A Streetcar Named Desire: Scene 2
Overview
Blanche begins the scene bathing. This could represent her trying to wash away her sins
and bring about cleanliness and purity in her new life.
The stage direction points to the fact that the blue piano is left in sight: 'leaving the door
open to the perpetual 'blue piano' around the corner'. This could reveal to the audience
that turbulent times for Blanche are quite literally 'around the corner'.
In the beginning of the scene Stella jumps up and Stanley accepts with 'lordly
composure'. 'Lordly' in this instance means to act in a superior and domineering manner
towards someone which reflects the power dynamic in their relationship.
Both Stella and Stanley make the gender roles within their relationship very apparent in
scene 2. Stanley remarks "I'm not going to no galatoires for supper" whilst Stella later
says "You'd better give me some money" so she can go out. They both have a great
reliance on each other which helps keep their relationship afloat.
When discussing the truth about what really happened in Belle Reve, Stanley forces
answers out of Stella, but when he finally gets some, he responds with "yeah? how?" and
"so?". Although he squeezed answers out of her, it seems as if he has no genuine interest
in the specific and slightly tedious details, as implied by the use of monosyllabic words
here. He is just keen to exert his power over Stella, rather than actually being interested
in what she is saying.
Stella is keen to keep her pregnancy a secret as she says to Stanley "Don't mention the
baby". This is slightly confusing for the audience as it is hard to understand why
someone would not want to tell their sister about their pregnancy which is usually good
news. This is possibly because Blanche is insecure because her childbearing years are
passing her by and she has not found a partner yet. It could also be because at this time
childbearing defined femininity for many women and to not have one at Blanche's age
could perhaps be slightly embarrassing.
Stanley's focus is very selective when speaking to Stella about Belle Reve as when Stella
tells him to make sure he compliments Blanche when she gets back home, he ignores and
instead tells Stella to "skip back a little to where you said the country place was disposed
of". It is unsurprising that he only wants to assert himself in the possibly economically
advantageous (for him) side of Blanche's life and does not care to note that he should
"admire her dress and tell her she's looking wonderful".
Stanley's lack of Trust in Women
Stanley goes through Blanche's trunk and finds lots of "costume jewellery" and
"summer furs" which he believed were symbolic of Blanche’s wealth from selling
Belle Réve. Even when Stella explains to Stanley that the furs are "inexpensive", he
still says that he will have his acquaintance "appraise" it. Stanley also goes through
Blanche's jewellery, picking up a "fistful" and claiming that they are "pearls", "gold"
and "diamonds", despite the fact that they are just cheap "rhinestone" and "costume
jewellery". Even after Stella explains to Stanley that the "diamonds" are not diamond
at all, he still does not believe her, and he again speaks of another acquaintance who
can "make an appraisal" of the jewellery.
Blanche trying to seduce Stanley
Blanche comes out of the bath in a "red satin robe" and flirts with Stanley, telling him
about how she is "freshly bathed and scented", trying to convince Stanley of the idea
that she is pure and clean enough for him. In contrast, Stanley simply replies to
Blanche's advances with the statement "that's good". Stanley nonchalance when
delivering this line shows that he doesn't actually care at all about Blanche bring
"freshly bathed", he is in fact agitated by her presence, but he doesn't say anything rude
Overview
Blanche begins the scene bathing. This could represent her trying to wash away her sins
and bring about cleanliness and purity in her new life.
The stage direction points to the fact that the blue piano is left in sight: 'leaving the door
open to the perpetual 'blue piano' around the corner'. This could reveal to the audience
that turbulent times for Blanche are quite literally 'around the corner'.
In the beginning of the scene Stella jumps up and Stanley accepts with 'lordly
composure'. 'Lordly' in this instance means to act in a superior and domineering manner
towards someone which reflects the power dynamic in their relationship.
Both Stella and Stanley make the gender roles within their relationship very apparent in
scene 2. Stanley remarks "I'm not going to no galatoires for supper" whilst Stella later
says "You'd better give me some money" so she can go out. They both have a great
reliance on each other which helps keep their relationship afloat.
When discussing the truth about what really happened in Belle Reve, Stanley forces
answers out of Stella, but when he finally gets some, he responds with "yeah? how?" and
"so?". Although he squeezed answers out of her, it seems as if he has no genuine interest
in the specific and slightly tedious details, as implied by the use of monosyllabic words
here. He is just keen to exert his power over Stella, rather than actually being interested
in what she is saying.
Stella is keen to keep her pregnancy a secret as she says to Stanley "Don't mention the
baby". This is slightly confusing for the audience as it is hard to understand why
someone would not want to tell their sister about their pregnancy which is usually good
news. This is possibly because Blanche is insecure because her childbearing years are
passing her by and she has not found a partner yet. It could also be because at this time
childbearing defined femininity for many women and to not have one at Blanche's age
could perhaps be slightly embarrassing.
Stanley's focus is very selective when speaking to Stella about Belle Reve as when Stella
tells him to make sure he compliments Blanche when she gets back home, he ignores and
instead tells Stella to "skip back a little to where you said the country place was disposed
of". It is unsurprising that he only wants to assert himself in the possibly economically
advantageous (for him) side of Blanche's life and does not care to note that he should
"admire her dress and tell her she's looking wonderful".
Stanley's lack of Trust in Women
Stanley goes through Blanche's trunk and finds lots of "costume jewellery" and
"summer furs" which he believed were symbolic of Blanche’s wealth from selling
Belle Réve. Even when Stella explains to Stanley that the furs are "inexpensive", he
still says that he will have his acquaintance "appraise" it. Stanley also goes through
Blanche's jewellery, picking up a "fistful" and claiming that they are "pearls", "gold"
and "diamonds", despite the fact that they are just cheap "rhinestone" and "costume
jewellery". Even after Stella explains to Stanley that the "diamonds" are not diamond
at all, he still does not believe her, and he again speaks of another acquaintance who
can "make an appraisal" of the jewellery.
Blanche trying to seduce Stanley
Blanche comes out of the bath in a "red satin robe" and flirts with Stanley, telling him
about how she is "freshly bathed and scented", trying to convince Stanley of the idea
that she is pure and clean enough for him. In contrast, Stanley simply replies to
Blanche's advances with the statement "that's good". Stanley nonchalance when
delivering this line shows that he doesn't actually care at all about Blanche bring
"freshly bathed", he is in fact agitated by her presence, but he doesn't say anything rude
