Studied by 1 person
Texts: A Streetcar Named Desire (in progress) The Penelopiad (in progress) The World's Wife (not started)
ASCND — Motif — Light
As a whole, light represents Blanche’s youth and past. Throughout the play, she constantly avoids being seen in it, demonstrating her fear to face reality/hiding from the past.
never being in direct light when with Mitch → “”
Bright light represents Blanche’s youthful sexual innocence, while poor light represents her sexual maturity and disillusionment.
“It was like you suddenly turned a blinding light on something that had always been half in shadow, that’s how it struck the world for me.”
Blanche on falling in love with her husband
“And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that’s stronger than this—kitchen—candle…”
Blanche on the death of her husband (first love)
Blanche’s inability to tolerate light means that her grasp on reality is also nearing its end.
The paper lantern is removed when the truth about Blanche is revealed.
[Blanche] “When people are soft--soft people have got to shimmer and glow--they've got to put on soft colors, the colors of butterfly wings, and put a--paper lantern over the light.... It isn't enough to be soft.”
Context: Stanley is hints at Blanche’s past, scaring her; she then tries to explain what happened through veiled comments/without revealing anything to her sister
Role of Women
the unreal/impossible expectations set on women: emphasized through the repetition of softness
Characterisation of Blanche
the metaphor of the paper lantern signifies how women have to ‘dim’ down their personality, much like Blanche does - she ‘dims’ down her desire/sexual nature in order to seem like a Southern Belle
“[He tears the paper lantern off the light bulb. She utters a frightened gasp.]”
Context: Mitch wants to know the full truth about Blanche
Blanche Characterisation
Stage direction represents the beginning of Blanche’s downfall; she is no longer ‘protected’ by the lantern as Mitch has been made aware of her sexual past by Stanley
[Stanley] “You come in here and sprinkle the place with powder and spray perfume and cover the light bulb with a paper lantern, and lo and behold the place has turned into Egypt and you are the Queen of the Nile!”
Context: final conflict between Stanley and Blanche as Stanley refutes all of her lies
Materialism/Wealth
polysyndeton → emphasizes how Blanche attempted to
ASCND — Motif — Bathing
biblical allusion to the purification of water
Blanche washes herself to rid herself of her past, but as she continues bathing, she is never rid from the past nor her reputation.
look if she was interrupted from her bathing
Stanley also uses bathing as a means to purify his actions.
His friends make him shower, so as to sober him up and calm him down, after he hits Stella. When he comes out, he is remorseful and brings Stella home.
ASCND — Motif — Alcoholism
Both Blanche and Stanley drink a lot throughout the play and in both cases leads to destructive behaviour.
Blanche’s drinking is anti-social as she tries to keep it secret. It is her way to deal with everything going on in her life (loss of husband, deaths in the family, loss of job and home, loss of reputation).
furthers her delusions, such as escaping with Shep Huntleigh
alcohol only continues her downward spiral into insanity as it only furthers her delusions
Stanley’s drinking is social as he drinks with his friends at poker or when celebrating his wedding or the birth of his child.
turns to domestic violence
he bounces back (eg. Stella forgives him) from his drunken escapades
ASCND — Motif — Music
Blanche hears music throughout the play.
Blue Piano — represents her loneliness, depression, and longing for love; as such, it only plays in moments when she is left alone or when she is hopeful
Varsouvania/Polka — is a reminder of her husband; shows the trauma she has due to his suicide; hits at her growing madness
once she hears the gunshot she calms down“”
starts playing when Stanley asks about her husband “”
ASCND — Symbols — Names of Locations/Objects
The Streetcars “Desire” and “Cemeteries” :
represent the emotional death that was caused by Blanche's desires
the Streetcar “Desire” represents the sexual tension between characters and is mainly heard in scenes with Stanley and Blanche, including when he rapes her
Elysian Fields:
contrast with the Champs Elysees as it is a working class neighbourhood and not a luxurious one
Blanche’s disbelief at her being in Elysian Fields when she arrives highlights the theme of Reality vs Expectation/Fantasy
Belle Reve:
means “beautiful dream”
indicates that their home was just a dream and that it was not going to last forever
Laurel:
Blanche and Stella’s hometown
Symbol for victory → Blanche leaving indicates that she has lost her power/social status
ASCND — Symbols — Colours
White stands for purity, innocence, perfection and virginity and is often worn by Blanche.
This association stands in complete contrast to her actual behaviour and actions: Blanche is a seductive and promiscuous woman, who lies in order to maintain her image.
“She is daintily dressed in a white suit with a fluffy bodice, necklace and ear-rings of pearl, white gloves and a hat…”
Red symbolises love, passion, fertility, fire and blood, making this the first time that her outer appearance actually matches her intentions.
