Fourteenth Post

Yesterday we finished A Streetcar named Desire by Tennessee Williams. In scene nine Blanche is left alone in the flat while Stanley and Stella are at the hospital. Mitch arrives and Blanche seems pleased to see him, however he has come to tell her, she is not "clean" enough to meet his mother (Williams 150), and although he had wanted to marry her. He no longer has the same feelings towards her because of the amount of lies she told him. 

Scene ten - the climax scene. Stanley and Blanche are alone in the flat with one another. Stanley has just returned a bit drunk, and Blanche is very delusional (she thinks she's going with Shep on a boat to the Caribbean.) The audience notices various signs in Stanley's tone towards Blanche that something is about to happen. Evidence of this starts when he says, "Uh-huh. It just goes to show, you never know what it coming." (Williams 154) In addition to this Stanley also says, " Come to think of it- maybe you wouldn't be to bad to- interfere with…." (Williams 161). This helps develop the plot further and makes the audience assume he is physically attracted to Blanche. Furthering this we all get a greater sense of suspense as the background music from the "blue piano" begins to drum up louder (Williams 160.) In this short scene - despite the fact that it is not outrightly said - the audience is made to assume that because of Stanley straightforwardness to Blanche, and Blanches eagerness to seek help when Stanley is around plus the pitches in the music. The audience is made to assume that Stanley raped Blanche as the scene closes with him putting her on a bed. 

The closing scene, scene eleven. Some weeks have passed and Stanley is having another poker night. Stella is tearfully packing up her sisters belongings as she is about to be sent along her way. Blanche assume that Shep Huntleigh is coming for her, (she has begun to believe her own lies.) However, Blanche is really going to a mental institute. Stella is finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that she is about to do the right thing. When the doctor arrives Blanche begins to notice what is happening and retreats in horror, however after a little tussle she complies with the doctor and goes willingly. Stella watches her sister go as she holds her new born child in her arms, and has Stanley bent on his knees by her side. The atmosphere resumes to how it had been before Blanche had arrived. 

Thirteenth Post

Recently we have covered scene seven and eight of A Streetcar named Desire. The events of the play have begun to speed up. Currently Blanche is having yet another shower, while Stella prepares a cake for Blanches birthday. Stanley enters and tells Stella he has discovered news about Blanche's with regard to her past relations (where a bouts.) Stanley informs Stella that her sister a conniving liar, in response Stella stands up for Blanche, and this seems to slightly irritate Stanley. He continues the conversation by informing Stella that he had informed Mitch about Blanches extravaganzas. Stella is some what disappointed by this because she hoped Mitch would marry Blanche, however Stanley has now ruined any chance of the happening. A short while later Blanche emerges from the bathroom, Stanley enters the bathroom.  Blanche and Stella begin to have a conversation, and within moments Blanche can sense something is wrong, because Stella is acting different towards her. 

In scene eight Stanley, Stella and Blanche are seated at the dining table. The conversation is very dull, and miserable due to the fact that Mitch had not arrived for the Birthday celebrations. Stanley then loses his cool because Stella and Blanche seem to pick apart his manhood. Blanche becomes mortified by his actions and Stella is sad due to the conflict. Eventually, Blanche decides she is going to call Mitch, and demand an explanation for him showing her up. Meanwhile, while Blanche makes the phone call, Stella goes to talk to Stanley about his unruly behavior, and how delicate Blanche is in relation to his behavior. The three gather back to the table, and the phone rings, Stanley answers, then returns back to the table while Stella brings the cake. Stanley informs Blanche he has a gift for her, and proceeds to give her an envelope. Blanche opens it and is horrified as the sight of a train ticket to leave on Tuesday. Blanche excuses herself from the table. Stella is not impressed with Stanley once again, and the couple begin to have a minor tiff about what just occurred. Instantly, Stella's water breaks and Stanley helps her get to the doctor. 

Twelfth Post

Previously we have covered scene five and six of A Streetcar named Desire. In scene five Blanche creates this mastermind of a plan to contact one of her old boyfriends. His name was Shep, and Blanche is drawn to him, because he has a fair amount of money. We have learnt throughout the text that Blanche is very materialistic, and so her actions for contacting Shep are clear. In addition to this, we notice that Blanches' crush on Mitch has developed, since in this scene he is about to take her out on a date. However, just before Mitch arrives a young man shows up to deliver, "The Evening Star", better known as the newspaper. Blanche actively partakes in a conversation with the young lad, and just before he leaves she kisses him. One main quote from this incident would be, "Now run along, now, quickly! It would be nice to keep you, but I've got to be good- and keep my hands off children." (Williams, 99.) This quote is important as it gives the audience insight for later events to come in playwright, and it also makes the audience assume that she has troubled children in the past. 

