Scene Two: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

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Scene Two: Summary

Stella is about to take out Blanche to explore the food and culture of New Orleans. Stanley is not happy because he will eat cold food, and the expectation then was that a wife would provide a hot, cooked meal.

Stella's pregnancy

At the same time, we learn that Stella is pregnant. She wants them to keep this secret from Blanche.
Stella also encourages Stanley to praise Blanche’s appearance because she says Blanche's nerves are shattered.

Stanley's suspicions

Stanley questions Stella over the evidence for the loss of Belle Reve and wants to see documentation and papers confirming its repossession.
He suggests that Blanche might have swindled Stella - and thus him - out of their inheritance.
Stanley asks to know where Blanche got the money from to pay for her furs and jewellery. Stella says it's just artificial, cheap stuff, but Stanley says his friend will evaluate all of it.

Blanche's flirtatious nature

While Stella is outside, Blanche enters from her bath, and after changing, asks Stanley to do up the buttons on the back of her dress.
The move is flirtatious and daring, embodying Blanche’s character.
Stanley begins asking Blanche about her clothes and she tries to get Stanley to compliment her about her looks.

"Fifty percent illusion"

Stanley asks Blanche how she lost Belle Reve.
Blanche admits that she fibs, because "after all, a woman's charm is fifty percent illusion," but says she is always truthful when discussing something important.
While looking through the papers, Stanley notices a bundle of letters that Blanche emotionally proclaims are personal love letters from her dead husband.
Blanche comments that sometimes things are of an "intimate nature" and they are not for everyone to see.

Stanley reveals pregnancy

Blanche gives Stanley the papers from loan firms. He attempts to justify his suspicions by explaining that he has to be cautious now that Stella is pregnant.
When Stella returns, Blanches calls her a "star" and explains to her sister than they have thrashed things out, even though she admits to flirting with her sister’s husband.

Steve and Pablo arrive

The scene’s energy is broken with the arrival of Steve and Pablo, who have arrived for the poker party.
Outside, the noise of the city can still be heard. Scenes in the play are linked through piano music.

Scene Two: Tragedy Genre

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

Relationship failures

One of the notions of Blanche’s tragic breakdown is that she has failed in relationships, marriage and that she is childless. This is why news of Stella’s pregnancy has such a great impact on her.

Paradoxical attraction

A core tragic motif is built upon during this scene.
Whilst repelled by the primitive, animalistic and common nature of Stanley, Blanche also seems to enjoy flirting with him.
The fact that she is flirting with her brother-in-law is a recipe that is bound to end in disaster.

Stanley's meddling

Stanley meddles in the family business.
Perhaps he is poking his nose into matters here that do not concern him.
His quest for the ultimate truth about Blanche may show that over-enquiry and investigation can have consequences.

Role of the love letter

The love letter from Blanche’s dead husband gives the play a gothic and melancholy feel.
The audience may also pick up on the fact that Blanche can cause harm and even death to those around her.
Therefore, she is someone not to be trusted and a kind of femme fatale figure.

Stella: "star"

The connection between the name Stella and its literal meaning "star' is significant.
The audience recognises that, although her star is presently high in the sky, it could well easily fall and that Blanche will probably be instrumental in that process.
This sisterly rivalry over accommodation and space has now been transferred onto Stanley.