Scene+6+and+Scene+9

She //sways and covers her face// (when she recounts the story about her husband’s death) –swoons perhaps to be ‘saved’ by Mitch. She is disturbed by her past but could be exaggerating her emotions to appeal to Mitch’s manhood, as seen by the way she flirts with him (see below) || These words (‘lady must entertain a man- or no dice!’) in Scene 6 are ironic in this scene as Mitch expects Blanche to entertain his sexual advances. //Red satin robe// (p.69)- indicates the passion and lust associated with her sordid past. Contrasts with the white clothes that she wears when Mitch enters. Tries to prove herself as the homemaker- I’ve done so much with this place (p.71) || Sincerity of his affection: ‘I like you to be exactly the way you are’ Clumsy when handling her: //fumblingly embraces her// (p.53) Conscious of not upsetting her: ‘Just give me a slap when I step out of bounds’ (p.54) || Mitch enters unshaven in work clothes- rough looking to complements his callous behaviour. When she offers Mitch her lips at the start of the scene he //‘pushes past her’// and //‘stalks’// inside (starts behaving like Stanley). He //grunts// (p.71) during the conversation- more bestial and animal like Keeps //staring// at her- incredulous at her behaviour now that he knows her true nature. Mitch’s responses are curt and often scathing: //‘Are you boxed out of your mind’// (p.71) Violence of his actions- t//ears the paper lantern// (p. 72)- metaphorically destroying her world. Confronts her about the hypocrisy of her //‘old fashioned ideals’// (p.72) Just feels lust and wants revenge for being deceived. This time when he is //‘fumbling to embrace her’// he is forcing himself on her not out of being self-conscious. Insults her by saying she //‘isn’t clean enough to bring in the house with my mother’ (p.75)// Feels he has a right to Blanche’s body as she has given it so easily to others. Discards his gentlemanly values. || Is firm but in a gentle manner: //gently reproving. //Pretends to be shocked //‘affectation of demureness’// (p.53) || Tries to protect her dignity during Mitch’s slanderous accusations- //I wont descend to the level of such cheap accusations to answer them even’// (p.71) Protects herself by shouting //‘Fire!’// (p.75) Hysterical when Mitch forces herself on her and devastated when he leaves //‘staggers from the window and falls to her knees’// (p.75) || References to light- blinded by love || //Rapid, feverish polka-// foreboding omen/ tone that something terrible is about to happen unlike the awkward atmosphere in Scene 6. In Scene 6 Blanche seems nervous but here it is more extreme as seen through the body language. Hostility and aggression from Mitch. Mitch objects to the darkness wants to see Blanche in the light- symbolic- has been kept in the dark and now wants to know the truth (p.72) || Tries to feed his ego- ‘ I don’t want to miss a single syllable of it’ (p.71) || || Role-play as a French couple to infuse romance into the evening Pretends that she has ‘old-fashioned ideals’ (verbal irony). //She rolls her eyes// shows that she’s putting on an act so that Mitch respects her. || Tries to keep up appearances when Mitch enters the house at the start of the scene– //hiding the bottle, dabbing her face with cologne and powder//. Pretends to search for the liquor bottle and not know what Southern Comfort is when she has been swigging from the bottle just a few minutes ago. Blanche is forced to confront her lies- she defends herself by saying all she is doing is trying to create ‘magic’- makes us sympathise with her. Earlier we tend to condemn her for her deceptions and her pretensions. || Mitch tries to calm her down by saying ‘that he (Stanley) doesn’t understand her’ || Mitch has started to believe Stanley’s accusations against Blanche: //‘He says that you have been lapping it up all summer like a wild cat!’// (p.71) || When Mitch asks her about her age, Blanche switches the topic || Tries to make Mitch believe the rumours about her are due to malicious intent and are untrue. Blanche struggles to take control of the situation when Mitch forces himself on her. || Breakdowns when recounting her affairs- gains the sympathy of the audience as we see her vulnerability || Tenderness in the manner he kisses her forehead, eyes and lips (p.57) || Mitch confronts Blanche about her past- gives conclusive evidence of her tawdry liaisons. (p.73) Mitch is blinded by his own ego and the fact that he was fooled initially by Blanche’s manners that he sees Blanche’s life as just //Lies, lies, inside out lies// (p.73) cannot see the pain and trauma that Blanche has had to face. ||
 * ** TOPIC ** || ** SCENE 6 ** || ** SCENE 9 ** ||
 * virginal Southern Belle v/s the whore || ‘lady must entertain a man- or no dice!’ (p.50)
 * Mitch feelings towards Blanche || Attempt to be intimate: ‘Can I-uh-kiss you- good night’ the hyphens indicate his shyness and his good manners (p.51)
 * Blanche’s reaction to Mitch’s advances/accusations || Encouraging- tells him he doesn’t need to ask her permission. Doesn’t want to seem loose and therefore discourages the //‘familiarity’// (p.51)
 * Setting/ Atmosphere || Takes place in the dark and Blanche only uses a candle light- symbolic of the way in which Mitch is kept in the dark.
 * Flirtation/ || Blanche makes Mitch feel better about himself by saying mitch’s physique is ‘awe-inspiring’ (p.53). Stage directions: //her hand touches his chest//. Calls him Samson. || Pretends that she is mock-upset with Mitch for not turning up for her birthday and his ‘//uncavalier’// attitude.
 * Self-consciousness || In this scene Mitch is self-conscious about his image- ‘I am ashamed of the way I perspire’ (p.52) || Blanche is self-conscious in this scene. Is discomforted by the silences and the staring. Tries to fill in the silences.
 * Blanche’s deceptive appearance and attitude. Her illusions || Tells Mitch she doesn’t want to come across as a ‘lost’ woman i.e. on with no morals yet belies this with her French phrase ‘voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir’ (p.52)
 * Stanley’s attitude towards Blanche || Blanche is worried that Stanley knows the truth and will expose her past to Mitch. Is on the defensive saying that he is ‘insufferably rude’. She hopes that this will make Mitch dismiss whatever Stanley says about Blanche as he will be biased
 * Manipulation || Blanche is in control of the situation here. She tries to gauge Mitch’s knowledge of her past and manipulate him into thinking that Stanley is prejudiced against her.
 * Blanche’s past || Tells Mitch only half the story about her husband who she catches in bed with another man. Talks about his perverse desire but excludes her sordid affairs || Is bitter and scathing about Mitch’s accusations about her past. Calls the hotel //Tarantula Arms//- as every one makes her out to be a predator who feeds on her //‘victims’// (p.73)
 * Mitch’s reaction to Blanche’s past || Is supportive seen through the stage directions ‘drawing her slowly into his arms You need somebody… Could it be- you and me, Blanche?’ offers himself and companionship to ease the pain and loneliness they both feel. (p.57)
 * Emotional Instability || Visible when she talks about her past especially the stage directions where she hears the polka in her head and the pistol shot. || Here her emotion instability is clearly visible and accentuated by her heavy drinking. Seen through the long rambling sentences and the heavily punctuated dialogue. Keeps hearing music which shows her disturbed state of mind. ||