blanche's first appearance
"Her appearance is incongruous to this setting"
Disconnected physically + socially
presents herself as refined, delicate - clashes w the rough, working-class environment of Elysian Fields. âincongruousâ appearance = obviously an outsider who does not belong to the same gritty world Stanlea/Stella live in
also incongruity between her outward appearance and the harsh reality of world
Blanche = fragile
Elegant + fragile blanche links to decline of the Old South - embodies refinement that no longer has a place in modern industrial world (represented by Stanley)
Foreshadowing
lack of harmony between Blanche + surroundings foreshadows tension and conflict between her and Stanley, opposing values/lifestyle
wider contextual issues
Decline of the Old South
replaced by the rise of industrialisation + working class (Stanley). "incongruous" = incompatibility of the 2 worlds
Class + gender
Blancheâs traditional Southern femininity vs Stanleyâs raw masculinity. societal changes in post-war America.
Reality vs Illusion
incongruous appearance = reliance on illusion/pretense to maintain identity. appearance clashing w surroundings shows inability to adapt to reality