She dislikes the idea of people seeing her in the light. Also, Stanley does not believe the illusions Blanche tries to paint. He wants her to be straightforward and to stop trying to create this false image.
Quote 1: Stanley: "Have a shot? Although this is only for a moment, one can see that Blanche has an alcohol problem. Not only did Blanche help herself to Stanley and Stella's drinks before anyone came home, she also had Stella giver her a drink and now she is acting as if she hardly drinks. She does this as a means to preserve a certain air about herself. She wants to paint the illusion that she is this high class aristocrat who doesn't need to drink.
Quote 2: "Staney: 1 don't go in for that stuff. This shows the dynamic contrast in their characters. We are able to see Blanche represent the illusion in her compliment fishing as a way to validate herself.
This contrasts with Stanley, who represents the harsh reality to Blanche's illusion. He shuts her down by not giving her the compliment, which could make her feel more insecure about her looks and age. Quote 3: Blanche: "Yes, Stella is my precious little sister. This is a lie, because in truth Stella is younger than Blanche by about five years. Blanche says this as a means to be appear younger to Mitch, who she has clearly been flirting with throughout their conversation.
Stella does this because she is extremely self conscious about her looks and does not wish to be seen as old by Mitch. I like how you incorporated Blanche's drinking problem to accentuate Blanche's insecurities. I also like how you mention the little white lies that Blanche presents to Mitch in order for her to seem innocent. Quote 1 Blanche-"It's hard to stay looking fresh.
I haven't washed or even powdered my face and-here you are! Blanche makes it apparent in this quotes that her physical appearance is important to her. Her "looks" help her to present her innocence to others. She does not want her age to interfere with how others might perceive her.
Quote 2 Blanche-"I feel so hot and frazzled. Do I look done in" This statement highlights Blanche's insecurity with her appearance. In this scene she is asking Stella if she looks presentable. Game night is going on at Stella's house. This means that there are people over. Blanche does not want the men to see her "unpresentable". Quote 3 Stella-"You're standing in the light, Blanche!
The author highlights the use of the word "light" to amplify the significance Blanche's physical traits. In this conversation Stella acknowledges Blanche's insecurity to show the reader the importance of Blanche's personality. I like how your three examples exemplify just how much Blanche cares about her appearances. They show how much effort she puts into the way she looks and appears to others. Not only that but they also depict just how insecure she is. In your quotes they definitely build the illusion vs reality theme that is often established in balances character.
Your quotes tell how she grows more insecure with more people present and that the reality is that she isn't young and is constantly aware of it. Tennessee Williams makes it very clear, from the beginning of the play, that Blanche has strong sentiments about appearance and age. In scene 1 the reader knows that Blanche is responsible for the whiskey bottle being half empty.
Yet she lies to Stanley out of the fear and insecurities she has about how such actions would reflect on her appearance. Once again making another illusion of whom she is. Blanche states this when she is speaking to Mitch whom she seems to be quite interested in. She becomes very flirtatious around him. This further reiterates the fact that she is extremely concerned about how people see her. When Blanche had said these things to Mitch, Stella was clearly fine and doing well.
These 3 examples display how more than anything Blanche likes to distort reality to her convenience; to make herself seem better than what she actually is. I like how you repeatedly bring light to the fact that Blanche is trying to keep her illusion up.
I like that you do this in different ways and with examples from the text. In the play a streetcar named desire it is seen how the theme of illusion vs reality strongly shown by Blanche. Where one character may say something but may mean and do something different entirely.
Or a character may believe something and in reality it may not be the case. Blanche " you know I haven't put in one ounce in ten years ,Stella? I weigh what I weighed the summer you left Bell Reve.
By saying she's the same when in reality she probably changed and aged. Blanche " The touch of your hand insults them! Now that you've touched them I'll burn them" In this quote Blanche threatens to burn her precious letters from her dead husband because Stanley's rough hands insulted them. In reality Blanche wouldn't have actually burned something so dear to her and Stanley's hands are actually just holding papers.
Not physically and literally insulting the letters , only from Blanches perspective the letters are insulted because she feels a certain way about him holding them. Stanley " And when he goes home he will deposit them one by one in a piggy bank his mother gave him for Christmas " In this quote stanly makes comments about Mitch and the money he's earned.
In reality Mitch isn't actually going to put his winnings in a piggy bank like a child. However the illusion Stanley and his friends are making is that Mitch is a child for talking and worrying so much about his mother.
