2.4.1

Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

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Scene Four: Summary

Blanche is outwardly bewildered as to why Stella would go back to her abusive husband after such violence.

Blanche's concerns about Stanley

Blanche's concerns about Stanley

  • The next morning, Blanche rushes to Stella and describes Stanley as a "sub-human" animal, though Stella assures Blanche that she and Stanley are fine.
  • The scene opens with Stella feeling serene about her pregnancy. The beauty of this is contrasted with the fact that Stanley has gone out to "get the car greased".
  • Blanche asks Stella about Stanley’s behaviour and we learn he has a history of violence.
Stella accuses Blanche

Stella accuses Blanche

  • Stella accuses Blanche of being too "excitable" about last night’s events and that she would do well to be realistic and forget about such matters.
Shep Huntleigh

Shep Huntleigh

  • Blanche mentions an old flame by the name of Shep Huntleigh who is now rich and successful. There is an idea that she "lost" him and would be with him now if he was not married.
  • This is all intended to make Stella feel that her relationship with Stanley is hopeless.
  • Blanche believes that both she and Stella need to leave to "get out" of this situation (via Shep Huntleigh’s help) but Stella tells Blanche that she is perfectly happy.
Female __"brutal desire"__

Female "brutal desire"

  • This leads them onto a conversation about female "brutal desire" and the metaphor of the streetcar is introduced again.
  • Blanche gives an indication that it was this that brought her to New Orleans in the first place.
Stanley arrives

Stanley arrives

  • A streetcar arrives, bringing Stanley. He stands outside holding packages, and he overhears the conversation but keeps silent.
  • Blanche calls him a "survivor from the Stone Age" and an "ape", and she admits she seeks "poetry and music".
  • When Stanley comes in, Stella hugs and kisses him, letting Blanche know that her low opinion of Stanley does not matter.

Scene Four: Tragedy Genre

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

Tension: Stella and Blanche

Tension: Stella and Blanche

  • The scene is an intense one between the two sisters who are both trying to make sense of each others’ lives; both noting aspects of tragedy in them.
    • Stella sees her sister’s reliance on Shep Huntleigh as misplaced, whilst Blanche thinks that Stella might suffer if she stays any longer with Stanley.
Blanche's depiction of Stanley

Blanche's depiction of Stanley

  • The description Blanche uses to depict Stanley ("sub-human") is bound to make him angry with her. She does not know she is being overheard.
  • If she did, she would know that such language is bound to catch her in a tragic spiral downwards.
Role of __"brutal desire"__

Role of "brutal desire"

  • The conversation about "brutal desire" harks back to the title of the play.
    • Brutal desire has kept Stella with Stanley and has resulted in a baby.
    • Brutal desire has also caused Blanche’s initial downfall and forced her to leave Laurel and come to New Orleans.
Presentation of Stanley

Presentation of Stanley

  • At the end of the scene, Williams presents Stanley as being kind and loveable in deep contrast to the previous scene.
  • He is aware that he is manipulating Blanche and this is perhaps a tragic motif.
Blanche and the finer things

Blanche and the finer things

  • The notion that Blanche seeks the finer, more artistic things in life such as "poetry and music" marks her out as a tragic figure.
  • She will perhaps never find those elements in the places she is looking, nor in the culture in which she finds herself operating.
Jump to other topics
1

Context & Overview

1.1

The Author

1.1.1Tennessee Williams
1.2

Social Context & Setting

1.2.1Social Context1.2.2Social Issues1.2.3Setting
1.3

Tragedy

1.3.1Overview of the Tragic Genre1.3.2Modern Domestic Tragedy1.3.3End of Topic Test - Author, Context & Tragedy
2

Scene Summaries

2.1

Scene One

2.1.1Scene One: Summary2.1.2Scene One: Tragedy Ideas
2.2

Scene Two

2.2.1Scene Two: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.2.2End of Topic Test - Scenes One-Two
2.3

Scene Three

2.3.1Scene Three: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
2.4

Scene Four

2.4.1Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.4.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Three & Four
2.5

Scene Five

2.5.1Scene Five: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
2.6

Scene Six

2.6.1Scene Six: Summary
2.7

Scene Seven

2.7.1Scene Seven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
2.8

Scene Eight

2.8.1Scene Eight: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.8.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Five-Eight
2.9

Scene Nine

2.9.1Scene Nine: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
2.10

Scene Ten

2.10.1Scene Ten: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
2.11

Scene Eleven

2.11.1Scene Eleven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.11.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Nine-Eleven
3

Character Profiles

3.1

Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski

3.1.1Blanche DuBois - The Past & Illusions3.1.2Blanche DuBois - Relationship with Men & Breakdown3.1.3The Dynamic Between Blanche & Stanley3.1.4End of Topic Test - Blanche & Stanley
3.2

Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.2.1Stella Kowalski3.2.2Harold Mitchell (Mitch)
3.3

Minor Characters

3.3.1The Hubbels & Other Characters3.3.2End of Topic Test - Stella, Mitch & Others
4

Key Ideas

4.1

Sex & Gender

4.1.1Sex & Desire4.1.2Masculinity & Femininity4.1.3End of Topic Test - Sex, Desire & Gender
4.2

Appearances, Fantasy & Reality

4.2.1Outer & Inner Appearances4.2.2Fantasy & Reality4.2.3End of Topic Test - Appearances, Fantasy...
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.1.1Structure & Stage Design5.1.2Linking Devices5.1.3Recurring Motifs
5.2

Genre, Form & Language

5.2.1Genre5.2.2Form & Language5.2.3End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques
6

Critical Debates

6.1

Early & Modern Reception

6.1.1Interpreting Blanche & Self-Pity6.1.2Contemporary & Modern Reviews
6.2

Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach

6.2.1Feminist Approach6.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach6.2.3Marxist Approach6.2.4End of Topic Test - Critical Debates
7

Ideas About Tragedy

7.1

Ideas About Tragedy

7.1.1Tragic Ideas & Villain7.1.2Tragic Structure & Language
8

Recap: Main Quotes

8.1

Main Quotes by Scene

8.1.1Scene One - Quotations8.1.2Scene Two - Quotations8.1.3Scene Three - Quotations8.1.4Scene Four - Quotations8.1.5Scene Five - Quotations8.1.6Scene Six - Quotations8.1.7Scene Seven - Quotations8.1.8Scene Eight - Quotations8.1.9Scene Nine - Quotations8.1.10Scene Ten - Quotations8.1.11Scene Eleven - Quotations

Practice questions on Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Who is Blanche's rich and successful old flame?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What derogatory phrases does Blanche use to describe Stanley in Scene Four?Fill in the list
  3. 3
    What do Stella and Blanche discuss in Scene Four?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which description does Blanche use of Stanley in Scene Four?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What role does "brutal desire" play in _A Streetcar Named Desire_?True / false
Answer all questions on Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

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Scene Three: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

End of Topic Test - Scenes Three & Four