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A Streetcar Named Desire
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1.
Tragedy
Tragedies evoke the disillusionment and agony of life. Tragic protagonists are destroyed by their own self-destructive tendencies, or by external forces over which they have no control- nature, rivals, so-
ciety, war, poverty, illness. Their downfall and death often seem predestined.
2.
Comedy
Comedies reflect the foibles, contradictions, and confusions of man and society. They may be broadly funny and playful, wry and cynical, or satirical and biting. Comic protagonists face many conflicts, but they usually emerge unscathed from them.
3.
Flat
apartment
4.
Portiere
a curtain hanging across a doorway
5.
Neurasthenic
an emotional and psychic disorder that is character-
ized especially by easy fatigability and often by lack of motivation, feeling of inadequacy, and psychoso-
matic symptoms
6.
Contrapuntally
a: a complementing or contrasting item
b: use of contrast or interplay of elements in a work of art (as a drama)
7.
Sotto Voce
under the breath: in an undertone; also: in a private manner
8.
Bohemian
a person (as a write or an artist) living an unconven-
tional life usually in a colony with others
9.
Courtesan
a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele
10.
Blanche
full discretionary power (as in carte blanche)- to rearrange the truth with no limits
11.
Elysian Fields
The mention of this is an allusion to the underworld of Greek mythology
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12.
When we first meet Blanche Dubois, she has traveled to see her sister Stella. She took streetcars named De-
sire and Cemeteries to arrive at her sister's apartment. What might these names repre-
sent?
The street-car named Desire represents the desire Blanche had for a better life with her sister Stella. This Desire brought her to Cemeteries which repre-
sents the destruction and death of Blanche.
13.
Blanche goes into Stel-
la's apartment to wait for her to come home. What does she do while she is waiting?
While Blanche is waiting for Stella, she sits nervous-
ly and tight together, then drinks half a tumbler of whiskey.
14.
What does Belle Reve mean? What does it re-
fer to in the play?
Belle Reve means "beautiful dream". This is thought of as Blanche's old life and better life. This is no longer reality, but it is a "dream".
15.
Why does Blanche say that she has left her teaching job to visit Stella?
4. Blanche does not want anyone to know that Blanche was kicked out of the school. Rather she would like them to think that she left for her own reason and she is still in control.
16.
Why does Blanche say that she lost Belle Reve?
5. Blanche says that she lost Belle Reve to cost of the funerals and deaths of family members, but she avoids the fact that she does not have a job or money.
17.
At the end of Scene One, what music "ris-
es up, faint in the dis-
tance"?
6. Polka music is the music that "rises up, faint in the distance".
18.
Near the end of Scene One, what do we learn We learn that Blanche's husband was young and died.
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about Blanche's hus-
band?
19.
In Scene Two, Stanley finds out about the loss of Belle Reve. What is his reaction?
8. Stanley's reaction to the loss of Belle Reve is that he is furious and is curious to what happened because he claims Belle Reve as his own as well.
20.
What does Stanley think that Blanche has done with the mon-
ey he believes she made from selling Belle Reve?
9. Stanley believes that Blanche used the money from Belle Reve on her own desires for her appear-
ance.
21.
What does Stanley tell Blanche about Stel-
la as they are going through her business papers?
Stanley tells Blanche that Stella is going to have a baby as they look through the business papers.
22.
Where are Stella and Blanche going while the men play poker?
Blanche and Stella go to see a show while the men play poker.
23.
When Blanche and Stella return to the apartment, the men are still there play-
ing poker. Which one does Stella introduce to Blanche? What does Blanche say about him?
12. Stella introduces Mitch to Blanche. Blanche thinks of Mitch as more sensitive than the other men.
24.
Blanche goes to the back room, a bed-
room, to relax until the men finish playing. She turns on the ra-
13. Stanley throws the radio out the window when Blanche does not turn it off.
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dio. Stanley asks her to turn it off, but when she doesn't, what does Stanley do?
25.
Why does Blanche lie to Mitch about being younger than Stella? Why doesn't she like bright lights?
14. Blanche thinks that Mitch wants a younger woman, so she tries to appear to be what he wants. The dim lights will not show the real Blanche. They will hide any imperfections and flaws she may have.
26.
What happens be-
tween Stella and Stan-
ley that ends the poker game?
At the end of the poker game, Stanley assaults Stella and they get into a fight. Stella is quick to forgive him.
27.
What kind of relation-
ship do Stella and Stanley have?
- Stanley and Stella have a relationship that is slight-
ly abusive but they will stay with each other regard-
less because they are so attracted to one another.
28.
How does Stanley dif-
fer from Blanche?
- Stanley likes to face things as they are with bright lights and cold hard truth. On the other hand Blanche is willing to hide the truth and uses dim lights to cover up things that she does not want others to know.
29.
How does Mitch com-
pare and contrast with Stanley?
