THEME quotes and analysis

Question 1

HEGEMONIC MASCULINITY/ LACK OF

Answer 1

• STANLEY’S DOMINANCE OVER FRIENDS AND FAMILY
• MITCH’S FAILED ATTEMPT TO GAIN CONTROL OVER BLANCHE
• ALAN GRAY AS A VICTIM DUE TO LACK OF ACCEPTANCE AS HOMOSEXUAL

Question 2

FEMININE DEPENDENCE AND COMPLACENCY

Answer 2

• BLANCHE RELYING ON MEN, ‘STRANGERS’ IN ORDER TO CLING TO A SENSE OF SECURITY
• STELLA DISMISSING BLANCHE’S RAPE DUE TO RELIANCE ON STANLEY TO RAISE BABY
• NORMALITY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Question 3

ILLUSION/ APPEARANCE VS REALITY

Answer 3

• BLANCHE’S CONSISTENT DISMASSAL OF HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED (lighting: paper lantern as symbolism for her attempts to blind herself from the truth, cling to delusions to cope with life)
• BLANCHE WITH THE NEWSPAPER BOY -> REMINDER OF ALLAN GRAY, OBSESSION WITH YOUTH LOST
• STELLA CONTINUING RELATIONSHIP WITH STANLEY DESPITE ABUSE -> DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS THE NORM

Question 4

SEXUALITY, DESIRE AND CONTRAST TO DEATH

Answer 4

• STANLEY’S ABUSIVE POWER, SEX WITH STELLA AS ACT OF FORGIVENESS, RAPING BLANCHE TO SHOW EMPOWERMENT
• BLANCHE’S DEPENDENCE ON SEXUAL REATIONS WITH MEN TO COPE IN SOCIETY -> LOSS OF ALAN GRAY CONTRIBUTING TO STRUGGLE WITH SEXUAL DESIRE

Question 5

SOCIAL CLASS

Answer 5

• BLANCHE AND STANLEY AS FOILS EMBODY THE TWO SIDES OF THE SOUTH: OLD AND NEW -> (fight over Stella reflects the overall change of society and its different values to traditional)
• SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS LIMITING WOMEN, EMPOWERING MEN

Question 6

HM:

Question 7

F:

Question 8

IvR:

Question 9

SD:

Question 10

C: