Scene Six: Summary

Test yourself

Scene Six: Summary

It is late. Blanche and Mitch have been on a night out together.

Mitch and Blanche debate

There is a debate about streetcar routes with Mitch mentioning a route from Bourbon on an "owl-car" whilst Blanche asks if the "streetcar named Desire" is still operating at this hour? This seems a playful metaphor. However, Mitch has been respectful all night.
Mitch is worried because it seems that Blanche is leaving and he does not want her to go. He asks to kiss her but she suggests a night-cap with a "Bohemian" feel – again acting out one of her fantasies.

Blanche and Mitch flirt

Blanche tells Mitch to make himself more comfortable. Mitch admits that he works out at the New Orleans Athletic Club and that he is strong and physically fit. He moves to lift her up and metaphorically this seems to be what he can do for her.
They joke about what might happen since they are alone but Blanche ironically boasts that she has "old-fashioned ideals".

Discuss Stanley

They talk about Stanley. Knowing that Mitch and Stanley are friends, she explains that Stanley is rude to her. Blanche imitates how Stanley feels about her with a "gesture of revulsion".

Blanche's former husband

Mitch is genuine in his affection for Blanche and says that he has talked to his mother about her. The question of her age is discussed but it is never revealed. This precedes the next sequence in this scene.
When they get to talk about death, Blanche confesses to Mitch that once she was married to a young man, Allan Grey, whom she later discovered had a sexual encounter with an older man.
Grey later committed suicide when Blanche told him she was disgusted with him.

Mitch's feelings for Blanche

Instead of repelling him, Blanche’s story touches Mitch, who tells Blanche that they need each other.

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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