Some features Williams uses can cause dramatic tension or interest in the scene. Such as stage directions - in the rape scene (scene 10) to have the events happening off stage so therefore the tension builds up to create a big scene. However the first time I read this scene I did not think that it was very clear, as the stage directions weren’t that specific. Although when we watched the film it became very clear and I could see where all the suttle stage directions actually came into the play. However a lot of the time I found the stage directions to be very blunt so you did not have to work any thing else. For example when Blanche is dancing around with all her dresses you can tell that there is tension in the air between her and Stanley and it becomes very apparent when she starts to break down.
In scene seven Williams makes a quite clear point that blanche needs to be lean ad constantly has to look her best, so he makes it quite a big thing that blanche washes herself again and again like she constantly feels dirty, also she may feel like she is physically trying to wash her guilt and imperfections away from her past. Whilst blanche is in the bath she starts to sing in a happy and cheerful manner, we know or can assume that she is singing about Mitch as she has a crush on him however the characters listening to her can just notice an attitude change and don’t realise who or what she is singing about, however during this happy time for blanche it is contrasted by Stanley standing in a different room were she cannot hear, where he reveals about her past this causes a lot of dramatic irony.
In scene eight Stanley says: ‘I am king!’ this emphasises his manly and animalistic qualities, and they come out even further when he losses his temper. In this scene something quite dramatic happens when Stanley and blanche start to fight over Stella, however in the mist of all the fighting we realise that they turn it onto a competition between each other we notice this when Stanley says ‘I am 100% American’ – this made me think that this is what Williams sees that America is changing into, when blanche is sad Stanley seems to be beating her in the fight between the new and the old south, during this the versouviana plays getting louder and louder so more noticeable. This is a constant reminder that everything in blanches past will catch up will her.
In scene nine we see a dramatic change in blanche. We notice that she breaks down and tends to go a bit crazy like she has totally lost her mind. This scene is a flash back into blanches past as she thinks about the Pollca tune, this brings her back to memories to the night that her husband killed himself which is what contributes to blanches behaviour, whiles she thinks this the versouviana also plays which builds up a lot of tension and it is also used as evidence of her deteariating mental health. When all the music stops and blanche slowly looks up, in the distance you hear a woman crying out: ‘flores para los muertos..’ translated into English this means flowers for the dead, this signifies the death of blanches hope.
In scene 10 Stanley shows his victory over blanche when he says: ‘I’ve been on to you from the start’ and ‘It goes to show you never know what is coming.’ This also foreshadows that he is about to do something bad. Whilst Stanley says this he unbuttons his t-shirt, which implies he is about to do something physical to blanche, building up to the rape the barley audible blue piano builds up to create even more tension. Blanche has been exposed to every one and is vulnerable and because of this Stanley uses it to his advantage and uses blanches unstableness to rape her, however this happens offstage. This has a strong effect as it lets our minds wonder so therefore hearing what is going on is almost worst than seeing it for yourself.
Some themes I noticed that ran through the whole of the play where Light vs. Darkness: Stanley is into the reality of life. He is like a naked light bulb: harsh. He faces the way things are and doesn't delude him self. What Blanche calls "magic", he calls lies. On the hand, Blanche must soften the light with a flimsy paper lantern. When she saw what reality is like with her husband, it nearly broke her. "There has never been any light that's stronger that this kitchen -- candle" in her life since her husband's suicide. She uses the paper lantern to hide the strength of the light. This is the only way she can cope. The songs she sings represent this theme.
Also another very strong theme is Loneliness: when I look at Blanche it makes me realise what loneliness can do to people. In grief after her husband's suicide, she becomes a prostitute to fill her emptiness. She molests a young boy and deludes herself and others that she is charming and sociable. She also invents stories about Shep Huntleigh (whether he is real or not, it doesn't matter). Loneliness is what brings Mitch and Blanche together. She is willing to put up with him rather than be a lonely spinster. He also needs a female figure to replace his mother. Colours are also contrasted between these two characters. Stanley is associated with vivid colours. Coarse, loud primary colours are his style. Blanche, however, selects pastels or white colours that are muted and muffled.
In the scene with Blanches birthday in it, it is very interesting the way that Williams chooses to set the mood. As she makes it a very pleasant and calm mood, but then the atmosphere quickly turns sour as Stanley starts too interrogate her about what she was doing at the hotel because he knows the truth, and Blanche quickly has a break down as she does not want to face reality and does not want the hassle of people knowing the truth.
I think over all Williams has cleverly written a very moving and effective play using various techniques such as the music that she uses in the background to set the scene. Although this is a very old play, I enjoyed reading it however I did find some parts of it quite disturbing, but I suppose it was all part of setting the scene of the play.
A Street Car Named Desire -
