Henry Suarez

Ms. Sang
IB Language and Literature 12
Due: 7 September 2023

Part 1: Analysis Journal

Fact Explanation

Segregation was an important subject all

throughout the United States in the
1940s. New Orleans wasn’t an exception
in this, creating a segregated experience
Segregation in housing, education, and employment.
This is important in the play because we
can see that Blanche is weary of the
people from New Orleans. We also know
that the upstairs neighbor, Eunice, has an
African American friend, creating tension
in their initial meeting.

New Orleans has always been known for

its great cultural diversity and the melting
pot of many races and ethnicities. Some
of these include African Americans,
Cajuns, Creoles, and European
Cultural Diversity immigrants. This is evident in the
description of certain characters. It is also
shown in the french which Blanche is able
to speak due to knowing so many people
from different places.

There has always been a bright and

popular music culture in the state of
Louisiana. The largest city of this state
being New Orleans, also was the one with
the richest nightlife, therefore creating a
great culture of music. The theme of
Jazz and Music Culture music is extremely important in this play
as it is used as a tool to enhance scenes
by the author through stage directions.
The musical culture in New Orleans
helped the author be able to include such
Jazz in order to put emphasis on more
colluded scenes, creating a blurry space

Gambling Scene
Storyville’s Closure
Quote
“BLANCHE:
Oh, I'm not going to be hypocritical, I'm
going to be honestly critical about it!
Never, never, never in my worst dreams
could I picture--Only Poe! Only Mr. Edgar
Allan Poe!--could do it justice! Out there I
suppose is the ghoul-haunted woodland
of Weir!” (p. 9).
“[She backs out of sight. He advances
and disappears. There is the sound of a
blow. Stella cries out. Blanche screams
and runs into the kitchen. The men rush
forward and there is grappling and
cursing. Something is overturned with a
crash.]” (p. 57).
such as the one inside Blanche’s head.
The gambling scene in New Orleans was
extremely popular, with plenty of illegal
gambling in casinos, bookmaking, and
underground card games. Gambling in
this time was illegal however there was
an extensive history of underground
gambling in this period. The relevance of
this is clear in the often poker games
played between Stanley and his friends.
Storyville was a redlight district that
housed illegal activities until its closure in
1917. The following years, its activities
and people spread around other parts of
New Orleans. The impact of this is clear
in the play, as there is evidence of the
party life all around New Orleans through
music, game, and Eunice complains to
Steve about things like this. “I wouldn't
mind if you'd stay down at the Four
Deuces, but you always going up.”
Analysis
This quote sets the tone for Blanche’s
character throughout the play. It
demonstrates her upbringing and the way
she is already used to a high-life of
glamor. The quote also shows the vast
knowledge that Blanche has of many
different things such as literature, music,
and as we later see in the play,
languages.
These stage directions show the
interaction between Stanley and Stella
after she complains during the poker
game. The fight between Stanley and
Stella show the state of their relationship
after Blanche arrived, and the way she is
making Stella talk back to Stanley. Still,
this is not the first time that Stanley goes

