How is tension conveyed between Stella and Blanche in Scene 1 of A street car named desire.

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How is tension conveyed between Stella and Blanche in Scene 1?

During the conversation between Blanche and Stella, there is a lot of tension, which is conveyed in various ways.  The reason there is tension there is because Blanche had to tell her sister that she has lost their old family home, Belle Reve, and there is a gradual build up of tension before Stella is finally told.  This scene shows us how nervous and anxious Blanche is.  Before Stella arrives, Blanche is sitting ‘very stiffly’ in a chair. The body language described to us shows that she is on edge and obviously nervous about something.  When she notices some whiskey in a cupboard she has some without thinking, but is then very careful to put everything back.  The word tosses is used to describe how she drinks it, suggesting that she is used to drinking strong alcohol quickly.

        When Stella arrives we are told Blanche starts to speak with ‘feverish vivacity as if she feared for either of them to stop and think.’ She then starts t speak at Stella, to which Stella can only have time to reply with a laugh. She tells Stella not to look at her, and does not give her the opportunity to speak, and even when Blanche tells Stella to speak, she still keeps talking.  Blanche pretends to look for some liquor, knowing where it is already.  Again, we see how nervous she is; ‘She is shaking all over and panting for breath as she tries to laugh’. She tells Stella not to add coke or soda to her whiskey but just water to chase it.  We have already seen her drink it straight with no problem, which suggests she might be trying to hide something.  She drinks it quickly once more and remarks on how it ‘buzzes through’ her and also tells Stella that ‘one’s her limit’.

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        Blanche never really gives Stella much of a chance to talk, which shows how she is the dominant sibling; ‘Stella complies reluctantly’. She talks down to her sister about her living conditions without talking into consideration that Stella may enjoy her life.  

        Blanche mentions her nerves, ‘not with my nerves tonight’, ‘my-nerves broke’ and when talking about some subjects she stutters and pauses which show how she is uncomfortable and nervous.

        Blanche needs reassurance form Stella about her appearance, and many times tries to provoke Stella to tell her how great she is looking, ‘But you don’t look at ...

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