Scene Eleven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

Scene Eleven: Summary

Weeks later, at another poker game at the Kowalski apartment, Stella and her neighbour, Eunice, are packing Blanche's belongings.

Aggression of the men

The men are playing another poker game, but Mitch doesn't seem to be himself.
The aggression of the game contrasts markedly with the sleeping baby.
Eunice makes a dig at the behaviour of men.

Blanche's breakdown

The audience learns that Blanche has suffered a complete mental breakdown and is going to be committed to a mental hospital.
Stella covers this by saying that Blanche is going "on vacation".
Blanche is still dismissive about the cleanliness of the city – an ironic comment given what Mitch and Stanley think of her.

Blanche's monologue

Blanche’s monologue in the middle of the scene is fantastical and somewhat delirious. The other characters realise what has happened to her, but Blanche herself seems unaware.
It becomes clear that although Blanche has told Stella about Stanley’s assault, Stella cannot bring herself to believe her sister’s story.

Blanche prepares to go

When a doctor and a matron arrive to take Blanche to the hospital, it's clear she was expecting another gentleman (perhaps still Shep Huntleigh?).
Blanche initially resists them and collapses on the floor in confusion.
Preparations for her incarceration have to be made (e.g. Blanche’s fingernails have to be trimmed). In this way, her beauty and femininity are compromised.

Stanley and Mitch fight

Mitch, present at the poker game, breaks down in tears and blames Stanley for his actions. They fight. Mitch observes that none of this would be happening if it was not for Stanley’s interference.
When the doctor helps Blanche up, she goes willingly with him, saying: “Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”.

Play's ending

The play ends with Stanley continuing to comfort Stella, but also fondling with her blouse while the poker game continues.
Steve says: “This game is seven-card stud.”
This seems to indicate that despite what has happened, Stella will continue to tolerate Stanley’s "brutal" desire and distrust Blanche.
It seems Stanley is unlikely to be prosecuted. so he appears to have gotten away with his actions. Steve’s final line seems to re-assert the dominance of men and the patriarchal order.

Scene Eleven: Tragedy Genre

Here are some key ideas that relate to the idea of tragedy:

Culmination of the play

This scene is the culmination of the tragedy.
Clearly, some time has passed and this has allowed Blanche to process the rape and her other experiences. The results are not promising and so she is to be institutionalised.
This fate seems altogether a modern one - and one which in a way, is worse than death.

Wider tragedy for women

The single tragedy of Blanche represents the wider tragedy of women who have been subjected to the patriarchal order.
At the end of the play, despite several women trying to contest it, the New Order seems again to be male-dominated.

Stella's role in the tragedy

Stella appears to be complicit in the tragic process, not only organising her sister’s incarceration but either forgiving Stanley or ignoring what he has done.
She appears, through Eunice’s persuasion, not to believe her sister.

Mitch's suffering

One of the victims here is Mitch, whose suffering must endure. He appears to have reached an epiphany (or a moment of insight) in realising that Stanley has manipulated both him and Blanche – and that maybe he could have found happiness with her. He looks on in horror as she is carted away.

Presentation of Stanley (ending)

At the end of the play, Stanley retains his hard demeanour and is unapologetic.
Whilst there might have been hope for him at one stage, his response at the end confirms his position as a tragic villain.

1Context & Overview

1.1The Author

1.1.1Tennessee Williams

1.2Social Context & Setting

1.2.1Social Context

1.2.2Social Issues

1.2.3Setting

1.3Tragedy

1.3.1Overview of the Tragic Genre

1.3.2Modern Domestic Tragedy

1.3.3End of Topic Test - Author, Context & Tragedy

2Scene Summaries

2.1Scene One

2.1.1Scene One: Summary

2.1.2Scene One: Tragedy Ideas

2.2Scene Two

2.2.1Scene Two: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.2.2End of Topic Test - Scenes One-Two

2.3Scene Three

2.3.1Scene Three: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4Scene Four

2.4.1Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Three & Four

2.5Scene Five

2.5.1Scene Five: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.6Scene Six

2.6.1Scene Six: Summary

2.7Scene Seven

2.7.1Scene Seven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.8Scene Eight

2.8.1Scene Eight: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.8.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Five-Eight

2.9Scene Nine

2.9.1Scene Nine: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.10Scene Ten

2.10.1Scene Ten: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.11Scene Eleven

2.11.1Scene Eleven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.11.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Nine-Eleven

3Character Profiles

3.1Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski

3.1.1Blanche DuBois - The Past & Illusions

3.1.2Blanche DuBois - Relationship with Men & Breakdown

3.1.3The Dynamic Between Blanche & Stanley

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Blanche & Stanley

3.2Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.2.1Stella Kowalski

3.2.2Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.3Minor Characters

3.3.1The Hubbels & Other Characters

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Stella, Mitch & Others

4Key Ideas

4.1Sex & Gender

4.1.1Sex & Desire

4.1.2Masculinity & Femininity

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Sex, Desire & Gender

4.2Appearances, Fantasy & Reality

4.2.1Outer & Inner Appearances

4.2.2Fantasy & Reality

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Appearances, Fantasy...

5Writing Techniques

5.1Structure

5.1.1Structure & Stage Design

5.1.2Linking Devices

5.1.3Recurring Motifs

5.2Genre, Form & Language

5.2.1Genre

5.2.2Form & Language

5.2.3End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

6Critical Debates

6.1Early & Modern Reception

6.1.1Interpreting Blanche & Self-Pity

6.1.2Contemporary & Modern Reviews

6.2Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach

6.2.1Feminist Approach

6.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach

6.2.3Marxist Approach

6.2.4End of Topic Test - Critical Debates

7Ideas About Tragedy

7.1Ideas About Tragedy

7.1.1Tragic Ideas & Villain

7.1.2Tragic Structure & Language

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