stage directions

“atmosphere of decay”

scene 1

the south is losing it’s idendity with the absence of slavery.

but its a slow gradual process of evolving and changing from the old agricutual south to the new industrialised south.

“faded white stairs”

scene 1

cultural nostigla towards this era but the stairs represent limitinaty and the changing of status levels therefore are embaltic of the old south.

the transitional and limintay of the time introduced

“early intermingling of races in the old part of town”

scene 1

cultural+ social backdrop of New Orleans established with the conflict bewteen the new and old south being established with the ethnic minoritys occupying previously old south areas.

“the coloured women”

scene 1

williams also pointing out how things haven’t really changed as racial tensions still play a prominent role in society as she’s defined by her ethinicy with no name given for the rest of the play. while New Orleans may be comprativley more progressive and liberal it is still below the mason-dixen line; therefore the past of slavery still haunted them.

“raffish charm”

scene 1

gendered nostigla as society both definined itself and propagated ideas about hegemonic masc/fem. 

“peak of their physcial manhood”

scene 3

men’s physcaility noted as this suggesting that they have great physical power over women that extends to economic and social.

“as coarse and direct as and powerful as the primary colours”

scene 3

the height of their masculinity is represented in how they wear the bold and bright colours that emphasise their presence and pronspirtity to violence in sharp contrast to blanche’s white.

“the kitchen now suggests that sort of lurid nocturnal brilliance, the raw colours of childhood’s spectrum”

scene 3

taking up the space thypsically associated with women showing how they dominated every part of the house

plastic theatre

stark contrast to blanche and how she likes the lighting to be gentle and soft, not loud and abrasive

“bedroom is relatively dim”

scene 3

pushing the women into the private sphere, forcefully taking up space and demanding attention by ensuring the women don’t get any (the lighting)

“early morning- there is a confusion of street cries like a chorus choir”

scene 4

choral chorus references greek tradgeys, suggesting that williams wrote this as a tragedy

New Orleans atmosphere is non-stop, and similar to how blanch ages, the city and its residents lives go on uniterppretesd.

“the afternoon has faded to dusk”

scene 5

the weather symbolises blanche as the light (her youth, attractiveness and social power) is declining in power, with the rise of the industiasied lights taking power being symbolic of stanley’s increasing domanice.

“electric fan is turning back and forth”

scene 9

blanche’s attempt to replicate her old life, but as its a poor imitatation her lack of integration towards the new south is emphasised.

“on the table besides the chair is a bottle of liquor and a glass”

scene 9

blanche’s alohoncism is evidnet, possibly being interpreted as her acknowledging the futility of concealing her past or less attractive habits any longer.

“the rapid, feverish polka tone, the ‘varsourina’ is heard”

scene 9

expressionist theathre- the loud, tense music establishes a chaotic atmosphere; is representative of how blanche may view the situation all together.

“night is filled with inhuman voices”

scene 10

raw brutality of Stan is highlighted as as the ‘gaudy seed bearer’ reputation is confirmed. blanche’s victimhood is heightend as the systemic destruction ends in her rape.

“The atmosphere of the kitchen is now the same raw, lurid one of the distarious poker night”

scene 11

masculinity’s presence is less obvious making the tone more subdue, but it emphasis how life continues in spite of injustices and mysgoniy.