'A Streetcar Named Desire' by PhilPhinn

p.2 stage directions on Stella: "of a background obviously quite different from her husband's."

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 08:00:03 UTC

Fundamentally, Stella is/was originally an outsider, as she did not grow up in New Orleans (she grew up in a southern plantation - Belle Reve), and probably wasn't as worried about money or finance in their youth

p.5 stage directions on Blanche: "She catches her breath with a startled gesture"

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 08:00:35 UTC

Blanche is clearly shaken by what she considers to be the horrible area in which her sister, Stella lives in - this shock, combined with her tiredness, means she goes into a daze: she even tells herself "faintly" to "keep hold of" herself. Blanche later describes herself as being "all shaken up and hot and tired and dirty" (p.6)

p.9 Stella to Blanche "Stanley is Polish, you know."

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 08:01:05 UTC

Points to the fact that Americans are an immigrant population - irony they're fundamentally all foreigners/outsiders, as none of the characters are Native Americans

p.11 Blanche "I guess that is what is meant by being in love..."

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 08:01:37 UTC

Emphasises Blanche's wistful longing to be able to feel the same "blinding light" (p.66) and the "discovery" of "love" (p as she did with Alan; love is something Blanche desires most of all but hasn't had since the passing of her homosexual husband Alan when she was only 16 - she is therefore the 'outsider' in New Orleans, as she is caught between Stanley and Stella's relationship of "brutal desire" (p.46)

p. 8 Blanche to Stella: "you have a maid, don't you?"

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 08:01:54 UTC

Very posh - almost as if Blanche is suggesting Stella is incapable of doing anything herself. Indicative of Blanche's "superior attitude" (p.46)

Blanche goes on to describe Stanley as "common" (p.46), as though being 'common' is an unforgivable and disgusting sin

p.3 stage directions on Blanche: "Her appearance is incongruous to this setting."

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 08:02:15 UTC

Blanche strikingly stands out from her surroundings, her very appearance immediately contrasts with that of the area in downtown New Orleans where Stella and Stanley live.

p.4 Blanche "How could I - do that"

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 08:02:33 UTC

Blanche reacts to Eunice's remark that she could"make yourself [Blanche] at home till they get back" with awkward, "shocked disbelief" (p.3) - she is disgusted with her surroundings, and horrified that her sister could live in such "conditions" (p.7).

p.7 Blanche to Stella: "You're all I've got in the world, and you're not glad to see me!"

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 08:03:05 UTC

Hint of sisterly tension perhaps (sisters perhaps being outsiders to each other, having not seen each other for a while, and the only form of contact being letters - which Stella admits to having em. Highlights Blanche's insecurity and "uncertain manner" (p.3)

Blanche also shows her insecurity when she "laughs nervously and glances at Stella for reassurance" (p.9)

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 08:30:48 UTC

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 08:35:05 UTC

phinnpf — 2014-09-18 19:39:35 UTC