A Streetcar Named Desire Scenes 1-8

How does Mitch respond to Blanche's secret about her past?

Mitch responds to Blanche's secret by asking her to just be with him since they are both so lonely.

Explain Blanche's statement that she doesn't show how much longer she can "turn the trick."

When Blanche says she doesn't know how much longer she can "turn the trick" she means she used to be soft and attractive. Now she doesn't know how much longer her softness and attractiveness will last.

What is ironic about Blanche's song she sings in the bathtub?

"It wouldn't be make believe if you believe in me," everything she says is a lie.

Significance of Tamale vendor

"Red Hot" references sexual and dramatic tension

What is known about Blanche before she speaks her first line?

- Blanche doesn't match the setting; she is out of place. - She is dressed elegantly (pearls & white gloves) - She is 5 years older than Stella.

What does Blanche learn about Stanley before meeting him?

-He is Polish - He works + travels frequently

What does Blanche have to say about truth and illusion?

A woman's charm is 50% illusion. She tells the truth when it's important.

How is Blanche's understanding of desire different from Stella's?

Blanche believes that a person like Stanley is not someone that a woman should marry. A relationship needs more than desire.

What is Blanche's attitude toward money?

Blanche believes that money is a priority in life and it is the only way Stella will escape from her "bad life". Blanche offers to save Stella by believing money is her last option.

Why does Blanche ask Mitch to cover the light bulb? What does lantern symbolize and what does covering light bulb symbolize?

Blanche does not want her age to be revealed by light. The lantern symbolizes the "ugly truth" the covering light symbolizes illusion

How had Blanche deceived Mitch?

Blanche has deceived Mitch by lying about her age and not allowing him to see her in the light.

What does Blanche hope for in a relationship with Mitch?

Blanche hopes that she can be herself and that Mitch will still love her.

At the beginning of the scene, Blanche is taking a bath. Why? What is symbolic about this bath?

Blanche is taking a bath to get ready for her night out with Stella. The bath is significant because it symbolized a way for her to forget her past and start over.

How does Blanche offer to "save" Stella?

Blanche offers to save Stella by believing money is her last option. Blanche goes to Shep and asks for money to open her own shop. Blanche's desire is a man with a lot of money.

Stella introduces Blanche to Mitch. What is Blanche's immediate reaction to Mitch?

Blanche says that Mitch is superior to Stanley and his friends

What does Blanche tell Mitch about her past? Why does she confide in Mitch?

Blanche tells Mitch about Allen Grey, her ex-husband who killed himself because she caught him with another man. Blanche confides in Mitch because she feels like they share the same traits. (Ex. Mitch will be lonely when his mom dies. Blanche is lonely now.)

What does Blanche tell Mitch about life with Stanley, and what is Mitch's reaction?

Blanche tells Mitch that her life with Stanley is terrible because he doesn't respect her privacy. He also insults Blanche. Mitch is surprised at this because he thinks Blanche is such a perfect woman.

How do Blanche and Stanley seem to feel about each other? Support your answer with evidence from the play.

Blanche thinks Stanley is primitive and not good enough for Stella; she tries to win him over by flirting but it does not work. Stanley thinks Blanche is a phony.

When Stella arrives home, Blanche tells her to turn off the overhead light. Why does she say this?

Blanche thinks the light makes her look old. It shows her wrinkles.

Why does Blanche seem depressed at the beginning of this scene?

Blanche was depressed at the beginning of the scene because her date with Mitch was horrible.

Describe Blanche's behavior with Mitch. Why is this behavior ironic?

Blanche's behavior with Mitch is different because she acts prim and proper. She also pretends to be a virgin when she definitely is not.

What might Blanche have meant in her last line of scene 6?

Blanche's last line at the end of the scene means that God put them together for a reason.

What are Stanley's plans for Blanche?

He buys a bus ticket so she can leave.

How does Stanley react when Stella tells him to wait outside with her? Why do you think he acts this way?

He is angry; he does not want a woman telling him what to do.

Why does Stanley think that Blanche has "swindled" Stella?

He thinks Blanche has swindled Stella out of her rightful share of the estate, which means that he has been swindled.

How does Stanley receive the news that Belle Reve has been lost?

He wants to see papers. He thinks that Blanche is a phony and she sold Belle Reve to buy things for herself. He thinks she swindled Stella because she does not show deed of sale.

What does Blanche's letter to Shep Huntleigh reveal about her?

In the letter to Shep Huntleigh, it is revealed that Blanche wrote about wild stories that never happened, she is a liar and wants people to believe an image of her that isn't true.

What is the purpose of Mitch's appearance at the end of this scene?

Mitch's appearance at the end of the scene has made Blanche realize what she's done and she's grateful for him to be there.

What reason does Blanche give for her arrival in New Orleans?

She claims that she was given a leave of absence from school.

What is Blanche's reaction when she reaches Stella's home? How does she react to Eunice's efforts to help her?

She does not approve of Stella's living conditions. She thinks it's too small and messy. She asks Eunice to leave her alone.

Why does Blanche try to call Mitch?

She wants to find out why he didn't come to dinner.

What is the significance of Mitch's silver case?

Silver case with inscription shows that Mitch is well educated and more worldly than other men in his group. This appeals to Blanche."And if God choose, I shall but love thee better--after--death!" Why, that's from my favorite sonnet by Mrs. Browning!

What has Stanley found out about Blanche's past in Laurel?

Stanley finds out a lot about Blanche's past. For instance, Blanche knows Shaw, and so does Stanley. When Stanley asks Blanche if she knows someone of this name, she becomes speechless.

