blanche Flashcards
(8 cards)
what does Blanche symbolise
the old south
decaying aristocracy
inability to adapt to modernity
the struggle between illusion and reality
beauty
purity/lack of purity
secrecy
what are Blanches key characteristics
pathologically lying
manipulator
insecurity
seduction
delusion
loneliness
instability
drinking
why is there a motif of bathing for Blanche
coping mechanism for her
symbol for cleansing and washing her sins away
guilty conscience
what is the significance of light in regards to Blanche
she evades light to conceal her true self
light is the reality of her past
shows her physical insecurity
she try’s to create an illusion of glamour and perfection by hiding in the shadows so nobody can see her flaws
Allan was her light but now he is gone so she has no bright light anymore
dark lighting- sexual experiences and cynicism
bright lighting- youthful sexual innocence
what is the significance of the paper lantern in regards to Blanche
she uses it to conceal her truth
her failure to accept the light means her awareness of reality is diminishing
she felt connected with the lantern- when it was ripped she ‘cried out as if it was part of herself’
paper lantern being ripped represents her death and defeat
her frantic evasion of the light causes her irrationality and the lantern being destroyed represents her façade being destroyed and the truth coming out
what is the significance of the trunk in regards to Blanche
it is a symbol of her past, both good moments and bad
her possessiveness of the trunk shows her insecurity in herself and trauma from her past as she carries Allan’s love letters in there
shows that Allan’s love haunts her- guilty conscience
it gives evidence for her past and she doesn’t want that to be shown so she is protective over it in an attempt to conceal the truth and maintain the lies
how does the polka relate to Blanche
it represents the greatest traumatic event in her life- Allan’s death
it plays more often as her instability increases
it plays in her head whenever she is loosing her sense of reality and has extreme anxiety
reminder of her past that she can never escape
contrasts the blue piano- showing that everyone else is oblivious to how she truly feels and that she is actually alone
dramatic irony- only the audience and Blanche can hear it which highlights her secretive psychological distress and it emphasises her façade
what is the context of Blanche’s character
she represents William’s sister Rose who was institutionalised due to a surgery to fix her mental illness
Williams was homosexual so he represents Allan’s tragedy which is a pivotal moment in Blanches life
