Street care - character analysis

Blanche DuBois

comes from a formerly wealthy southern family that owned a plantation called Bell Reeves
raised as a refined lady and represents old America high class standards
She wants a man to protects her, these are seen in the form of Mitch, her young husband and, Shep Huntleigh. “papers left in your big strong capable hands” - Act 3
she is often wearing silks and jewelry representing her high class nature, or what’s left of it, and the red symbolizes how she has become a sex symbol
She uses desire and illusion “i don’t want reality” to suppress the reality of death and loss
when she arrives at the apartment, to the audience she’s a desperate women that clearly has issues, as she lies about drinking and constantly wants to be in the dark, however to others in the play she displays a somewhat put together southern bell exterior.
Blanches ladylike affections clash with gruff Stanley’s crude manners
The rape of blanch is her breaking point as in that situation, the one tool she relied on is now no longer her own and she is forced to realize how powerless she is to new America (symbolized by Stanley)

Stanley Kowalski

A crude, domineering man, and sees himself as the ruler of his family, as described in the opening
Depicted in blue denim and bowling which was common amongst the working classes which he is from
When he feels the power structure is being threatened he can become violent
Strong sexual bond with his wife
The opposite of Blanches fictional mentality, as he is bluntly honest and often destroys her fantasies
Sees her as a threat to his family order as stella slowly starts to be more vocal around him
Often doesn’t take responsibility and hates being called a polak

Stella Kowalski

Mitch

there characteristics often reflect upon how they see the world

Blanch: sextual and lives in her own fantasy

Stanley: sexual carnal drive about him that binds him to stella. he uses this sexual energy as a weapon in order to dominate her

Stella: drawn to Stanley due to her need to fulfil his desires

light and flowers

LIGHT

both dim and bright lights is used to underscore the theme of truth verse illusion
Dim light is used to represent blanches world of illusion, as it helps to discus the truth about herself - examples:
1) blanches askes mitch to put a paper lantern to dim the light to hid her true age
2) Mitch brings up the fact that she’s never choses to be seen in the “harsh glair” (act 1 she refers to the light as a “merciless glair”) of the son and mitch finds it strange as he’s never gotten a “real good look” at her
Blanche is worried that if he finds out about her age and past that he wont want to marry her, and she’s desperately in need of PROTECTION
When he finds out the truth he rips of the paper lantern symbolizing her being exposed to reality
Harsh light represents the necked truth “ no just realistic”

Flowers

Connection between desire and death
Stella complements Blanche “you look as fresh as a daisy” and blanch replies with “one that’s been plucked a few days” references death in her reply
Mitch brings blanche blanche roses expressing his desire fore her, after blanches inappropriate interaction with the young delivery boy
when mitch and Blanche fall out a Mexican women selling funeral flowers appears

Motif

BLUE PIANO:

Refers to the blues, music played to reflect on life’s hardships, opens and closes the play

Grows louder when black and stella argue about leaving,
when blanche is flirting with the young man
when Stanley prepares to rape blanch, at which it turns into the roar of a train which is a new modern thing which is what blanche is not

PAPER MOON

song appears only once when blanch is in the bath and Stanley is telling Stella the truth about Blanche’s past

Focuses on one of her issues of truth vs illusion - “it wouldn’t be make believe if you believed in me”

VARSOUVIANA POLKA

combination of desire, truth and death that haunts her.