As the play begins, how is Stanley's primitive nature revealed?

Stanley has on his work clothes and once he arrives home, he throws meat at Stella.

Why does Stanley throw radio out the window? How does this affect others?

Stanley is agitated by Blanche; her playing fancy music on the radio angers him.Stella and Blanche are appalled. Stella asks everyone to leave.Stanleys friends try to restrain him and calm him down. Mitch says this is "Terrible"

When Stanley runs into the bedroom to turn off the music, why does he stop short at the sight of Blanche?

Stanley is in charge. He does not think that a woman (Blanche) should be present at Poker night or control the radio.

Describe the conversation Stanley overhears between Blanche and Stella.

Stanley overhears Blanche talking about him being an animal and how he isn't someone that she is used to being around.

Why does Stella ask Stanley to understand and be nice to Blanche?

Stella asks Stanley to understand and be nice to Blanche because knows that Blanche will agitate Stanley.

Contrast Blanche and Stella's attitudes towards Stanley's violence.

Stella is calm and Blanche is nervous and timid. Stella is used to the violence and doesn't think of it as anything.

How is Stella described in the stage directions? How does she contrast with Stanley, aside from being female?

Stella is calm and gentle compared to Stanley. She is from a higher class and is finding it difficult to live in New Orleans.

What happens at the end of scene 8?

Stella is taken to the hospital because she is going to have her baby

Why is Stella taking Blanche out for the evening? What is Stanley's reaction?

Stella is taking Blanche out for the evening because Stanley is having his friends over for poker night. Stella doesn't want Blanche to see their drinking and cursing manner.

How does Stella feel about Stanley's temper? How did she react to what he did on their wedding night?

Stella is used to the violence and doesn't think of it as anything. Stella justifies what Stanley did to her. She was thrilled by Stanley smashing lightbulbs with a shoe.

How does Stella respond when Stanley enters the room? Why?

Stella jumps into his arms, she wants to throw it in Blanche's face that they do love each other. She does this because she loves him.

Explain Stella's assessment of Stanley in relation to the other men.

Stella states that Stanley is the only one of his friends who is likely to get anywhere because he has drive

What is Stella's reaction to Blanche's offer?

Stella thinks that money can't save her.

How is Blanche's name (White Woods) symbolic and ironic?

Symbolized Purity. It's Ironic because Blanche is impure.

What has happened to Belle Reve?

The DuBois family doesn't own it anymore. It was lost because of death/medical expenses.

When Stanley, Mitch, and Steve return from bowling, what do they agree to do the next day?

The agree to plat poker at Stanley's house.

Why do the men try to restrain Stanley after he throws the radio out the window?

The men know that Stanley has violent tendencies when angry.

What mood does the opening stage direction and setting description create? What effect is created with the music of the "blue piano"?

The mood that is created is gloomy and sad. The Blue Piano is expressing the way of life. The music that the "blue piano" plays are sad and depressing.

Describe the poker players. How is Mitch different from the other men?

The poker players are rowdy. Mitch is quiet and sensitive; he is worried about his ill mother.

What is the significance of Stanley being a Capricorn (goat) and Blanche a Virgo (virgin)?

The significance of Stanley being a Capricorn and Blanche being a Virgo is that Stanley's symbol is how he imitates a goat whenever Stella leaves. After an argument, he starts repeating and shouting her name. Blanche's symbol, means a virgin which she isn't really a virgin.

Why does the teenager come to the apartment? What happens between Blanche and him? What do we learn about Blanche from this encounter?

The teenager comes to the apartment to collect money. Blanche flirts with him and kisses him. She says she has to "be good" and keep her hands off of a child, maybe she has done this before.

How do the other men react to Mitch's distraction and desire to quit the poker game?

They suspect he quits because he had money... they say "Tomorrow you'll see him at the cashier's window getting them changed into quarters."

How does this incident in Blanche's past affect her present life?

This affects Blanche's present life because she is looking for love, she is looking for security, and she's crazy.

What comments by Eunice and Mitch indicate about Stella and Stanley's relationship?

Violence has happened in the past

How does Blanche react when confronted with this situation?

When Blanche is confronted by Stanley, she freezes and responds by saying, "Don't we all know someone named Shaw?"

What is Stanley's reaction after he overheard the conversation between Blanche and Stella?

When Stella hugs him he grins at Blanche.

How is Blanche's drinking problem introduced?

When she is by herself in the apartment, she pours herself some whiskey. Once Stella returns, Blanche denies drinking before and suggests that she and Stella have a drink.

Why and how does Stanley show his anger during the game?

Why and how does Stanley show his anger during the game? Stanley yells at his friends because he is losing at poker. He yells at Mitch not to sit on the table and he does not allow Pablo to get chop suey.

Why does Mitch want to know Blanche's age?

because his mother wants to know. His mother is curious because she wants to know if she'll be able to have grandchildren.

How does Stanley destroy Blanche's plans for the future?

buys a bus ticket so Blanche would "have" to leave

What dramatic function do Steve and Eunice, as a couple, seem to serve?

dramatic tension

What news does Stanley give about Blanche?

how Blanche is

What does Stella say that angers Stanley?

insults him and calls him a greasy, disgusting pig.

How does Stella react to Stanley's revelations about Blanche?

she is angered and refuses to believe them

What are some lies that Blanche tells Mitch?

- Blanche says that Stella is one year older than herself. - She says that she cannot stand a naked light bulb; she does not want harsh light to show her age. - She claims to be adaptable. - She says that she visits Stella because Stella is feeling run down.