Streetcar Named Desire- Scene 7
Sense of hope at the start and how this is contrasted with the ending.
‘set for a birthday supper’ with Stella ‘completing the decorations’- still waiting on Blanche,
positive scene established but soon shattered by Stanley- opening line.
Shift in Stella from beginning to end- speaks ‘sadly and doubtfully’- she cannot hide her true
feelings and so cannot effectively maintain Blanche’s façade.
Throughout the scene, Stella tries to uphold her respect and hope for her sister, telling
Stanley ‘I don’t believe all of those stories… she was always- flighty.’ Yet as Stanley has
posed this harsh truth and evidence, it is clear that her image of her sister has been
damaged by her husband’s harsh truths. This is a key moment as Stella was the only one to
fight for Blanche against Stanley, and once the support of her sister is lost, Blanche is left
alone.
By the end of the scene, Stella in her last efforts tries to hide the reality from Blanche, as she
tells her ‘nothing has happened’ while she ‘pretends to be busy’, yet it is clear that the rest
of the play will unravel her ultimate downfall; this scene marks the loss of both Mitch, and
Stella (the only two characters giving her hope.)
The ending highlights how matters are unravelling rapidly for Blanche- ‘hectic breakdown’ of
the piano reflects her state of mind and internal panic.
The significance of Blanche washing again.
Cleansing herself and purifying as a way of preparing for seeing Mitch; preoccupation with
her appearance.
A source of mockery from Stanley- is ‘mimicking’ her- demonstrates the frustration he feels
with her sat this stage (heightened due to passage of time)
The juxtaposition between Blanche’s bath and her birthday emphasizes that the desire to
bathe not only marks Blanche’s desire for escape but also her desire for a Fountain of Youth.
Ironic that Blanche is bathing (again symbolic of a cleansing ritual) while all the past that she
is trying to wash away is about to be revealed by Stanley.
The bathroom becomes a place for her to enact her fantasies.
As Stanley is revealing why Blanche lost her job the ‘water goes on loud;’ followed by ‘little
breathless cries and peals of laughter’- as is she is unable to confront this reality.
Claustrophobic flat- can she hear and is choosing to drown it out?
‘as if a child were frolicking gin the tub’- once again portrayed as fragile and child-like-
complete contrast between the two sides of her personality.
Stanley represents unsympathetic realism while Blanche lives in her world of fantasy and
‘magic’ as she calls it.
Ironic her singing is described as being ‘blithely’- completely care-free and unaware while
her world is crumbling.
Sense of hope at the start and how this is contrasted with the ending.
‘set for a birthday supper’ with Stella ‘completing the decorations’- still waiting on Blanche,
positive scene established but soon shattered by Stanley- opening line.
Shift in Stella from beginning to end- speaks ‘sadly and doubtfully’- she cannot hide her true
feelings and so cannot effectively maintain Blanche’s façade.
Throughout the scene, Stella tries to uphold her respect and hope for her sister, telling
Stanley ‘I don’t believe all of those stories… she was always- flighty.’ Yet as Stanley has
posed this harsh truth and evidence, it is clear that her image of her sister has been
damaged by her husband’s harsh truths. This is a key moment as Stella was the only one to
fight for Blanche against Stanley, and once the support of her sister is lost, Blanche is left
alone.
By the end of the scene, Stella in her last efforts tries to hide the reality from Blanche, as she
tells her ‘nothing has happened’ while she ‘pretends to be busy’, yet it is clear that the rest
of the play will unravel her ultimate downfall; this scene marks the loss of both Mitch, and
Stella (the only two characters giving her hope.)
The ending highlights how matters are unravelling rapidly for Blanche- ‘hectic breakdown’ of
the piano reflects her state of mind and internal panic.
The significance of Blanche washing again.
Cleansing herself and purifying as a way of preparing for seeing Mitch; preoccupation with
her appearance.
A source of mockery from Stanley- is ‘mimicking’ her- demonstrates the frustration he feels
with her sat this stage (heightened due to passage of time)
The juxtaposition between Blanche’s bath and her birthday emphasizes that the desire to
bathe not only marks Blanche’s desire for escape but also her desire for a Fountain of Youth.
Ironic that Blanche is bathing (again symbolic of a cleansing ritual) while all the past that she
is trying to wash away is about to be revealed by Stanley.
The bathroom becomes a place for her to enact her fantasies.
As Stanley is revealing why Blanche lost her job the ‘water goes on loud;’ followed by ‘little
breathless cries and peals of laughter’- as is she is unable to confront this reality.
Claustrophobic flat- can she hear and is choosing to drown it out?
‘as if a child were frolicking gin the tub’- once again portrayed as fragile and child-like-
complete contrast between the two sides of her personality.
Stanley represents unsympathetic realism while Blanche lives in her world of fantasy and
‘magic’ as she calls it.
Ironic her singing is described as being ‘blithely’- completely care-free and unaware while
her world is crumbling.