In scene six Blanche and Mitch have just arrived back from their date. The general atmosphere between them in the beginning is very awkward, however once Blanche notices that Stella and Stanley are not back as yet; and her and Mitch enter the flat, the mood begins to lighten.  Mitch express that he likes Blanche the way she is, "I like you to be exactly the way you are, because in all my - experience- I have never known anyone like you" (Williams, 103.) Shortly thereafter Blanche and Mitch get on to the topic of weight, and then how Blanche would be leaving soon because Stanley, doesn't seem to like her there. Mitch slashes into her conversation by asking her what her age is, and this catches her a little off guard. She questions why he would like to know, and he explains the he has told his mother about her. Mitch expresses that she is unwell, and she doesn't have much longer. Blanche sympathizes with Mitch and for the first time we witness her tell the truth. Towards the closing of this scene Mitch says, " You need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it be - you and me, Blacnhe?" (Williams, 116.) This quote is a vast step in their relationship, and makes the audience wonder if this will finally work out in Blanches favor, or end up in tragedy, like the rest of her life. 

Eleventh Post

In scene four of A Streetcar named Desire the audience watches Blanche warn Stella that Stanley is not common. The audience sees how passionate Blanche is about this matter, as she begs for Stella to face the fact that she's married to a madman (Williams 73). In addition to this, we notice that Blanche becomes very cautious around Stanley after the incident. This shows a flaw in her character as she is used to being very manipulative and in control. However, Stanley seems to 'run the show' in the household, and Blanche doesn't seem to like this. She expresses to Stella how she truly feels about Stanley by using a very long, and somewhat comical metaphor of how he behaves like an animal. Stella simply listens to her sisters negative words, while Stanley happens to overhear the lecture. Shortly thereafter, Stanley makes his presence known, and Stella rushes to him. This forces Blanche to feel betrayed after she just expressed her feelings about Stanley to her beloved little sister. While Stella embraces Stanley, he peers over Stella grinning at Blanche. This is a symbol of victory, as Stella picked Stanley over Blanche, the gesture of grinning is used to taunt Blanche.  

Tenth Post

Yesterday in class we covered scene two, and three of the novel A Streetcar named Desire. In scene two we see Stanley's character develops more, as he learns about the loss of  Belle Reve (Stella and Blanche's former home in the country.) Due to the this recent news, we notice how Stanley becomes very concerned with the matter, and evidently seeks to question Blanche about how the place came to be 'lost'. We notice how Stanley is a very determined and powerful character in comparison to his wife, Stella who is very simplistic and quite. Stella doesn't seem to like when trouble arises, however, Stanley seems to thrive for it, and so in this scene Stanley forces Blanche to show him the papers, which document how Belle Reve came to be lost. 

In scene three Stanley hosts a poker night, and Stella takes Blanche out. When they arrived back from their night out, they find the men still at the peek of their game. Stanley is very drunk at this point and his true colours come out even further. He begins to use unruly language towards his friends, and becomes very temperamental. Blanche seems to egg on the situation by playing music, which she is using to impress one of Stanley's friends Harold Micthell, however Stanley (who has proven that he, and he alone is in charge) didn't appreciate the music and tosses the radio out the window. Shortly thereafter, Stanley loses it even further, and assaults his wife leaving her in tears. Blanche (who is now horrified) rushes to her sisters aid, as Mitch, Steve and Pablo try to take control of Stanley. A short while later, Stanley seems to recollect what has happened, and pleas for Stella to come back to him. After a prolonged shouting session she finally returns to him, and all seems to be set right. However, Blanche is deeply scared of Stanley now, and begins to show caution when around him. In addition to this Blanche seems to have a fancy for Mitch, and he in return for her. 

Ninth Post

Yesterday we begun reading A Streetcar named Desire by Tennessee Williams. We covered the first scene which moved quickly as the characters became acquainted with one another, as did the audience to the characters. Essentially, the audience discovered the Stanley is a very bold, and strong spoken man who is married to Stella a simplistic, and easy-going woman. Stella sister Blanche however, is a very complicated, and ambiguous character. Blanche is the protagonist of the play, while Stanley, Blanches brother-in-law is the antagonist. In the first scene we see how Blanche is confused and often contradicts herself, this helps create her role in the play further. Similarly, we discovered Stanley and Stella's role within the play. Thus far the loss of Belle Reve has caused a strain on the relationship between Stanley and Blanche, while Stella simply supports both sides of the minor tiff.