- Mitch and Stanley are bowling and poker playing friends. Mitch is more sensitive and compassionate, while Stanley can be brutal and not care for others as much.
30.
The play has many stage directions refer-
ring to music. What mu-
sic and songs are pre-
sent in the first three scenes? How does the music relate to the characters?
- The Blue Piano and polka music play in the first three scenes. The blue piano plays as the charac-
ters are vulnerable, frustrated, emotional, and when truth is being revealed. The polka music plays when Blanche reflects upon the past and death (thinking of her husband).
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31.
Why is the paper lantern important to Blanche?
Blanche uses the paper lantern to hide her past and any signs of her vulnerability and flaws that she does not want others to see
32.
How did Stella say she reacted to Stanley's breaking all the light bulbs on their wedding night?
16. Stella was thrilled when Stanley broke the light bulbs on their wedding night.
33.
What idea does Blanche have to es-
cape New Orleans with Stella?
17. Blanche wants to contact a rich friend, Shep, who she hopes will provide for her and Stella to get out of New Orleans.
34.
When Blanche and Stella are discussing Stanley, his entrance to the apartment is washed out by a pass-
ing train. What does he hear Blanche say about him?
18. Stanley overhears Blanche telling Stella that Stanley is not at the standard which they should have. She says that he is ape-like and behaves is sub humanely.
35.
In Scene Five, Blanch discusses astrological signs. What sign does she think Stanley was born under and why?
19. Blanche believes that Stanley would be born un-
der the sign Aires because he is forceful, dynamic, and likes to bang things around.
36.
Seemingly out of the blue, Stanley asks Blanche if she knows someone named Shaw. He says that Shaw knew Blanche from Laurel but must have mixed her up with someone else who partied at the Ho-
20. When Stanley mentions Shaw, Blanche goes into complete shock. Though she speaks lightly, her voice has a note of fear.
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tel Flamingo. What is Blanche's response?
37.
After Stella and Stan-
ley leave, a young man comes to the door collecting money for the local newspaper, The Evening Star. What does Blanche do to him?
21. Once Stella and Stanley leave, the local paper-
boy comes to the door to collect money. Blanche flirts with him, but she does not want their relation-
ship to get anymore physical than a kiss. She kisses him and then he leaves.
38.
Blanche and Mitch dis-
cuss Stanley. She asks him if Stanley talks much about her and ex-
plains how horrid he is making her life there with them. What does Mitch respond?
22. Mitch responds to Blanche by saying that Stan-
ley doesn't really talk about her. Blanche believes that Stanley hates her and the only reason she is staying is because Stella is having a baby. Mitch is surprised to hear this from Blanche
39.
At the end of Scene Six, Blanche is confiding in Mitch by telling him the story of how her hus-
band died. How did he die? What led to that?
23. Blanche's husband died by committing suicide because Blanche found him with another man and realized he was gay. She confronted him about it, saying how embarrassed she is which lead to his death.
40.
In Scene Five, Blanche is writing a letter to Shep Huntleight. Why does she not tell him the truth of her situa-
tion?
- Blanche doesn't tell Shep the truth of her situation in the letter because she needs money and she does not want to be embarrassed that he will ignore it.
41.
In Scene Five, we see Blanche drinking again. Why do you think she drinks?
- I think Blanche is drinking again because she is drinking away her sorrows of what has gone the past few years. She lost Belle Reve and slept around with many men and now she feels as if she is fading away. Alcohol is something that she can use to call 6 / 11
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her nerves when her emotions and thoughts are all over the place.
42.
Why does Blanche flirt with the newspaper boy?
Blanche flirts with the newspaper boy because she does not like to be alone but she can't seem to be in a relationship after her husband died. Being with the newspaper boy is feeding into her desire for power over the vulnerability of a 17 year old boy.
43.
Where and what kind of music is mentioned in these scenes?
Music is heard from the Four Deuces in scene five. As the scene ends as Blanche is talking to this young man, the blue piano begins playing.
44.
It is now mid-Sep-
tember and Blanche's birthday. Stella has prepared a party for her. Stanley lets Stel-
la know that he has learned some things about Blanche. What things?
24. Stanley lets Stella know that Blanche is has been with many men back in Laurel and she lied to Mitch saying she hasn't been kissed more than once. When she lost Belle Reve, she moved to Flamingo. Also, Stanley found out that Blanche lost her teaching job because she was fooling around with a younger boy.
45.
During their talk, Blanche is in the tub singing. What does she sing about?
25. While they talk, Blanche sings what she wants to believe will happen in the future. She wants the man that will be in love with her to believe in her acts rather than the reality. Blanche may seem like she has little value like the paper moon she is singing about but if one believes that it might have value then it could, like if Mitch would believe Blanche has value.
46.
Who is supposed to come over for Blanche's birthday? Why does Stanley say this person won't be coming?
26. Mitch is supposed to come for Blanche's birth-
day but he doesn't show because Stanley about Blanche's secret life.
47.
