Scene Eleven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

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Scene Eleven: Summary

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

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 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.

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.

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”.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.