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A Streetcar Named Desire > Symbols > Flashcards

Flashcards in Symbols Deck (18)
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1
Q

What did Williams call the streetcar?

A

The “ideal metaphor for the human condition”.

2
Q

Blanche’s journey on Desire through Cemeteries to Elysian Fields is both… ?

A

Literal and metaphorical

3
Q

Desire is a… ?

A

Controlling force: when it takes over, characters must submit to its power, and they are carried along to the end of the line.

4
Q

What does Blanche associate the Varsouviana Polka with?

A

Her young husband’s suicide.

5
Q

When does the Polka music play?

A

When Blanche is reminded of her husband in specific or when she is particularly disturbed by the past in general.

6
Q

When does the Polka music stop ‘playing’?

A

Either until some event in the real world distracts Blanche or the gunshot goes off in her memory.

7
Q

Who hears the Polka music?

A

Only Blanche and the audience.

8
Q

What does Blanche do to “soother her nerves”?

A

Bathe

9
Q

Bathing is an escape from what for Blanche?

A

The sweaty apartment. Rather than confront her body in the light of day, Blanche retreats to the water to attempt to cleanse herself and forget reality..

10
Q

What is Blanche’s constant washing reminiscent of?

A

Lady Macbeth.

11
Q

Blanche also seeks what from water/bathing?

A

Rejuvenation, as if the water were a fountain of youth.

12
Q

What contrasts to Blanche’s use of bathing to escape reality?

A

Whilst Blanche uses bathing to escape reality, the men dunk Stanley in the shower to sober him up so that he can face the real world.

13
Q

What does the paper lantern over the light bulb represent?

A

Blanche’s attempt to mask both her sordid past and her present appearance.

14
Q

When Mitch hangs up the lantern what is Blanche able to do?

A

Maintain her pose of the naive Southern Belle with him, but it is only a facade.

15
Q

What does Blanche say when Mitch rips off the lantern?

A

“I don’t want realism - I want magic!”

16
Q

What does Blanche sing whilst Stanley tells Stella about Blanche’s past?

A

‘Paper Moon’. Blanche sings this saccharine popular song about a paper world that becomes a reality through love.

17
Q

What happens to Stanley when he gets drunk?

A

His masculinity becomes exaggerated - he grows increasingly physical, violent and brutal.

18
Q

Why does Blanche drink?

A

She uses it as an escape mechanism. She hides her alcoholism, constantly claiming that she rarely drinks whilst secretly sneaking frequent shots.