Scenes One and Two:
1. Stanley's first reaction and attitude towards Blanche takes the form of a dominant sexually aggressive male. Stanley is confrontational towards Blanche and eyes her up and down, treating Blanche like she is an object and nothing more, aside from his semi-cordial inquiries about Blanche's well being. Stanley also takes the opportunity to remove his shirt in front of Blanche, a very sexually aggressive move, and one that wouldn't be expected to happen between new acquaintances. His attitude towards Blanche shifts from one of maintaining a sexually dominant presence to being more verbally aggressive and inquisitive. One important distinction to make is that although the scene has Stanley making less sexual moves he still maintains his aggressive demeanor. Also Blanche pulls him in to another sexually tense situation by asking him to button her dress. Aside from this helpful nature, Stanley asks rather aggressively about Belle Reve and where the papers of sale are. He takes it upon himself that he is owner of the property and is being swindled out of his share, thus sparking his aggressive and angry attitude towards Blanche.
2. Stanley is to put it plainly, a brute. He exudes pure testosterone filled muscle and aggression, as well as a strong sexual desire and aura. Being a blue color worker who served in World War II, Stanley has always had to work hard for his keep, and as a result resents the aristocratic ways of the old south and those of the upper class in society. Although brutish in nature Stanley is not a fool, when it comes to things concerning him personally he takes the utmost care to make sure he isn't swindled. Stanley only truly cares about himself. The only time he shows any affection or care towards another person is after he hits Stella and they make up, which of course resulted from his drunken rage, another characteristic of Stanley.
2. Stanley is to put it plainly, a brute. He exudes pure testosterone filled muscle and aggression, as well as a strong sexual desire and aura. Being a blue color worker who served in World War II, Stanley has always had to work hard for his keep, and as a result resents the aristocratic ways of the old south and those of the upper class in society. Although brutish in nature Stanley is not a fool, when it comes to things concerning him personally he takes the utmost care to make sure he isn't swindled. Stanley only truly cares about himself. The only time he shows any affection or care towards another person is after he hits Stella and they make up, which of course resulted from his drunken rage, another characteristic of Stanley.
Scenes Three and Four:
The relationship between Stella and Blanche is a common one seen between competing women/people, and especially sisters. They act the part of sisters very well, showing concern and love for one another as they should, and their feelings are most certainly genuine. But the fact that they do love each other does not stop them, mostly Blanche, from competing with the other. Blanche right away makes comments about Stella's appearance and is always judging her choice of men, stating they are common. Stella merely brushes aside Blanche's comments as she knows that Blanche is one to talk. Stella tolerates Blanche while Blanche perceives herself as above her sister, so much so that she must protect and educate her in the error of her ways.
When comparing Stanley and Blanche one can characterize them as complete opposites of the other. Blanche is a woman rooted in upper class traditions and views herself as above the "common-folk," also as one who should educate them by setting an example of proper behavior. While Stanley is a common blue collar worker from New Orleans, about as far from the educated perfume of the upper class society connected to the Old South ways that Blanche clings to. In these aspects Blanche and Stanley are polar opposites; but when looking at how the two interact with others it is apparent that in some ways they are also similar. Both Blanche and Stanley are the "top dogs" in their world, or so they perceive themselves to be. When these two top dogs interact it is a volatile battle of class and a power struggle between the two dominating personalities of the area. Both are also troubled individuals. Blanche is haunted by a song that refuses to leave her head, and is a nervous drunkard wreck, while Stanley is a brute of a man that only pursues the fulfillment of his base desires, and doesn't care how he does it. These two similar yet very opposite individuals sparks a volatile situation when put together.
When comparing Stanley and Blanche one can characterize them as complete opposites of the other. Blanche is a woman rooted in upper class traditions and views herself as above the "common-folk," also as one who should educate them by setting an example of proper behavior. While Stanley is a common blue collar worker from New Orleans, about as far from the educated perfume of the upper class society connected to the Old South ways that Blanche clings to. In these aspects Blanche and Stanley are polar opposites; but when looking at how the two interact with others it is apparent that in some ways they are also similar. Both Blanche and Stanley are the "top dogs" in their world, or so they perceive themselves to be. When these two top dogs interact it is a volatile battle of class and a power struggle between the two dominating personalities of the area. Both are also troubled individuals. Blanche is haunted by a song that refuses to leave her head, and is a nervous drunkard wreck, while Stanley is a brute of a man that only pursues the fulfillment of his base desires, and doesn't care how he does it. These two similar yet very opposite individuals sparks a volatile situation when put together.
