Suffering

I,I,I took the blows in my face and my body!

• the "blows" primarily refer to the relentless onslaught of death and decay that Blanche witnessed and had to contend with at Belle Reve.

• The repeated personal prounoun "I" emphasizes her solitary struggle and the immense personal responsibility she bore in the face of these losses.

"There is something about her uncertain manner, as well as her white clothes, that suggests a moth."

• "Uncertain manner": This immediately suggests a lack of stability and confidence. It implies a history of unease, anxiety, and perhaps trauma that has left her hesitant and insecure in her interactions

• The symbolism of white is complex. While often associated with purity and innocence, in this context, particularly juxtaposed with her "uncertain manner," it can also suggest:

  • Vulnerability and Exposure: White is easily stained, highlighting Blanche's vulnerability to the harsh realities of the world and the potential for her delicate facade to be easily damaged. This foreshadows the suffering she will endure as her secrets are revealed and her illusions shattered.

  • Ghostly Presence: White can also evoke a sense of being spectral or otherworldly, suggesting that Blanche is haunted by her past and doesn't fully belong in the present.

"Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh"

• The "loud whack" is a physical act of aggression, a forceful invasion of Stella's personal space. While directed at Stella, it serves as a clear demonstration of Stanley's capacity for violence and his disregard for women's physical boundaries.

• This act of physical intimidation creates an atmosphere of threat and foreshadows the more brutal suffering Blanche will later endure.

"You're not clean enough to bring in the house with my mother"

• He deems her morally "unclean," unworthy of his respect and, more importantly, unworthy of being presented to his revered mother.

• This inflicts deep personal humiliation and shatters Blanche's fragile hope for a stable and respectable future with Mitch. and highlights the social stigma attached to female sexuality outside of societal norms

"We've had this date with each-other from the beginning."

• Stanley's assertion that their "date" was set "from the beginning" suggests a sense of inevitability about their conflict and its tragic outcome.

• The word "date" takes on a sinister connotation in this context. It's not a consensual encounter but a preordained moment of Stanley asserting his power over Blanche. His language is predatory, casting him as the dominant force destined to confront and ultimately overpower her fragile existence.

"[He picks up her inert figure and carries her to the bed]"

• "Inert" means lacking the ability or strength to move or act. This starkly illustrates the complete loss of Blanche's agency and her utter powerlessness in this moment.

• Stanley's action, devoid of any tenderness or remorse, signifies the triumph of brute force and primal desire over Blanche's fragile gentility and her desperate attempts to create a world of illusion

I can’t be alone! Because—as you must have noticed—I’m—not very well . . .

• The emphatic "I can’t be alone!" underscores Blanche's deep-seated terror of solitude. This fear stems from her past traumas, the social ostracization she has faced, and her increasing inability to cope with reality.

• Repetition: The repetition of "I" at the beginning of the sentence emphasizes Blanche's personal and desperate plea.

• Ellipsis: The pauses indicated by the ellipsis ("—") in her speech convey her hesitation, fragility, and difficulty in expressing her true state.

“The music of the polka rises up”

• plastic theatre - reveals Blanche’s inner psychological state as she is confronted by her past

“The blue piano sounds louder”

• blue piano represents Blanche’s loneliness and melancholy

Callaghan

Blanche's suffering stems from a patriarchal society that punishes female sexuality and independence

Vlasopolos

interprets Blanche's downfall as a condemnation of a society that destroys sensitive and vulnerable individuals. Stanley embodies the crude and unforgiving aspects of this new, post-war America, and his actions are the catalyst for Blanche's final descent into madness and suffering.

Tragic Heroine

Tragic Heroine: Blanche can be seen as a modern tragic heroine, a character with inherent flaws and vulnerabilities who is ultimately destroyed by external forces and her own internal struggles. Her suffering follows a tragic trajectory of descent from a precarious hope to utter despair.