Symbolism in streetcar
something about her delicate nature suggests a moth
Stage directions, scene 1
"Hey, there! Stella, Baby!...Catch!...Meat!" -Stan "'[He heaves the package at her. She cries out in protest but manages to catch it; then she laughs breathlessly...]"'(14)- Stage Directions. "'...[They all laugh; the colored woman does not stop. Stella goes out.]"
A symbol is meat- In Scene One, Stanley throws a package of meat at Stella for her to catch.When Stanley hurled the meat at Stella, Eunice and the Negro woman began to laugh. Most likely, they've picked up on the sexual reference behind the gesture of this process. By doing this gesture(throwing meat), Stanley states his sexual ownership over Stella. Stella 's response of delight in catching Stanley 's meat signifies her sexual infatuation with him.
"... And turn that over-light off! Turn that off! I won't be looked at in this merciless glare!..."'(19) Blanche to Stella (scene one)
Another motif is light- throughout this play and in scene one she (Blanche) avoids appearing directly in bright lights. She doesn't want to be seen in light because she doesn't want her true self to be revealed;her appearance . The darkness hides her, and she feels comfortable in a blanket of illusions because her entire life has been a lie. Fake, just like what she presents herself to be.
"But don't you look at me, Stella, no, no, no, not till later, not till I've bathed and rested!..."
Blanche to Stella, scene one - a motif is bathing - Blanche constantly attempts to cleanse herself of her odious(extremely unpleasant) history by bathing. She feels that she isn't clean due to her past sins, so she constantly bathes to give herself some type of relief. . This can be seen in scene one, when Blanche meets Stella for the first time. Blanche makes a fuss on not allowing Stella to look at her until she have bathed.
[he hurls a plate to the floor] That's how I'll clear the table! [He seizes her arm.] Don't ever talk that way to me! 'Pig - Polack - disgusting - vulgar - greasy!' - them kind of words have been on your tongue and your sister's too much around here! ... Remember what Huey Long said - 'Every Man is a King!' And I am the king around here, so don't forget it! [He hurls a cup and saucer to the floor.] My place is cleared!
Scene 8
Her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light
Stage directions, scene 1
They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off at—Elysian Fields!
Scene 1 Land of the dead for soldiers and heroes in Greek mythology - foreshadows her end is inevitable Desire and death connected
Music It's only a paper moon, Just as phony as it can be-But it wouldn't be make-believe If you believed in me!
Scene 7 Bathing
