Stella - scene 2

Question 1

‘Oh Stan! [she jumps up and kisses him which he accepts with lordly composure]’

Answer 1

• suggests that Stella is emotionally expressive (would be normalise for women to behave in this way)
• explicit yet lighthearted desire and attraction for Stella - contrasted with Stanley’s raw and sexual desires
• contrasts Stanley’s perceived emotional distant to reinforce his pride and masculinity (failure to express emotions)
• heightened emotional state - exclamative

Question 2

‘She wasn’t expecting to find us in such a small place. You see I’d tried to gloss things over a little in my letters’

Answer 2

• litotes (a little) - downplays Stella’s deceit and maintains her characterisation as innocent and docile - initially perceived as more moral than her sister
• appearance vs reality - aware of Blanche’s reluctance to visit Stella if she was aware of her living conditions - attitudes of old south

Question 3

‘Not sold - lost, lost!’

Answer 3

• acts to correct and challenge Stanley in order to protect Blanche and her family legacy
• Stella’s favour for the nostalgia and memories of Belle Reve which Stanley does not care for
• heightened emotional state

Question 4

‘there weren’t any papers, she didn’t show any papers, I don’t care about any papers’

Answer 4

• emotional loyalty over logic