Scene 5 and Scene 6

How and why does the tension increase?

• Blanche's presence gets progressively more unbearable for Stanley .
• This causes more and more tension not only between Stanley and Blanche but also Stanley and Stella.
• As Stanley starts to dig up (and reveal) Blanche's past, the tension between the two characters increases further.
• He is revealing her deepest, darkest secrets which she wants hidden.
• E.g.: his mention of Hotel Flamingo made Blanche very uncomfortable.
• Blanche's real age is a constant problem.
• It's a struggle and an obstacle for her.
• It also causes tension between the two sisters because Stella is tired of constantly having to reassure Blanche - everything revolves around Blanche and her vanity.
• Stanley is a topic that causes tension between Blanche and Mitch because Blanche is afraid that Stanley will reveal the truth about her past to Mitch..
• This also creates a conflict between Mitch and Stanley, who have been friends for a long time, because they have different - very contrasting - perceptions of Blanche. 

What is the power structure in these two scenes?

• The fact that Stanley is looking into and revealing Blanche's past weakens Blanche and shifts even more of the power over to Stanley.
• Blanche is losing her grip on reality and Stella has to care for her. 
• Their roles (big sister - little sister) have switched.
• Stella has more power - she is stronger (both emotionally and mentally)
• Blanche puts up a strong front for Mitch.
• She makes herself seem more powerful than him due to her 'ability to resist temptation' - makes him have respect for her.#
• Blanche's past makes her weak - as more of it is revealed, she becomes progressively more vulnerable.
• There is a sense of irony here as revealing secrets should be liberating!
• After Blanche talks about her past (her young love who died) to Mitch, there is a POWER SHIFT.
• Mitch becomes the stronger character of the two as he comforts the weak, vulnerable and broken Blanche.

MITCH

During these two scenes a bit more is revealed about the character of Mitch:

• When he sees Blanche, he is excited - bouncy and joyful.
• This suggests that he is beginning to fall in love.
• He is clearly very fond of her.
• He is awkward.
• He asked Blanche for permission to kiss her so he lost the exciting spontaneity of new love.
• He is very awkward in all his interactions with her.
• He is quite shy - ashamed of his body.
• But Blanche makes him more comfortable and accepting of himself.
• Mitch is very naïve which makes him vulnerable.
• He is very emotional.

AFTER SCENE SIX THERE IS A NATURAL PAUSE IN THE PLAY!
This is due to the time gap between the end of Scene 6 and the beginning of Scene Seven. Scene Seven begins again in mid-September while all of the previous scenes took place in early May.