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What has Stanley bought for Blanche?
27. Stanley bought Blanche a bus ticket back to Laurel because he misses the way things used to be.
48.
Blanche is stood up. They sit talking at the table and Stanley gets angry at Stella for telling him his face and fingers are disgusting-
ly greasy. Waht does he do in response?
28. When Stella comments on Stanley's greasy fin-
gers, he gets frustrated and slams down a plate. He reminds them that he is the man of the house and is tired of being called names.
49.
What happens at the end of Scene Eight?
29. At the end of scene eight, Stella's water breaks and she is rushed to the hospital.
50.
In Scene Nine, who stops by unexpectedly to see Blanche?
In scene nine, Mitch stops by unexpectedly to see Blanche.
51.
Blanche makes a very telling statement about reality. What does she say?
31. Talking about reality, Blanche tells Mitch how she doesn't like realism and wants magic. She said that what she likes is to say what she wants to believe, not the harsh truth. If Mitch knew about Blanche's past he would probably not want to be with her, so Blanche deceives him into wanting what she "ought to be".
52.
What does Blanche ad-
mit happened after her husband's death? Why did she say she did this?
32. Blanche admits that after Allan's death she be-
gan to have many intimacies with strangers to fill her empty heart. She told Mitch this because he had finally caught her lying and tried to make it sound as if Mitch should feel bad for her.
53.
Why does Mitch say he won't marry Blanche now?
33. Mitch says he won't marry Blanche anymore because she is not clean enough to bring into his house with his sick mother.
54.
Stanley comes home from the hospital. 8 / 11
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Blanche has been drinking fairly steadily since Mitch left. Who does she tell Stanley she heard from? What invitation does she say he extended?
34. Blanche tells Stanley that she has heard from Shep Huntleigh, a millionaire and past admirer to invite her on a cruise to the Caribbean.
55.
Blanche tells Stanley that Mitch came to see her that night. What does she tell him the reason was?
35. Blanche tells Stanley that Mitch came to see her tonight in her work clothes. He started to ramble off stories that Stanley had told him and then left. Blanche lies and says that Mitch came back with roses to beg for her forgiveness.
56.
What happens at the end of Scene Ten?
36. At the end of scene ten, Stanley rapes Blanche to destroy her once and for all.
57.
Several weeks have passed and Stella is packing Blanche's things. Where does Blanche think she is going? Where is she actually going?
37. Blanche thinks she is going on a vacation while Stella helps her pack her things, but she is really going to a mental hospital.
58.
Blanche - Why does Stanley want her to leave?
- Stanley wants Blanche to leave because he can't act the same with Stella and things are different in their marriage. With Blanche here Stella is constant-
ly reminded of her old life with "better men" and Stanley does not like it at all.
59.
Stanley - How has his relationship with Stel-
la changed? How has his relationship with Blanche changed?
- Stanley's relationship with Stella changed because it was always just the two of them and they could do whatever they wanted. With Blanche being there Stella at times had a new perspective about Stanley. In the end that did harm their marriage. Stanley's relationship with Blanche changed because it went from being a mild unfriendliness between the two of them to an all out war. Once she is defeated Stanley really has nothing left to do with Blanche.
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60.
What do you think is the symbolic meaning of the Mexican woman selling flowers for the dead in Scene Nine?
- In scene nine the Mexican woman was selling flowers for the dead. This symbolized the death of Blanche and Mitch's relationship and the death of Blanche's "new life" in New Orleans with Stanley and Stella.
61.
Why does Mitch rip the lantern off of the light bulb? What does light represent?
- Mitch rips the lantern off of the light bulb be-
cause he has never seen her not in the dark. This symbolizes him finding out the truth about Blanche because she was always hiding things in the dim lighting.
62.
At the beginning of the play, Stanley is bowl-
ing and at the end he is playing cards. What does this sug-
gest about his views of life?
- Stanley's hobbies, bowling and poker, show that Stanley is not very serious and business-like. He only does things that make him happy. This also shows that Stanley sees his life as a game and he is very competitive.
63.
Is your first loyalty to be with your spouse or with your best friend?
Your first loyalty should be to your spouse because you have made a commitment to them. When you are loyal to your spouse they usually return the favor. Best friends are important to be loyal to but remem-
ber that your spouse and you have an obligation to be loyal.
64.
Did Mitch love Blanche?
- I think Mitch loved the person he thought Blanche was. He was very attracted to her until he found out the truth about her past. Blanche needed Mitch to somehow get out of this trap she is in. Mitch needs Blanche for someone to bring to his mother and someone he could love.
65.
If a friend of yours is happily dating some-
one and you find out something bad about - I think you should tell your friend if you find out something bad about the person they are dating because although it may hurt at first it could cause much less hurting if something got out of control. If the bad thing is not important to their relationship I 10 / 11
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that person, should you tell your friend?
would still tell them and hopefully my friend could look past it if he/she was in love.
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