Stanley: "Have a shot? Less than a year…. In reality, Stella is the older sister, meaning either Blanche just calls her little sister affectionately, or maybe she feels insecure about her appearance for someone her age, and calling Stella her little sister gives her a sense of comfort and justification.
Blanche: "I bought this adorable little colored paper lantern at a Chinese shop on Bourbon. Throughout these three scenes, Blanche tries to subtly hide her discomfort with her own appearance by staying away from the light and telling others to cover up the light bulbs.
These lights highlight her facial features to the point where she feels offended upfront and exposed. She is trying to give the illusion that she is a respectable, confident, and beautiful woman who is not insecure about her looks. I completely agree with your choice of quotes. The first quote especially brings about the idea of reality vs. It is clear to see that Blanche has a drinking problem yet she lies and says she's barely even touched the bottle.
Stanley himself says "Some people rarely touch it, but it often touches them" which further underscores the theme of the play. In the play a theme of illusion is set up by the character Blance. Even though this character mentions the illusion and shows it herself there are other characters who also show the illusion theme happening at the first three scenes in the play.
This sets the illusion of drinking that even though people don't drink the drink touches them to drink. Example 2: " Would you think it possible that u was once considered to be attractive? Example 3: "some men are took in by this Hollywood glamor stuff and some are not. This was one of the illusion Blach stablish in this scene.
Compared to New Orleans she is dressed in all white like an angel. Juxtaposing the meaning of her name and the outfit she wears, Blanche is characterized with a sense of innocence. However, Blanche is a complex character wanting to portray that she is happy and pure. She wants to produce this image of her being better than others. However, behind the clothes and the jewelry Blanche is an insecure woman with a past. She has gone through several deaths and has become self-conscious.
Her actions such as her drinking problem highlight that she is not superior to everyone else. Blanche constantly flirts and begs for compliments about her appearance.
Blanche wants to demonstrate that's she superior, but on the inside she's an insecure woman who craves attention after the hardships she has faced. Around others she tries to act superior and creates this illusion about herself. By time she was done drinking before and after Stella arrived the bottle was about half empty. Blanche enjoys drinking but does not want others to know how much she drinks. Blanche wants to showcase that she is not a big fan of drinking, but the audience knows the truth.
To maintain her image, Blanche has to remain pure and angel-like. Once again, Blanche is worried about her image. She continues to worry about her appearance when talking to Mitch. Blanche wants Mitch to think her and Stella are around the same age. She does not want him to see her face believing that he might notice her age. She wants to impress Mitch and capture his attention. Blanche needs to appear intriguing to Mitch and does not want the light to ruin the person she created.
With a dim light Blanche would appear more beautiful in her eyes. Blanche lies about her appearance and age would be kept a secret in the dark but exposed in the light. I really like how you always go back to your points about Blanche wanting to be superior and holy yet is insecure about herself.
I think the having these two ideas side by side really explain Blanche as a character, she wants to mask her insecurities with this act that she puts on along side her appearance. Throughout the play, Blanche is known to give an illusion, contradicting her true form, looks and beliefs. Quote 1 Stanley- "Have a shot?
Although she says she rarely drinks, the audience knows she's lying because of the previous scene where she's drinking way more than an average person should.
Blanche lies about her drinking problems to appear as someone she's not. Quote 2 While talking with Mitch Blanche- "I bought this adorable little colored paper lantern at a Chinese shop on Bourbon.
In this scene, it's evident to see how she's trying to shadow over her imperfections and more mature look. Blanche wants to appear more youthful, so she covers up her true form. She plays a little mind trick on Mitch. She says Stella is her little sister, then says Stella is older than she is. Again, Blanche does this to give an illusion that she is younger than what she really is. I like all the quotes you used to demonstrate others illusion showed in the scenes.
I agree with your explanations and how you talked about the readers point of view and the characters in the book point of view as given by Blanche. Your explanations to the quotes you used very accurately represent the illusions Blanche had used in these three scenes. Using from the readers point of view was very smart because in fact Blanche has never mentioned how insecure she is, the audience can just conclude that from the way that she acts.
The three examples written provide an interesting take on the theme based on several quotes found throughout the first three scenes. The first example is interesting out of the three because it demonstrates how Blanche hides this part of her that she doesn't want revealed.
Overall, your response is well taken with thought. Quote 1: "Stanley: Have a shot? Blanche: No, I-rarely touch it. She's telling Stanley she doesn't drink much, but already we had seen her secretly drink from the liquor bottle, and by the time we see her and Stanley interact, she's essentially drank half of the liquor bottle.