Scenes Five and Six:
The origin of the conflict between Blanche and Stanley resides in the characteristics that set them apart and also the ones that make them so similar to each other. Blanche is a perceived relic of the Old South, prim, proper, and aristocratic, and Stanley is a man of the New South, dirty, base, brutish, and a lower class blue collar worker. These two types of people do not mix well in normal situations to begin with. The second component to the conflict between the two is that both Blanche and Stanley are used to holding all the power, or being the commanding presence in a room. The power struggle between the two that occurs during Blanche's visit is only amplified by their different classes, thus when mixed together creates the intense conflict that Stanley and Blanche have throughout the play.
Blanche sees love as being a magical occurrence that will sweep her off her feet and take away her troubles. She surrounds herself in these fanciful notions to provide as she puts it, a "magic," for her world. She uses this magic to shield herself from her troubled thoughts and broken sanity, and to run away from her dark past. The next scene after her description of love as being light and full of mystery is dark to show a collision between Blanche and reality. Her facade can only go on for so long until it unravels, and when the light of the real world hits her face, something she avoids by covering lamps with paper lanterns, her magic will be undone and her sanity will be broken once again as her dream fades. The darkness of the scene is her dream being shattered, as well as her sanity being shattered in the cold darkness of the reality of her situation.
Blanche sees love as being a magical occurrence that will sweep her off her feet and take away her troubles. She surrounds herself in these fanciful notions to provide as she puts it, a "magic," for her world. She uses this magic to shield herself from her troubled thoughts and broken sanity, and to run away from her dark past. The next scene after her description of love as being light and full of mystery is dark to show a collision between Blanche and reality. Her facade can only go on for so long until it unravels, and when the light of the real world hits her face, something she avoids by covering lamps with paper lanterns, her magic will be undone and her sanity will be broken once again as her dream fades. The darkness of the scene is her dream being shattered, as well as her sanity being shattered in the cold darkness of the reality of her situation.
Scenes Seven - Eleven:
Blanche is a nervous wreck from her first stage entrance to her final stage exit in the hands of the Doctor. Her constant bathing is in an attempt to alleviate the her nervousness. The water that she uses during her baths is scalding hot, symbolizing that Blanche is attempting to boil away her troubles. In the bathwater she is able to collect herself and burn away her troubling thoughts and issues for a temporary amount of time, although at certain points her stress returns and gets the better of her. This constant submersion in water represents numerous attempts at rebirth or renewal. Blanche desires a return to her magical youth, when men sought her and desired her. Her bathing is her attempt at being reborn. After she bathes she is calm and collected, the bath having provided her with a momentary feeling of youth and rebirth, until she begins to strain under the pressure of the real world.
By the end of the play Stanley as found out that Blanche used to be a prostitute at a place called the Flamingo Hotel, a seedy establishment located in Laurel. He also has found out that she had an affair with a 17 year old student of hers, that being the reason why she was dismissed from school in the middle of the semester. Stanley has found the ammo he needs to bring Blanche down to his level, something he has wanted to do from the beginning of the play when Blanche calls him common. Blanche gives the Flamingo Hotel the name the Tarantula's Arms due to the nature of the establishment and her past. Being a local den of prostitutes the Flamingo Hotel would ensnare men in its webs of desire, much like that of the tarantula and other arachnid's methods of catching prey. Both Blanche and the men she served were the prey of the hotel. The men caught in the world of debauchery that it provided, and Blanche being caught in the false love and distraction it provided her through her unsavory line of work.
By the end of the play Stanley as found out that Blanche used to be a prostitute at a place called the Flamingo Hotel, a seedy establishment located in Laurel. He also has found out that she had an affair with a 17 year old student of hers, that being the reason why she was dismissed from school in the middle of the semester. Stanley has found the ammo he needs to bring Blanche down to his level, something he has wanted to do from the beginning of the play when Blanche calls him common. Blanche gives the Flamingo Hotel the name the Tarantula's Arms due to the nature of the establishment and her past. Being a local den of prostitutes the Flamingo Hotel would ensnare men in its webs of desire, much like that of the tarantula and other arachnid's methods of catching prey. Both Blanche and the men she served were the prey of the hotel. The men caught in the world of debauchery that it provided, and Blanche being caught in the false love and distraction it provided her through her unsavory line of work.