“STELLA:
Yes, you are, Blanche. I know how it must
have seemed to you and I'm awful sorry it
had to happen, but it wasn't anything as
serious as you seem to take it. In the first
place, when men are drinking and playing
poker anything can happen. It's always a
powder-keg. He didn't know what he was
doing.... He was as good as a lamb when
I came back and he's really very, very
ashamed of himself.” (p. 64).
“BLANCHE:
Young man! Young, young, young man!
Has anyone ever told you that you look
like a young Prince out of the Arabian
Nights?
[The Young Man laughs uncomfortably
and stands like a bashful kid. Blanche
speaks softly to him.]
Well, you do, honey lamb! Come here. I
want to kiss you, just once, softly and
sweetly on your mouth!
[Without waiting for him to accept, she
crosses quickly to him and presses her
lips to his.]
Now run along, now, quickly! It would be
nice to keep you, but I've got to be
good--and keep my hands off children.”
(p.88).
“STANLEY:
Oh! So you want some rough-house! All
right, let's have some rough-house!
[He springs toward her, overturning the
table. She cries out and strikes at him
berserk, as is shown some lines further
down, when Stella retells the story of how
Stanley took a slipper and started
smashing light-bulbs.
In this quote, Stella and Blanche are
talking about the events mentioned in the
previous quote. Those of the fight
between Stanley and Stella. After this
fight, Stella goes and sleeps with Stanley,
and Blanche spends the night not
knowing where Stella was. When Stella
explains this, Blanche is shocked and
appalled. That goes to show the different
perspectives in independence that Stella
and Blanche have. The fact that Stella is
defending Stanley after he hit her also
demonstrates the weak mental fortitude
that Stella has. The quote gives some
perspective into the relationship between
Stanley and Stella.
This quote is one that I did not expect
when reading the play, it left me surprised
when I read it, not because I didn’t expect
it, but because of the amount of time that
Blanche spent trying to deny this side of
her life/personality. On the other hand, the
quote shows everything that was said of
Blanche’s personality, confirming her life
in Lourdes, Mississippi. That life that
Stanley criticized so much and that lead
her to be fired from her job as a teacher.
The importance of this quote is self
explanatory as this is the climax of the
play. It’s also the ending of Scene 10,
marking the beginning of the conclusion.
This play is an eternal crescendo, until it
with the bottle top but he catches her
wrist.]
Tiger--tiger! Drop the bottle top! Drop it!
We've had this date with each other from
the beginning!
[She moans. The bottle top falls. She
sinks to her knees. He picks up her inert
figure and carries her to the bed. The hot
trumpet and drums from the Four Deuces
sound loudly.]” (p.141).
peaks at this crude scene described only
in a feeling of fear and disgust. All the
anger and hatred built up by Stanley on
Blanche are spilt over in this dramatic
scene, where Stanley decides to take
advantage of Blanche. The scene is
powerful for all the wrong reasons. It
makes the reader feel as if they are
watching this scene unfold, ending with a
closing door that leaves the audience
shocked and appalled at what was to
come next.

Element Example Explanation

Foreshadowing “He sizes women up at a This stage direction used

glance, with sexual
classifications, crude
images flashing into his
mind and determining the
way he smiles at them.”
(p.21).
in the beginning of the play
is used to give a hint or
clue to the following events
involving the character.
This is specifically
important at the end of
Scene 10 when Stanley
starts grinning before
forcing himself onto
Blanche.

Imagery “She sprays herself with Imagery is displayed

her atomizer; then playfully
sprays him with it. He
seizes the atomizer and
slams it down on the
dresser. She throws back
her head and laughs.”
(p.36).
throughout the play due to
it being a script to
something meant for a
visual representation. The
stage directions narrate the
stage design, the actions,
and the tones that the
characters are to take. This
makes the play very lively
for the reader, without
needing to see it visually.
Personally, I am very good
at portraying books I read
as if they were scenes
happening right in front of
me, all in my imagination.
 This play made that
process extremely easy.

Symbolism “The Varsouviana music The Varsouviana in this

steals in softly and play is the indication of any
continues playing.” (p.120). time that Blanche starts
going into hysteria. Each
time that you start hearing
this song you know that
Blanche is going through
an anxiety attack or a
scene of intense pressure.

Allusion "And if God choose, I shall There are multiple

but love thee
better--after--death!" Why,
that's from my favorite
sonnet by Mrs. Browning!”
(p.52).
allusions throughout the
play, this is one of those.
There are also allusions to
other writers such as
Edgar Allen Poe.

Stage Directions “The exterior of a two-story The stage directions

corner building on a street
in New Orleans which is
named Elysian Fields and
runs between the L & N
tracks and the river. The
section is poor but, unlike
corresponding sections in
other American cities, it
has a raffish charm. The
houses are mostly white
frame, weathered gray,
with rickety outside stairs
and galleries and quaintly
ornamented gables. This
building contains two flats,
upstairs and down. Faded
white stairs ascend to the
entrances of both.” (p.1).
spread throughout the play
create the scenery and
visual representation that it
wants and needs to
portray. The author uses
these stage directions not
only to give the stage and
characters their necessary
characteristics, however
they also serve to give the
reader context as to what
type of setting and mood is
being used in the current
scene.

