Blanche uses the extended image of an ape to define Stanley’s primitive, bestial qualities:
“There’s even something – sub human – something not quite to the stage of humanity yet! Yes something ape like about him like one of those pictures I’ve seen in - anthropological studies.”
She describes the poker night as a ‘party of apes’ –
“ His poker night – you call it - this party of apes! Somebody growls – some creature snatches at something – the fight is on!”
By using repetition and parallelism, Williams creates a listing effect to emphasise Blanches rejection of his sub human behaviour:
“ He acts like an animal he’s an animal’s habits! Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one.”
Williams reinforces the audience’s impression of Blanche’s disgust of Stanley’s bestiality through the actions she associates with him:
“Bearing the raw meat home from the kill in the jungle”
She goes on to describe his friends:
“There in front of the cave all grunting like him and swilling and gnawing and hulking.”
Blanche is also critical of Stella’s subservient role in the relationship, further reinforcing her view of its evolutionary ‘backwardness’:
“ And you – you here – waiting for him maybe he’ll strike you or maybe he’ll grunt and kiss you.”
By contrasting ‘art’, ‘poetry’ and ‘music’ with the ‘Stone Age’, ‘jungle’ and ‘raw meat’, Williams also emphasises the essential differences between the two central characters:
“ Maybe we are a long way from being made in God’s image but Stella – my sister – there has been some progress since then! Such things as art – as poetry and music – such kinds of new light have had some little beginning – that we have got to make grow – and cling to and hold as our flag!”
