Streetcar Named Desire- Scene 6
Opening Stage Directions are important in establishing the relationship between Blanche and
Mitch:
Mae West was a Hollywood actress who became a sex symbol. As she is an actress, this
could add another layer to her connection to Blanche- they both play a part/ façade.
Neurasthenic personality- an obsolete term meaning weakness of the nerves. Blanche’s
‘utter exhaustion’ visible here- perhaps she is struggling to maintain the façade or has been
wearied by experiences.
Williams presents the irony that both Mitch and Blanche are clearly unhappy, despite
choosing an ‘amusement park’ for their date. Complete contrast between the setting and
the mood of the characters.
Highlights Mitch’s weakness and perhaps signals the inevitable destruction of his
relationship with Blanche. ‘bearing, upside down, a plaster statuette of Mae West’-
demonstrates his gallantry and the potential for him to meet the expectations of a southern
‘gentlemen’, something extraneous to the lives of the characters in New Orleans: he has
won Blanche a souvenir and is carrying it for her. His attempts to live up to Blanche’s
expectations fail.
As the statuette is being carried ‘upside down’, we understand Mitch’s lack of control or
awareness of how to conduct himself in Blanche’s company.
Links to ending of scene 5 where Blanche greets Blanche- she clearly had high expectation
for the date and over-romanticises the relationship with Mitch, yet in reality it is not all that
wonderful.
Mitch ‘stolid but depressed’ highlights the failure of his romantic relationship with Blanche.
Something disturbing about the initial image of Mitch and the statuette- he is ‘bearing’ the
statuette. This might perhaps suggest that he will attempt to take charge of Blanche, a
woman with much in common with Mae West, as Williams presents Blanche as preoccupied
with maintaining her own ‘role’ throughout much of the play. Linking to later when he
attempts to assault Blanche, which destroys her vision and dream of romance.
By describing the statuette as ‘plaster’, Williams is drawing our attention to its fragility; it is
weak and can easily be destroyed or damaged. By showing Mitch with power over the
statuette, Williams might be foreshadowing his behaviour towards Blanche later in the play:
he will damage her fragile state.
Mitch represents Blanche’s hope for redemption. However, the way Williams presents the
opening of this scene indicates how unlikely this is.
Opening Stage Directions are important in establishing the relationship between Blanche and
Mitch:
Mae West was a Hollywood actress who became a sex symbol. As she is an actress, this
could add another layer to her connection to Blanche- they both play a part/ façade.
Neurasthenic personality- an obsolete term meaning weakness of the nerves. Blanche’s
‘utter exhaustion’ visible here- perhaps she is struggling to maintain the façade or has been
wearied by experiences.
Williams presents the irony that both Mitch and Blanche are clearly unhappy, despite
choosing an ‘amusement park’ for their date. Complete contrast between the setting and
the mood of the characters.
Highlights Mitch’s weakness and perhaps signals the inevitable destruction of his
relationship with Blanche. ‘bearing, upside down, a plaster statuette of Mae West’-
demonstrates his gallantry and the potential for him to meet the expectations of a southern
‘gentlemen’, something extraneous to the lives of the characters in New Orleans: he has
won Blanche a souvenir and is carrying it for her. His attempts to live up to Blanche’s
expectations fail.
As the statuette is being carried ‘upside down’, we understand Mitch’s lack of control or
awareness of how to conduct himself in Blanche’s company.
Links to ending of scene 5 where Blanche greets Blanche- she clearly had high expectation
for the date and over-romanticises the relationship with Mitch, yet in reality it is not all that
wonderful.
Mitch ‘stolid but depressed’ highlights the failure of his romantic relationship with Blanche.
Something disturbing about the initial image of Mitch and the statuette- he is ‘bearing’ the
statuette. This might perhaps suggest that he will attempt to take charge of Blanche, a
woman with much in common with Mae West, as Williams presents Blanche as preoccupied
with maintaining her own ‘role’ throughout much of the play. Linking to later when he
attempts to assault Blanche, which destroys her vision and dream of romance.
By describing the statuette as ‘plaster’, Williams is drawing our attention to its fragility; it is
weak and can easily be destroyed or damaged. By showing Mitch with power over the
statuette, Williams might be foreshadowing his behaviour towards Blanche later in the play:
he will damage her fragile state.
Mitch represents Blanche’s hope for redemption. However, the way Williams presents the
opening of this scene indicates how unlikely this is.