Trait Example Explanation

Blanche Dubois
Insecure “[He goes out. Blanche
rises from her chair. She
seems faint; looks about
her with an expression of
almost panic.]
BLANCHE:
Stella! What have you
heard about me?” (p.81).
Deceptive “BLANCHE:
I guess it is just that I
have--old-fashioned ideals!
[She rolls her eyes,
knowing he cannot see her
face. Mitch goes to the
front door. There is a
considerable silence
between them. Blanche
sighs and Mitch coughs
selfconsciously.]” (p.97).
This quote shows the panic
that Blanche had to the
reveal of her past life. She
was insecure about this
part of herself, together
with her insecurity about
her looks and age that are
also demonstrated
throughout the play. Some
other examples are how
she constantly is talking
about her looks, or she is
hiding her real age from
everyone.
Blanche not only
constantly lies about her
age, she also always
meets Mitch in dark places
so that he isn’t able to
properly see her. She also
plays him for a fool when
he declares his devotion
for her, saying that she has
old fashioned standards,
when the scene right
before, she kisses another
random man.
Unstable “It is a few hours later that
night. Blanche has been
drinking fairly steadily
since Mitch left. She has
dragged her wardrobe
trunk into the center of the
bedroom. It hangs open
with flowery dresses
thrown across it. As the
drinking and packing went
on, a mood of hysterical
exhilaration came into her
and she has decked
herself out in a somewhat
soiled and crumpled white
satin evening gown and a
pair of scuffed silver
slippers with brilliants set in
their heels. Now she is
placing the rhinestone tiara
on her head before the
mirror of the dressing-table
and murmuring excitedly
as if to a group of spectral
admirers” (p.131).
Romantic “BLANCHE: How very right
you are! Their literary
heritage is not what most
of them treasure above all
else! But they're sweet
things! And in the spring,
it's touching to notice them
making their first discovery
of love! As if nobody had
ever known it before!”
(p.56).
Stella Kowalski
This scene shows the
insanity and broken
personality of Blanche
Dubois. It also shows how
Blanche has become a
drunkard after coming to
visit Stella in New Orleans.
Blanche has always been
a volatile person but now
she is a borderline
psychotic person, with
quickly shifting moods and
unstable mentally.
This shows the romantic
side of Blanche. It is clear
from her stories that she
uses this romantic side to
conquer different men to
get what she wants. Still,
the speed at which she
falls for Mitch makes it
evident that she has a
need for romance. It is
even more evident when
she is denied this
romance, when she wants
it even more.
Tolerant “STELLA: You never did
give me a chance to say
much, Blanche. So I just
got in the habit of being
quiet around you.” (p.10).
Sensitive “STELLA: Oh, my God,
Eunice help me! Don't let
them do that to her, don't
let them hurt her! Oh, God,
oh, please God, don't hurt
her! What are they doing to
her? What are they doing?”
(p.152).
Decietful “BLANCHE:
Something has
happened!--What is it?
STELLA:
[fuming away quickly]
Why, nothing has
happened, Blanche.”
(p.114).
This quote shows the
personality of Stella, how
she is often quiet and just
takes in what other people
say and do to her. We can
see this tolerant and
embracing attitude
throughout the play, either
when Blanche is
complaining about the
many things she complains
about, or when she is
tolerating the abuse and
enduring the sexism from
Stanley and their friends.
In this quote, Stella is
reflecting on her decision
to send Blanche to the
psych ward, realizing that it
was not the right thing to
do to her own sister. This
shows emotiveness
through the realization that
she knows that her sister
will not be happy or better
off there, and is sensitive
enough to know that she
should have backed down.
In this scene, Stella
already knows about all the
things that Blanche has
done but decides to lie to
her and act like nothing
has happened. This is very
much something that Stella
does throughout the play,
for example not explaining
things fully in the letters
she sent Blanche in Laurel,
or how she never told
Stanley about the arrival of
Blanche.
Weak “STELLA: No, it isn't all We can see Stella’s
right for anybody to make weakness against anyone
such a terrible row, who tries to overpower her.
but--people do sometimes. She has very little
Stanley's always smashed independent thinking and
things. Why, on our usually lets herself be led
wedding night--soon as we by those around her. We
came in here--he snatched can see this when Blanche
off one of my slippers and tells her how she should
rushed about the place feel about her husband,
amashing the light bulbs and she forces them to
with it.” (p.64). shut the poker game off.
Furthermore, we also see
Stella’s weakness when
she is manipulated
constantly by Stanley and
she just simply falls for it in
his loving ways, or just
outright believes it because
she lacks the spirit to
argue or fight.

