1) DIALOGUE:
Focusing on pages 9 - 12 (the second half of Blanche and Stella's conversation):
- The proportion of Blanche's dialogue to Stella's dialogue is 2:1.
- Blanche has several large monologues.
- This makes her seem self-centred.
- Blanche uses hyperbolic language which contrasts Stella's speech as she is a lot more understated in her language.
- Blanche tries to control the conversation.
- She jumps from one topic to another.
- This suggests her insecurity.
- Blanche's dialogue to Stella is motherly.
Throughout the scene:
- Blanche's dialogue is hyperbolic and melodramatic.
- She has LONG TURNS:
- long monologues.
- dominates the conversation.
- Blanche (who uses very figurative/symbolic language as if she her head in the clouds) juxtaposes Stella who is a lot more down-to-earth in the way she speaks (uses high frequency lexis while Blanche).
- There is a POWER SHIFT from when Blanche is having a conversation with her sister Stella to when she speaks with Stanley when they meet for the first time:
- Here Blanche speaks a lot less than when she was in conversation with her younger sister.
- Blanche stutters frequently.
- The length of turns changes as Stanley talks for longer periods of time - he is more self-confident than Blanche as he is in his own environment while Blanche is an outsider.
- This all suggests that Blanche is inferior to Stanley.
- Stanley's aware of his power over Blanche and enjoys it!
2) ATTITUDES:
Focusing on pages 9 - 12 (the second half of Blanche and Stella's conversation):
- Stella is given the stage direction to tell her sister that she's still beautiful and hasn't aged DUTIFULLY.
- This suggests that Stella is tired of constantly having to reassure Blanche as this has been her role in their relationship for a long time.
- Stella is proud of her husband:
- "A Mater Sergeant in the Engineers' Corps. Those are decorations!" (showing Blanche a photograph of Stanley before she meets him for the first time).
- IRONIC: Blanche's dialogue to Stella being motherly, but despite taking on this role (adopting this persona), Blanche is the one who needs looking after.
- Blanche and Stella share a strong sisterly bond so they are pleased to see each other but it doesn't take long for the family feuds to start up again.
- STELLA: But how did it go? What happened?
- BLANCHE [springing up]: You're a fine one to ask me how it went!
- STELLA: Blanche!
- BLANCHE: You're a fine one to sit there accusing me of it!
Throughout the scene:
- Stanley calls Stella "the little woman" which emphasises his power over her and his possessive, controlling attitude.
- Stella also enjoys Stanley's masculine dominance. She likes to wait for her husband to come home and likes the feeling of being obsessed with him:
- STELLA [half to herself]: I can hardly stand it when he is away for a night...
- BLANCHE: Why, Stella?
- STELLA: When he's away for a week I nearly go wild!
- BLANCHE: Gracious!
- STELLA: And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby... [She smiles to herself.]
- To Blanche, Stella is very precious:
- BLANCHE: Stella, oh, Stella, Stella! Stella for Star!
3) STAGE DIRECTIONS:
Focusing on pages 9 - 12 (the second half of Blanche and Stella's conversation):
- Blanche is given a hysterical character through the stage directions:
- [She touches her forehead shakily.]
- Stage directions also tell the audience that Blanche is in constant need of assurance:
- [She laughs nervously and glances at Stella for reassurance.]
- Through the stage directions it is made clear that Stella doesn't want Blanche's motherly attitude.
- [She is embarrassed.]
- [uncomfortably]
Throughout the scene:
- During the opening of the scene (and the entire play), Blanche's stage directions make her seem uncomfortable in her new situation - she's out of place.
- Williams describes her as 'incongruous' (out of place, incompatible, bizarre).
- Her expression is one of shocked disbelief.
- The stage directions offer a background to each character.
- Blanche: [... Her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light. There is something about her uncertain manner, as well as her white clothes, that suggests a moth.] The moth is an interesting image to use to symbolise Blanche as a moth is drawn to a light yet Blanche does everything she can to stay out of direct light, preferring to hide in the shadows with all of her secrets that she harbours from the moment of her arrival at Elysian Fields. She is afraid to get too close to the flame and get burned like moths usually do.
- Stanley: The stage directions given to Stanley during his first appearance suggest that he is all about sex and overpowering women. [ ... He sizes women up at a glance, with sexual classifications, crude images flashing into his mind and determining the way he smiles at them.] This means that we know exactly what he is thinking when he meets Blanche for the first time.
4) KEY QUOTATIONS:
Focusing on pages 9 - 12 (the second half of Blanche and Stella's conversation):
- BLANCHE: You see I still have that awful vanity about my looks even now that my looks are slipping!
- BLANCHE: I guess that is what I meant by being in love...
- STELLA: I assure you I wasn't just blinded by all the brass.
Throughout the scene:
- STANLEY: Some people rarely touch it, but it touches them often.
- STANLEY: Be comfortable is my motto.
- STANLEY: [...] I'm afraid I'll strike you as being the unrefined type. [...]
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