Scene 1 Summary Flashcards
(13 cards)
Blanche is described as…
Light, white, airy, aristocratic heritage
Blanche’s description (pg 3)
‘She is daintily dressed in a white suit with a fluffy bodice, necklace and ear-rings of pearl, white gloves and hat,’
Stanley Kowalski is…
Dark, masculine, solid, Polish immigrant heritage
‘Blanche Dubois’ means…
‘White Woods’- ironic as there is nothing solid or pure about Blanche
‘Stella’ means…
‘Star’- ironic as she does not act as a guide for Blanche
‘Belle Reve’ means…
‘Beautiful dream’
Meat scene
‘He heaves the package at her […] she laughs breathlessly.’
Streetcar names…
Desire, then Cemetery- desire leads to death, especially for Blanche
Meat scene represents…
Desire between Stanley and Stella, roughness of New Orleans life, Stanley’s masculine power
In this scene, Blanche drinks…
In secret, then asks for a drink: ‘I know you must have some liquor on the place!’ (Pg 6)
General scene 1 summary…
Blanche arrives at Elysian Fields, steals some liquor, meets Stella and tells her they’ve lost Belle Reve, Stanley comes and sizes her up, vaguely questions her
Blanche’s rant… (death)
‘Sometimes their breathing is hoarse, and sometimes it rattles, and sometimes they even cry out to you,’ (pg 12)
Stanley’s first meeting with Blanche…
‘Power and pride of a richly feathered male bird among hens’
‘Sizes women up at a glance, with sexual classifications, crude images’
‘Everything that is his’ (pg 13)
