Themes
Who said it?
What does that mean?
Why...?
Mixed bag
100
Blanche & Stanley
Who represents the "Old South" vs. "New South"
100
"...I've got to be good...and keep my hands off children."
Who is Blanche?
100
"...I've got to be good...and keep my hands off children."
Shows Blanche's state of mind and hypocrisy; she condemns Stella & Stanley's desires, but her desires are much more inappropriate.
100
Why does Blanche fear the Mexican Woman?
Because the Mexican Woman represents Death.
100
Could never be satisfied by Blanche
Who is Allan Gray, Blanche's husband.
200
Paper Lantern, keeping things 'dark', Blanche's fantasy world
What represents "Illusion" or Fantasy
200
"I'm afraid I'll strike you as the unrefined type."
Who is Stanley?
200
“I am not a Polack. People from Poland are Poles, not Polacks. 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.”
Stanley is exposing Blanche’s ignorance and bigotry about the immigrants who are willing to work hard to earn a place in American society. His type, hard working and working class, is rapidly replacing the relics of the Old South, like Blanche, who are no longer superior either socially or financially
200
Why is Blanche's bathing scene different at the end of the play than in the beginning?
Earlier her bathing represented trying to wash away her sins; now it represents trying to wash away Stanley's violation of her.
200
What is significant about Blanche singing the song "Paper Moon"?
It represents her need for Mitch to believe the fantasy and illusion she's creating.
300
Elysian Fields, Cemeteries Streetcar, the loss of Belle Reve
What represents the theme of Death/Dying
300
"Flores para los muertos..." ("Flowers for the dead...")
Who is the Mexican Woman
300
"Flores para los muertos..." ("Flowers for the dead...")
Blanche's desires have led to her symbolic death.
300
Although the censors wouldn't allow him to portray it on stage, why does Williams choose to merely 'suggest' that a rape occured?
To suggest that the rape was so brutally cruel that it could only be left to the imagination.
300
Why does Stella now represent Fantasy/Illusion?
Stella admits that she may have entered a world of make-believe when she says that she cannot believe Blanche’s story about the rape and continue to live with Stanley.
400
Blanche's inappropriate advances toward the paper boy; Stanley and Stella's strong sexual chemistry
What represents the theme of Desire?
400
"I am not a Polack. People from Poland are Poles, not Polacks. 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.”
Who is Stanley?
400
Blanche speaking French to Mitch, even when he says he doesn't understand the language.
It represents their failure to communicate; Blanche can't be honest about her desires and uses the language to keep Mitch 'in the dark' and keep a feeling of superiority over Mitch.
400
Why can't Stella & Eunice accept that Blanche was raped by Stanley?
Both women suffer physical violence at the hands of their husband but are completely dependant upon their husbands for survival. Acknowledging the truth about Blanche and Stanley would require them to acknowledge their husbands’ brutality and interfere with their survival. Life “going on” depends on having the social protection of marriage and a family, regardless of the cost.
400
What is significant about Blanche wearing 'soiled and wrinkled' clothing at the end of the play?
It represents the decline of Blanche and how her image is now tarnished and dirty.
500
Shep Huntleigh is married and not going to rescue Blanche; Stanley is "what you see is what you get" and doesn't play Blanche's game of flattery and phony compliments.
What is "Reality"?
500
“He came to me for help. I didn’t know that. I didn’t find out anything until after our marriage when we’d run away and come back and all I knew was I’d failed him in some mysterious way and wasn’t able to give the help he needed but couldn’t speak of!”
Who is Blanche?
500
"The game is seven-card stud."
The game of poker is a symbol of the deception and bluffing that has taken place in the Kowalski house.
500
Why does Stella cry uncontrollably at the end of the play?
Stella cries for herself, for Blanche, and for the fact that a part of her is glad to see Blanche go. She cries for her sister but also because she realizes the illusion of her own life. Stella cannot believe Blanche’s story, but she cannot completely deny it either. She accepts Stanley’s comfort because it conforms to the script Stella needs for life to go on.
500
Provide at least 2 examples of how Stanley is Blanche's "executioner".
1) He rapes her 2) He turns Stella away from Blanche 3) He tells Mitch the truth about her
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