She's pretending to not be prone to drinking, but her actions so far prove to show otherwise. Quote 2: Blanche: "I feel so hot and frazzled. Do I look done in. Her seeking to powder her nose is symbolic for Blanche always looking to do something to keep up the illusion of the type of person she is.
Here, she is trying to appear younger than she really is to Mitch, in order to keep him interested in her. Blanche is highly obsessed with how other people see her, and her asking him to put the lantern over the light would dim the room and also give her appearance more of a youthful glow.
I agree and like your response. It underlines all three examples of when Blanche is trying to be percieved to what shes not. As we can see in your first quote she attempts to be portrayed as contained and not addicted to alcohol. While in the second quote, she says let me get dolled up before i appear. Thus fishing for compliments like usual. On the third quote we can clearly see she has a connection with the angle of the lights. She wants the light to compliment her appearance. Thus fooling people through illusion.
This isnt the real blanche. This isnt her reality. We notice her reality but gathering all instances that she keeps focusing on her appearance and in conclusion we notice in reality , shes way to insecure.
I really agree with your post. Especially with the first quote, Blanche seems to be denying herself with reality when she says she has rarely touched alcohol even though she does. Your second quote I like also because her main priority is her appearance, how she talks, looks and dresses. She's worrying about her looks but seems confident when she flirts with Stanley and Mitch. Your last quote also ties in with her appearance because she thinks that she'll look fine in the dark.
She doesn't want her true age to be apparent. I really liked your post! You sure did a good job explaining the meaning behind what Blanche said. The evidence you used clearly show that she has many insecurities about herself and tries to hide them in anyway possible.
By covering the light, people will be less likely to notice her flaws, by saying she rarely drinks she is portraying this innocent woman, and finally by powdering her face with make up no one will be able to clearly notice her imperfections.
She will do as much as she can to give this illusion of perfection. Quote 1: Stanley- "have a shot? Blanche emphasizes that her limit is "one" and that she rarely drinks. Yet throughout the play, she starts off wanting a drink to calm her nerves and she searches the house for liquor. In reality she inspires her day around it, shes a heavy drinker. Throughout the play we notice that when shes offered another shot, she accepts it and says " my limit is one, but i'll just take another just this once".
She portrays to others that she is contained and she does not meddle with alcohol, but yet she revolves around it. She just wants to make it seem to everyone that she doesn't, meanwhile she does. This underlines her illusion of containment when in reality shes a mess. Quote 2 Blanche- " I bought this adorable little colored paper lantern at a chinese shop on bourbon. Put it over the lightbulb! She makes her insecurities well known to the reader and everyone around her.
She moves in the way the light compliments her. She moves accordingly to the light. The light helps portray that illusion. Giving her a younger aspect or darker so no one will see her clearly.
Quote 3: " Yes, Stella is my precious little sister. When asked about her age, she blantely lies as she contradicts her sentence. Yes stella is my little sister Meanwhile we all know shes around her 30's. This is how she portrays illusion. By saying little sister and saying shes younger. It makes people think hard on what shes saying exactly. But it also makes it look like shes portraying this illusion to mitch that shes young and new meanwhile shes way older.
We see these acts of flirtation and cover up throughout the whole play. I completely agree with your response. Especially your second quote. Blanche does use light as a way to hide her true appearance, which was quite clear from the first scene of the play. What's interesting about this quote is that not only does it apply to Blanche's case, it may also apply to other characters and what they say throughout the first three scenes of the play.
Example 1: In scene two, a situation arises where Stanley and Blanche heavily interact with each other and it has lead into a more developing, contrasting conclusion between the two characters. When Blanche asks Stanley about how he would think it is possible that she was once considered to be attractive, Stanley says to her that she looks okay in which Blanche states that she wanted to hear a compliment.
Stanley then says, "I don't go in for that stuff" Page This quote demonstrates the sheer existence of illusion vs reality that exists between Blanche and Stanley. While Blanche demonstrates a desire for a compliment, Stanley shares his view from a more realistic standpoint. This highlights and example of how reality vs illusion exist within the play. Example 2: In scene three, Blanche has said, "I feel so hot and frazzled.
Do I look done in? What's interesting about this quote is that, like the first quote, it highlights Blanche's insecurity.
