Kelso High School

1
Kelso High School

• A Streetcar named Desire
• by Tennessee Williams

2
Scene Three a pivotal scene

• Initially the play was to be called The Poker
  Party
• Why?
• Scene three cements Stanleys identity as the
  villain
• Scene three highlights the primal nature of
  Stanley and Stellas relationship
• Scene three illustrates Stanleys domination over
  his friends as he makes all the decisions about
  the game
• Scene three illustrates his friends devotion as
  they look after him tenderly when he is drunk
• Scene three is when Stella first chooses Stanley
  over Blanche. This foreshadows events later in
  the play. Stella has already decided whose side
  she is on

3
Characterisation Blanche

• We learn more about Blanche in this scene-
• Her vanity makes her lie about Stellas age
• Her inability to deal with reality makes her
  claim that she has come to help out because
  Stella has not been well

4
Characterisation Blanche

• Yet, none of her lies are malicious. She tells
  lies in order to protect herself from reality and
  the tragedies she has to endure

5
Characterisation Blanche

• Her seductive posturing half undressed in the gap
  in the curtains appears instinctive when men are
  around. This highlights the contradictions in her
  character the genteel Southern lady who
  expects men to stand up when she comes in and who
  cannot bear a rude remark or vulgar action and
  the cheap seductress

6
Characterisation Blanche

• Blanches purchase of the Chinese lantern to put
  over the light bulb is again symbolic of her
  inability to face reality. Both literally and
  metaphorically light threatens to reveal
  Blanches lies
• Blanches determination to take Stella away from
  Stanley is not forgiven or forgotten by Stanley
  and makes him all the more determined to be rid
  of his unwanted visitor

7
Characterisation Stanley

• Stanleys loud and domineering behaviour during
  the poker game as well as his loud shirts
  emphasise his manliness
• Stanley throwing down the watermelon emphasises
  his disregard both for the house and for Stella.
  It foreshadows the radio incident and hints at
  his capacity for violence
• Stanleys drinking symbolises destructive
  behaviour as he commits domestic violence

8
Characterisation Stanley

• His shower symbolises his attempts to wash away
  his sins i.e. hitting Stella

9
Stanley and Stella

• Stella and Stanleys reunion conveys the extent
  of their desire for each other. Stellas desire
  for Stanley is so great that she is prepared to
  forgive him anything
• Their animal-like moans when they embrace on
  the front steps illustrates their animal-like
  passion for each other

10
Stanley and Stella

• There is a sense of King Kong in Stanley picking
  up Stella and carrying her away. This reminds us
  of his primitive/ape like qualities
• Stella choosing Stanley foreshadows the outcome
  of the play. She has decided whose side she is on

11
Blanche and Mitch

• Mitch is the complete opposite of Stanley. He is
  kind, understanding, sympathetic and shy
• Blanches conversation with Mitch at the end of
  the scene emphasises the class differences
  between them and highlights the efforts he is
  making to overcome them
• The description of their dancing symbolises that
  ultimately they are ill-suited to each other
  Mitch dances clumsily, mimicking Blanches grand
  movements

12
Stagecraft

• The harsh, jarring discordant piano sounds
  highlight the harshness of what is happening on
  stage Stanleys violence