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.