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SCENE 1, (One evening in May 1947, Eunice is talking to a neighbour…
SCENE 1
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ANALYSIS
The first scene introduces several important themes related to Blanche's weaknesses. Quite early on we discover her craving for drink. We also realise this does not go unnoticed by either her sister or her brother-in-law - his remark 'Liquor goes fast in hot weather' (p. 14) indicates this. In a play the point is stressed by repetitive action, while in a novel it might be made by the authorial voice.
We also see Blanche's awareness of social distinctions, which shows itself in the offhand manner in which she takes for granted both Eunice's and her neighbour's acts of kindness.
To Blanche these are services to be expected of her social inferiors. Her attitude towards these two women prepares us for her condemnation of Stella's way of life, and, implicitly, of her husband.
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There is pathos in this: Blanche is afraid of growing old and losing her looks, and needs flattery to banish her terrors. Appealing in her vulnerability, she is nevertheless very much the older sister, treating Stella as a child and expecting her to run errands.
Our attention is drawn immediately to Blanche - the greater part of the scene is devoted to building up her character by showing her actions and her reactions to the other characters (see Blanche in Characters and Themes).
Extract analysis: Scene 1, p.11-12
This passage is a rich example of Tennessee Williams’s skill in layering dialogue with character revelation, thematic development, and dramatic tension.
Scene Context
• Early in A Streetcar Named Desire, shortly after Blanche’s arrival.
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Blanche:
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• Guilt & defensiveness: Her anger masks shame about the loss of Belle Reve—“attack is the best defence.”
• Self-dramatising: Uses exaggerated language (“fought and bled”) and theatrical gestures (handkerchief to forehead).
• Oblique truth-telling: Avoids giving Stella a clear account of what happened, suggesting evasion, confusion, or a mental disconnection from reality.
• Haunted by death: Gruesome imagery of funerals and dying bodies; references to physical wounds and the “Grim Reaper.”
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Stella:
• Emotionally restrained: A contrast to Blanche’s hysteria; tries to extract practical details calmly.
• Silence as strength: Her stillness and lack of verbal protest express deeper feelings than Blanche’s outbursts.
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Dramatic techniques
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• Belle Reve isn’t just a house—it’s a symbol of the Old South, of Blanche’s identity, and of her downfall.
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• Blanche’s descriptions of death at Belle Reve highlight how deeply she is affected by loss and trauma.
• Her vivid, grotesque memories suggest that mental deterioration was already beginning before she arrived in New Orleans.
- Sexual Jealousy and Resentment:
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Dialogue as revelation:
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• The balance of power shifts subtly throughout—Stella’s silence gains force, while Blanche becomes more exposed.
Stage directions:
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• Examples: Blanche’s handkerchief, Stella’s gaze on her hands, the physical layout of the kitchen—all build atmosphere.
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AO5 – Interpretations
• Some critics view Blanche’s account as self-absorbed, lacking empathy for the dead.
• Others argue her detached tone is a form of emotional self-protection—a woman pushed to her limits, clinging to fragments of dignity.
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• Her resentment of Stella isn’t just class-based—it’s sexual and psychological, rooted in abandonment and isolation.
One evening in May 1947, Eunice is talking to a neighbour outside her home in the ironically named Elysian Fields, a shabby street in a poor district of New Orleans.
Stanley Kowalski and Mitch arrive, on their way to go bowling. Stanley throws his wife Stella some meat.
• Blanche DuBois arrives, looking for her sister Stella's apartment. As Eunice and her husband Steve own the apartment, Eunice is able to let Blanche in.
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• When Stella arrives, the sisters embrace, but there is an undercurrent of tension.
Blanche is critical of the apartment, then admits the loss of the family home, Belle Reve.
• Stanley greets Blanche pleasantly, but there is an uneasy atmosphere. Blanche tells him about the death of her husband some years ago.
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