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

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 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

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"

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

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

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

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"

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

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

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.

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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