Scene Eleven

Question 1

What is the significance of this scene?

Answer 1

• the return back to day to day activities: heightens Blanche’s tragedy
• downbeat in contrast to the melodramatic buildup to the tragic climax

Question 2

“[Sound of water can be heard]”

Answer 2

• Blanche is cleansing herself of the rape
• symbolises her need for emotional cleansing
• auditory imagesy

Question 3

“[The building is framed by the sky of turquoise]”

Answer 3

• metaphor: Blanche finds comfort in the dark
• colour imagesy

Question 4

“Sleeping like a little angel.”

Answer 4

• metaphorical death of Blanche
• simile
• shows how the baby is Stella’s first priority, Blanche second

Question 5

“To hold front position in this rat-race you’ve got to believe you are lucky.”

Answer 5

• boasting about confidence
• shows the capitalist views in 1940s America
• self indulgent; ironic as he criticises Blanche for doing the same

Question 6

“Turquoise pin in the shape of a seahorse.”

Answer 6

• symbolises her broken heart
• seahorses mate for life: if one dies the other goes into depression and dies too

Question 7

“I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley.”

Answer 7

• actively choosing to not believe Blanche
• firm in her beliefs
• abstract noun ‘story’ links back to fantasy
• embracing illusion over reality, like Blanche
• 1949s women needed a man to survive

Question 8

“[The ‘Varsouviana’ rises]”

Answer 8

• symbolises Blanches nerves
• cannot distinguish between reality and illusion

Question 9

“[Tragic radiance in her red satin robe]”

Answer 9

• pre modifier ‘tragic’ suggests the end is near
• robe links back to scene 9
• unaffected by the rape?

Question 10

“Washed, I said. Are they washed?”

Answer 10

• reference to bathing
• a pedantic thing to fixate on
• Biblical allusion to Eve
• metaphor: she doesn’t want something impure

Question 11

“I’ll be buried at sea sewn up in a clean white sack and dropped overboard.”

Answer 11

• romanticising her death; wants to die pure
• 1st person: self indulgent
• white connotes purity and calm: ironic
• her delusions have grown romantic

Question 12

“[Tearing it off the light-bulb, and extends it towards her. She cries out as if the lantern was herself.]”

Answer 12

• Stanley tears away her fantasies; keen to destroy her and aggressively confront her
• symbolises her averting away from reality
• Blanche’s true self has been exposed

Question 13

“Whoever you are - I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”

Answer 13

• ironic as her dependency has caused her struggles
• trust issues
• reference to sexual kindness
• perceives the doctor as a gentleman rescuer

Question 14

“[He kneels beside her and his fingers find the opening of her blouse]”

Answer 14

• knows Stella is driven by sex; uses it to make her feel better

Question 15

“This game is seven-card stud.”

Answer 15

• reflects unreliability and gamble in life
• poker reference
• suggests life goes on
• symbolises deception in the Kowalski household
• underscores the dismissive attitudes towards men