She changes her clothes from soft colours to strong bold ones for the first time in Scene 9: “She has on her scarlet satin robe”.
As she is meeting Mitch in this scene, it shows the seductress in her and hints at her promiscuous past.
However, after Mitch refuses to marry her, she wears a white satin evening gown, implying her return to her habit of soft colours in order to underline her pureness and virtuous nature.
Blue symbolises truth and masculinity and is often worn by Stanley and Mitch.
In Scene 9, when Blanche is wearing the red robe, Mitch “comes around the corner in work clothes: blue denim shirt and pants”, symbolizing a clash between femininity and masculinity
TP — Motifs — Beauty
It is considered to be one of the most valuable qualities a woman can have, though it also presents a danger to women.
Helen and Penelope’s rivalry → women are isolated by petty rivalries created by men placing importance on beauty
Trojan War starts because of Helen and Paris
The Maids are possibly hanged due to Eurycleia’s jealousy towards them
It is also used as a tool for women to use it to their advantage.
The Maids being taught to value their beauty from a young age and to use it to their get information from the Suitors
However, it is still shown as a weapon used against them as they end up being raped by the Suitors and killed by Odysseus.
TP — Motif — Weaving & Spinning
It plays into the theme of storytelling and its subjectivity.
This can be seen with Penelope referring to wanting to tell her version of events by wanting to “spin a thread of her own“.
Act of spinning to protect herself from the Suitors: not only is she lying to the Suitors, but she is also possibly lying to the readers as during this time she denies having slept with any of the Suitors, but the Maids claim that she does; it also shows weaving (considered to be women’s work) to be a source of power and agency for Penelope as it protects her freedom
It also serves as an additional allusion to the three Fates in Greek mythology.
Three Fates: sisters that decides the fate of men
the fact that they are women shows once again the power and influence that comes from weaving
TP — Motif — Water
It represents freedom and strength as water cannot be constrained — it is patient and persistent. Penelope’s connection with water gives her strength and plays an important role in her character and links her to her parents.
Her father tries to drown her in the ocean when she is still a baby
This leads to her being scared of the ocean → symbolises her strained relationship with her mother
Her mother’s advice is what encourages her to start weaving as a way to stall the Suitors
Penelope also uses water in the form of tears to help victimise herself in her story.
It also is the physical manifestation of her loneliness as water is what caused her to have a difficult relationship with her father and her mother. Additionally, Poseidon, the God of the Sea, kept Odysseus away from her for an additional 10 years.
TP — Symbols — Shroud
This is a symbol of the limited power of women as the only way that she could avoid getting married to any of the Suitors is by performing a religious task, indicating the importance of religion in society and the role of women.
The Suitors could not do anything because it was “so extremely pious”
This also shows how women were forced to turn to crafts and secrecy in order to maintain their freedom and are demonized for doing so: the shroud being referred to “Penelope’s Web”.
TP — Symbols — Boats/Ships
The idea of sailing and boats indicates a significant change in life which can be both positive and negative.
Penelope does not like boats/sailing: she has a difficult relationship with water and does not trust boats; Odysseus is prevented from returning for 10 years due to Poseidon destroying his ship
The Maids like sailing: see it as a way out from their lives — a life where they are not “dirty girls“
Storytelling & Truth
Penelope:
The Maids:
ASCND — Importance of Social Status
[Blanche] “Oh, I guess he’s [Stanley] just not the type that goes for jasmine perfume, but maybe he’s what we need to mix with out blood now that we’ve lost Belle Reve.” (Sc 2)
shows how she believes that Stanley lacks refinement to appreciate fine taste (jasmine symbolises elegance and sensuality) represdue to his social status
shown through metonymy + flower symbolism
she also suggests that under normal circumstances, Stanley would be a poor choice of a husband for member of the DuBois family due to his being part of the working class
Men’s Insecurities & Emotional Fragility
[Stanley] “But what I am is a one hundred percent American, born and raised in the greatest country on earth and proud as hell of it, so don't ever call me a Polack.” (Sc 8)
indicates Stanley’s insecurity about his nationality and asserts his american-ness through anger
indicated by tone + hyperbole
[Blanche] “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” (Sc 11)
Reality vs Fantasy // Insanity
irony → the kindness that she depended on from strangers was sex; otherwise, she never received any sympathy from anyone — shows her complete detachment from reality
[Mitch] “Poker should not be played in a house with women.” (Sc 3)
Role of Women
repetition of this quote indicates the belief that women are soft and gentle, and should not be mixed with the roughness of poker
Masculinity
the blame being placed on poker rather than Stanley for hitting his wife shows how men were not held accountable for their actions
Note 
Flashcard (97)