2.10.1
Scene Ten: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
Scene Ten: Summary
Scene Ten: Summary
Stanley has returned home to the apartment because Stella is not yet ready to give birth. The audience recognises the sexual danger of Stanley and Blanche being alone together.
Stanley jokes
Stanley jokes
- Stanley jokes about Blanche attending the "fireman’s ball" – obviously a reference to her cries at the end of Scene Nine.
Blanche's fantasy
Blanche's fantasy
- Blanche has descended into a fantasy that an old suitor of hers is coming to provide financial support and take her away from New Orleans.
- This is Shep Huntleigh from Dallas, and she recollects wearing an "ATO pin" for him. It seems he is offering her a Caribbean cruise.
- Stanley goes along with the act she spins out for him, culminating in him opening a bottle of beer. He talks about his accomplishments when compared to the millionaire she refers to.
Blanche discusses herself
Blanche discusses herself
- Blanche continues to refer to the fact that she is cultivated and intelligent, and that she has been "casting her pearls before swine" before.
- Blanche explains that she has given Mitch his "walking papers" – an ironic reference to the papers from earlier on in the play.
"Queen of the Nile"
"Queen of the Nile"
- Stanley then angrily scorns Blanche and says her lies and behaviour expose her for what she really is.
- He calls her a "Queen of the Nile". This seems to imply that she is Cleopatra-like and a temptress.
- Aware of the danger, Blanche tries to make a call to Shep Huntleigh for assistance. But this is to no avail.
Stanley's attraction to Blanche
Stanley's attraction to Blanche
- Stanley is repulsed by Blanche, but he is also sexually attracted to her. This ambivalence comes out in the rest of the scene.
- Stanley advances toward her and they make their way into the bedroom; in response, she threatens to glass him, but she is overpowered.
Rape scene
Rape scene
- Stanley rapes Blanche, imminently resulting in her psychotic crisis. The music outside reaches a crescendo.
- The rape scene itself is almost unreal and dream-like in the way that Williams presents it.
- The play reaches a sexual and structural climax at this point.
Scene Ten: Tragedy Genre
Scene Ten: Tragedy Genre
Here are some key ideas that relate to the idea of tragedy:
Stanley and Blanche alone
Stanley and Blanche alone
- That fact that Stanley and Blanche are alone together in this scene confirms the tragic trajectory and the audience anticipates that something bad will happen.
Difficulties about the rape
Difficulties about the rape
- What is tragic is that the sexual act is not completed jointly and that it involves the violence and physicality of a male figure. It is also tragic that this is happening at the same time as Stella having her baby. Stanley is also having sex with his sister-in-law. This is bound to make the future family dysfunctional to some extent.
The rape and Blanche's fall
The rape and Blanche's fall
- Blanche has been woefully treated by a patriarchal society, and here too, the same thing is happening yet again.
1Context & Overview
1.1The Author
1.2Social Context & Setting
2Scene Summaries
2.3Scene Three
2.5Scene Five
2.6Scene Six
2.7Scene Seven
2.9Scene Nine
2.10Scene Ten
3Character Profiles
3.1Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski
3.2Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)
4Key Ideas
4.1Sex & Gender
4.2Appearances, Fantasy & Reality
5Writing Techniques
5.2Genre, Form & Language
6Critical Debates
6.1Early & Modern Reception
6.2Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach
7Ideas About Tragedy
7.1Ideas About Tragedy
Jump to other topics
1Context & Overview
1.1The Author
1.2Social Context & Setting
2Scene Summaries
2.3Scene Three
2.5Scene Five
2.6Scene Six
2.7Scene Seven
2.9Scene Nine
2.10Scene Ten
3Character Profiles
3.1Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski
3.2Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)
4Key Ideas
4.1Sex & Gender
4.2Appearances, Fantasy & Reality
5Writing Techniques
5.2Genre, Form & Language
6Critical Debates
6.1Early & Modern Reception
6.2Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach
7Ideas About Tragedy
7.1Ideas About Tragedy
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