- ''Carries his bowling jacket and a red-stained package'' Association of colour implies violence and anger. Implication of the primitive and violent nature of Stanley's character
- ''[bellowing] Hey, there! Stella, Baby!'' Shows Stanley's dominant nature, view of superiority and possession over his life
- ''Meat! he heaves the package at her'' Violent, lugging, primitive- shows animalistic attitude, women are for the purpose of procreation & cooking
STELLA
- ''gentle young woman'' Completely contrasts the character of her husband- implies submissive nature
- ''She cries out in protest'' ''she laughs breathlessly'' Initial protest of violent/animalistic behaviour turns to exhilaration- reflects Stella's attraction to brutality
- ''Can I come watch?'' Has to ask permission of husband to join in with him- Stanley's dominant nature controls her
- ''[She laughs but her glance at BLANCHE is a little anxious]'' Constantly checking for cracks in Blanche's facade- aware of her psychological history
- ''[carefully, pouring herself a drink]'' Stella always enacts a certain amount of caution/reservation- contrasts Blanche's overexposed & erratic nature
- ''Aren't you being a little intense about it?'' Stella is painfully aware of how her environment completely contrasts the aristocratic society Blanche is accustomed to
- ''I just got in the habit of being quiet around you'' Refers to Blanche's psychological history, Stella has to always be guarded and vigilant, in case something triggers her
- ''You look just fine'' Stella is accustomed to reassuring Blanche's vanity
- ''[uncomfortably]: I never had anything like your energy Blanche'' Noticed Blanche's overly talkative, nervous disposition. The erratic energy Blanche displays concerns her
- ''[a little wearily]: It's just incredible, Blanche, how well you're looking'' ''[dutifully]: They haven't slipped one particle'' Ritualistic, Stella has to go through flattering and reassuring Blanche, due to her anxiety of ageing
BLANCHE
- ''valise'' Suitcase, shows she has intention of staying
- ''They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries'' Reveals the ongoing theme of the play- desire & the impulse of life vs consequence & death. Juxtaposition of themes relates to ''Death Alley'' and Rose's room in William's childhood
- ''Stella DuBois. I mean- Mrs. Stanley Kowalski'' Shows her utter rejection of the match, she cannot accept that Stella has married below her class- reflects Blanche's superiority complex in regards to class/wealth
- ''Belle Reve?'' Remains an idea throughout the play, a symbol of a privileged existence and a way of life that has been superseded. Intended to translate to 'beautiful dream' the house is a fantasy, a version of the Old South that was never real
- ''stiffly'' ''shoulders slightly hunched'' Blanche's body language perfectly depicts her insecurity, anxiety and lack of confidence
- ''legs pressed close together'' Gives her an appearance of frigidity- which we know in hindsight to be completely false
- ''blind look goes out of her eyes'' Fades in and out of reality, portrays her psychological fragility
- ''carefully replaces the bottle'' Accustomed to hiding her true instability
- ''I've got to keep a hold of myself'' Blanche recognises her unravelling psychosis, she does not wish to alarm Stella and jeopardise her last chance of shelter
- ''I won't be looked at in this merciless glare'' Insecurity of her fading youth and beauty, wishes to hide from the light as it exposes her truth
- ''bottle nearly slips'' Blanche's instability manifests itself physically
- ''Only Poe!'' Blanche's comparison of Stella's home to the gothic, gloomy imagery created by Poe is extremely insulting. But captures the brewing sense of dread that escalates during the play *Fall of the House of Usher*
- ''I was on the verge of-lunacy'' Broken speech when explaining her lack of employment implies she is nervous, lying
- ''You haven't said a word about my appearance'' ''my looks are slipping!'' Blanches inferiority complex in relation to her ageing consumes her throughout the play
- ''beautiful self control'' Blanche has many things to be envious of in Stella- her youth, self control, marriage...
- ''you left Belle Reve'' Intended to cause guilt, accusation of abandonment- infers to the abandonment Blanche suffers at Stella's hands in the final scene
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