Stanley Kowalski

Impulsive “STANLEY [softly]: Come In this scene, Stanley

to think of it--maybe you decides that he has had
wouldn't be bad enough of Blanche and
to--interfere with....” without thinking much, he
(p.140). backs her into his bedroom
and forces himself upon
her. This shows his
impulsiveness to do things
without second thought.
Stanley often goes through
his life without considering
his actions for their
consequences, this is also
evident after the poker
game in the earlier acts
when he gets mad and he
smashes the radio and hits
Stella.
Aggressive “[She backs out of sight.
He advances and
disappears. There is the
sound of a blow. Stella
cries out. Blanche screams
and runs into the kitchen.
The men rush forward and
there is grappling and
cursing. Something is
overturned with a crash.]”
(p.57).
Cunning “[Stella has embraced
him--with both arms,
fiercely, and full in the view
of Blanche. He laughs and
clasps her head to him.
Over her head he grins
through the curtains at
Blanche.]” (p.75).
This is the scene where
Stella complains about the
poker night which Stanley
was having with his
friends. Stella’s complaints
anger Stanley to the point
at which he decides to hit
her. This is obviously
something that is not
normal, therefore,
exhibiting his aggressive
qualities. We can also see
his aggressiveness in other
parts of the play, such as
those memories which
Stella retells, and the last
event of scene 10.
Stanley is a cunning man
who gets what he wants by
any means possible. In this
scene Blanche was
speaking extremely bad
about Stanley, this is
something he overheard.
Knowing that it would be
smarter to prove Blanche
wrong, he decided not to
rush in and make a mess
about the situation, but
rather get on the good side
of Stella and ‘beat’
Blanche.
Insecure “STANLEY:
Don't ever talk that way to
me!
"Pig--Polack--disgusting--v
ulgar--greasy!"
--them kind of words have
been on your tongue and
your sister's too much
around here! What do you
two think you are? A pair of
queens? Remember what
Huey Long said--"Every
Man is a King!" And I am
the king around here, so
don't forget it!” (p.116).
Throughout the play,
Stanley shows glimpses of
his insecurities on different
things. The main thing that
Stanley cannot stand is his
rule and/or manliness
being tested or doubted.
This is clear in this quote,
as he calls himself ‘King’ of
the household.

Harold Mitchell

Hopeless Romantic “MITCH: I told my mother Although many people

how nice you were, and I
liked you.” (p.101).
wouldn’t appreciate the
gesture, Mitch fell in love
so quickly that he decided
to talk to his mother about
Blanche after meeting her
merely once.

Sensible “MITCH: I don't think I want Although Mitch is in love

to marry you any more.” (p. with Blanche, he is
131). sensible enough to know
how it is not the smartest
idea to follow his heart,
sometimes it helps to think
with your head.

Naive “MITCH: Oh, I knew you
weren't sixteen any more.
But I was a fool enough to
believe you was straight.”
(p.127).
The quote speaks for itself.
It is evident that he was
naive in his interaction with
Blanche, believing every
word she said and never
questioning her.
Stable “MITCH: I don't mind you
being older than what I
thought. But all the rest of
it--Christ! That pitch about
your ideals being so
old-fashioned and all the
malarkey that you've
dished out all summer.”
(p.127).
This scene, Mitch had
recently found out that
Blanche had been lying to
him, and still he was willing
to see past that and not let
his emotions get to him. He
remained calm, something
that he did throughout the
play. Mitchell was the first
person who Blanche
confided on with her past
issues, whether that be for
her benefit or not. It is clear
that Mitchell is the most
stable and grounded
individual in the entire play.