John Mcrae's Streetcar lectures:

 

 

SCENE 3:

Blanche and Mitch's first encounter is about phyical needs 'little boys room' - flirting through this. From the start there is flirting and a physical desire.

'gallentry'- shows Blanche's old-world style of courtship, Blanche is stuck in the old world, out of place in this new city.

Poker game- Clashing masculinity, Masculine egos are at stake in the scene, lots of violence

Stella and Stanleys relationship is a completely new concept to Blanche, she does understand/connect/relate to it.

Its a world of violence, dominant males- there no 'gallentry' in Stanley (slightly in Mitch)

 

SCENE 4:

'There is a confusion of street cries like a choral chant'

choral-outside noises are all a choral commentary like Greek tradgey,,it tells us life goes on even for Blanche despite her emotional decline she still survives

So to what extent is it a tragedy? -is it a a tragedy because she survives? and is it a tragedy for others?
Its a tragedy of unfulfilled desire and Mitch is the emblemn for this.

'Oh let me think, If only my mind would function' this shows the contast between mind and emotion

Blanche does give up hope, but turns to her fantasty world - Shep Huntleigh is likely to be a figure of her imagination and doesn't really exist but she needs this fastasy to provide her with comfort.

"And thats your job" its a transaction, women are objects = patriarchal society

Stella has accepted her role but Blanche has never had a man to accept this role for.

Trains are representing sexual desire.

'Flag'- the confederate flag is still flown in some Southern parts of the USA.

 

SCENE 5: