A Street Car Named Desire: Full Study Guide

A Street Car Named Desire: Full Study Guide In the opening scene, how is Blanche's vulnerability expressed? ️️She is nervous, shaky and uncomfortable. She asks Eunice to leave. She sneaks alcohol to calm her nerves. She won't let Stella talk. She talks very quickly What do we find out about Blanche in the opening scene? ️️She is on a leave of absence; she has lost the house; she had a husband once; and her nerves broke. What, according to Blanche, causes the loss of Belle Reve? ️️The cost of funerals; death is expensive Why does Stella run out of the room crying in the opening scene? ️️Blanche suggests that if Stella would have stayed to help with the property, Belle Reve could have been saved, but Stella left and only came home for the "pretty" part of death How is the basic contrast between Stanley and Blanche brought out in the opening scene? ️️Stanley is aggressive; Blanche is fragile. Stanley talks plainly; Blanche uses high language. Stanley is rough around the edges; Blanche is seemingly put together. What do Stella's actions reveal about her feelings for Stanley in scene 2? ️️She is madly in love with him; she does not want to stand up to him; she lets him tell her what to do. Why is Stanley upset about the loss of Belle Reve? ️️He thinks Blanche sold it and that he and Stella are owed some of the money from the sale. What does Stanley think Blanche has done with the money? What does she tell him? ️️He thinks she bought nice clothes and jewelry. She tells him its all fake and costume or extremely old. Why does Stanley refuse to leave the room when asked by Stella in scene 2? ️️He wants to stick around and question Blanche. How does Stanley react to Blanche's flirting? ️️He doesn't give into it and calls her out for doing it. How does Blanche characterize Stanley? ️️As a pig, but a smart guy; she calls him a young boy How does Stanley dismiss Blanche's affections? ️️He slams the perfume bottle down and yells at her about the papers. What reaction does Blanche give Stanley for the loss of Belle Reve? ️️The indiscretions of men in her family and that she can't afford to keep up with the rent and all of the expensive costs of dying What kind of people are the couple upstairs? ️️They are passionate, like Stanley and Stella. They comfort Stella and support Stanley when needed. Why does Mitch say he has to leave during the poker game? ️️His mother won't fall asleep until he is home and she worries; she is sick. Why is Blanche interested in Mitch? ️️He is "superior" to the others and is more sensitive than he is physical How does Stanley show his domination? ️️He screams, hits Stella's thigh, throws the radio out the window, and bosses the girls around. What lies does Blanche tell Mitch? Why? ️️1. That Stella is older than her- to make herself look more attractive 2. She does not drink much- to look more put together 3. She is visiting because Stella is not well- to appear nurturing and caring Why does Blanche ask Mitch to hang the paper lantern? ️️She hates the naked light Why are we not surprised when Stanley explodes? ️️The behavior seems typical for someone who is called an "animal" and he has been drinking Why does Blanche find it hard to believe that Stella is not interested in leaving Stanley? ️️She thinks they were raised better than to settle for such classless behavior from a husband. How are Stella's feeling visually revealed in scene 4? ️️She runs to Stanley when he comes home and intimately embraces him. Why is the mention of Stanley's friend, Shaw, threatening to Blanche? ️️Shaw is someone from Laurel who could know more info about Blanche. In her conversation with Stella in scene 5, what are two of Blanche's concerns? ️️1. That Mitch will find out how old Blanche is and expect her to sleep with him 2. That there is "unkind" gossip going around town. Why is Blanche trying to attract Mitch? ️️She wants Mitch to falls in love with her. What in the young boy attracts Blanche? ️️His youth. Why must a young girl, according to Blanche, keep a check on her emotions? ️️So she doesn't get lost. Why must Blanche resist Mitch's advances? ️️She does not want to appear easy. What is significant about Mitch's mother asking about Blanche's age ️️It shows Mitch was talking to his mother about Blanche and it brings her lies to the surface Why is loneliness a spector for Mitch? Why is Blanche so familiar with loneliness? ️️His old love interest died from sickness and now his mother is dying from sickness. Blanche has lost everyone. Why does Blanche tell Mitch the details surrounding her husband's death? ️️She does it to have something in common with him and it makes her vulnerab