who worked as a playwright in an American theatre. Born on the 26th March, in Mississippi into a conservative Protestant family, Tennessee was found to be completely by his older sister, Rose's, side. During his youth he was known as 'Tom' and found that his company mostly was spent with his sister and his black nursemaid 'Ozzie'. It was found that Tennessee got some of his inspirational backgroung from his sister who was later lobotomized in 1937. He may have related the character 'Blanche' to his sister. At the age of 16, he won third prize for an essay which was followed by him writing a short story which was sucessfully published in a magazine,'Weird Tales'. From 1929-1931 he attended the university of Missiouri, from then on his passion for writing grew especially when he was bored of the nine-five work.He had many influences which did not come mostly from his parents as their relationship was not working and it seems Tennessee was not fond of this. His play, A Streetcar Named Desire cured his place of being a succesful writer and a lot of publicity was found to be upon it, good and bad. However, this was a start and on Wednesday, October 12th 1949 the first London production of this play was performed at the Aldwych Theatre.


The Story
A Streetcar Desire is set during the restless years after WW2 in 1947, New Orleans, where America had just recovered.
This is centered mostly centered around the two characters Blanche and Stanley, both from different sides of society.

The Meaning Behind The Title

Williams may have picked this title because of the real streetcar that ran on the Desire line 1920-1948. The knowledge of this is present in the play when Blanche mentions this ,"They told me to take a streetcar named Desire, transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at..."

Bandleader and Trumpeter Louis Armstrong

Music

 Jazz, the Blues and Ragtime had been the centre highlight of New Orleans music. Jazz in general has a lot of history behind it especially as it is a mix of African and European music traditions, which come in different forms from the earliest time of a Big band-style swing to the modern 'nu Jazz'. At the early stages of this type of music, it was during the roaring twenties when reputations where not highly in a good position, this seemed was blamed a new era and 'Jazz'.