Similar to the situation for the first example, Blanche asks someone, Stella in this case, whether or not she looks good. This highlights the theme of of illusion vs reality because Blanche wants to look good especially when she spoke to Stanley. She lives in an "illusion" when in reality, people like Stanley can see past that. Example 3: In Scene one, Stanley offers Blanche a bottle of liquor. Blanche replies saying, "no, I - rarely touch it" Page What is exemplified in this scene is more of Blanche's awareness of how she appears.
If she drinks the liquor, it would overall affect her age and appearance. Like the previous examples, this shows the idea of illusion vs reality because Blanche attempts to maintain a good appearance in front of others like Stanley. However, the reality is that she actually has an issue with alcoholic drinks but is attempting to mask her true appearance due to her insecurity of how she appears in front of other people. Quote 1: "I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action.
Blanche's favoring of fantasy over reality is clearly established in this quote. In order ot cope with her reality, Blanche dresses up the 'naked light-bulb' and changes it in order to make her life appear happier or easier than it actually is. She would rather cover up, or ignore the blemishes and mistakes in her life.
When Stella returns, Blanche tells her how happy she is about the baby and how well she handled Stanley and that she even flirted with him. They leave as the poker players begin to arrive. The first part of this scene introduces us to the motif of Blanche's baths. She bathes constantly so as to soothe her nerves.
But this is also a cleansing symbol. By her baths, she subconsciously hopes to cleanse her sins away. The baths are also another quirk which annoys Stanley since the hot baths make the apartment even hotter. Note the open and flagrant manner in which Blanche flirts with Stanley. Again the buttons, the request for a drag on his cigarette, and the trunk function as favorite Freudian symbols.
Here they are used to reinforce the idea that Blanche is attempting symbolically to seduce Stanley. She is so open about it that Stanley says, "If I didn't know that you was my wife's sister I'd get ideas about you. Blanche's attempt to flirt with Stanley is her only known way of achieving success with men. In the middle of the dance, Blanche told her young husband that he disgusted her.
This deliberate act of cruelty on Blanche's part caused her young husband to commit suicide. Earlier, her love had been like a "blinding light," and since that night Blanche has never had any light stronger than a dim candle.
Blanche has always thought she failed her young lover when he most needed her. She felt also that she was cruel to him in a way that Stanley would like to be cruel to her. And Blanche's entire life has been affected by this early tragic event.
Immediately following this event, Blanche was subjected to a series of deaths in her family and the ultimate loss of the ancestral home. The deaths were ugly, slow, and tortuous. They illustrated the ugliness and brutality of life. To escape from these brutalities and to escape from the lonely void created by her young husband's death, Blanche turned to alcohol and sexual promiscuity. The alcohol helped her to forget.
When troubled, the dance tune that was playing when Allan committed suicide haunts her until she drinks enough so as to hear the shot which then signals the end of the music. Blanche gives herself to men for other reasons.
She feels that she had failed her young husband in some way. Therefore, she tries to alleviate her guilt by giving herself at random to other young men. And by sleeping with others, she is trying to fill the void left by Allan's death — "intimacies with strangers was all I seemed able to fill my empty heart with. During these years of promiscuity, Blanche has never been able to find anyone to fill the emptiness.
Thus Blanche's imagined failure to her young husband and her constant encounter with the ugliness of death forced the delicate young girl to seek distraction by and forgetfulness through intimacies with strangers and through alcohol which could make the tune in her head stop.
But throughout all of these episodes, Blanche has still retained a degree of innocence and purity. Both also desire what the other has: Blanche is attracted to Stanley's working-class masculinity which she also claims to hate; Stanley is fascinated by Blanche's qualities of aristocratic arrogance and blatant sexuality, which he also comes to despise. What did Blanche lie about? A Streetcar Named Desire. Stanley believes Blanche is lying about losing Belle Reve.
He believes she sold it and kept the profits for herself. Some of these lies include the death of her husband, her involvement in prostitution, and her relationship with the young boy at the school where she taught. Does Stella leave Stanley? Stella is not emotionally strong enough to leave Stanley. She seems to be very dependent on him and cannot entertain the thought of being without him.
In the end, she must make a choice between Stanley and Blanche—and she chooses her husband. What are blanches desires? Blanche, the most important role, showed us her strong desire toward men and sex completely in the play. She needed to find someone to accompany her, and men were the best choice for her, because they could protect her. Besides, making love with them would let her forget the cruel reality temporarily.
What did Blanche do for a living? Behind her veneer of social snobbery and sexual propriety, Blanche is an insecure, dislocated individual.
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