JC H2 Lit Group (with Cheryl and Nathan) paper on A Streetcar named Desire - Allusions

“The use of allusion only serves to amplify Blache’s sophistication” How far do you agree? 

OI: 

Blanche’s language at the start of the play is filled with allusions, suggesting her cultural literacy which allows her to connect with Mitch due to their shared knowledge of literature. In contrast to her surroundings, more specifically embodied by Stanley’s “quaint little words and phrases”, the allusions begin to suggest a falsehood in the persona Blanche portrays. This is a form of deception which arises out of Blanche’s need “to be with somebody, [she] can’t be alone” Her sophistication, whilst intended to provide her with belonging in Elysian fields, ironically is what drives her from the society itself when the truth of her past is revealed and the other characters are exposed to her true nature. In this aspect, the discrepancies between the allusions in her dialogue and the reality of her past undermines the sophisticated persona. Blanche is thus driven from the society due to her inability to conform to a society which values practicality and brute power over her softness and idealistic elegance. 

BP#1: Blanche’s use of metaphors and symbols in her language, serves to highlight her sophistication as compared to the “quaint little words and phrases” that is used in “Elysian Fields”

“I attempted to instil a bunch of bobby-soxers and drug-store Romeos with reverence for Hawthorne and Whitman and Poe!” (pg 31)

[Establish Blanche as sophisticated]

→ Highlights the disparity between the students and her own “reverence”, suggesting Blanche’s sophistication and worldliness in her knowledge of poetry and linguistics. Establishes her persona as having taste and cultural literacy

“Never, never, never in my worst dreams could I picture - only Poe ! Only Mr. Edgar Allan Poe! could do it justice!” (pg 8)

→ Blanche’s referencing of “Edgar Allan Poe” portray her literary awareness & highlights inability to fit into  “Elysian Fields” because of its grim looks. Furthermore, the metaphor of the “ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir” reinforces the contrast between Blanche’s life in “Belle Reve” and that of “Elysian Fields” by emphasizing on the discomfort Blanche feels. Hence, Blanche’s sophistication comes from her inability to fit into the “dirty” setting of “Elysian Fields” as she can only use metaphors and allusions to illustrate the place

“plumb as a little partridge”, “hands folded like a cherub in choir!” (pg 9)

→ The motif of Blanche’s referencing of birds through similes, creates an image of beauty which Blanche uses to reflect her “vanity about her looks”. This want to be “soft and attractive” creates a contrast between Blanche and Stella who is not bothered by her “appearance”. Hence, Blanche sophistication stems from her desire to look “attractive” which wants again comes from her values in “Belle Reve” which acts as a symbol of this sophisticated life, where “you’ve got to be safe and attractive” to “have your existence admitted by someone”. Suggesting that Blanche’s survival and “protection” is tied to her appearance and in turn, her sophistication

“Have got to be seductive - put on soft colours, the colours of butterfly wings, and glow - make a little - temporary magic just in order to pay for - one night’s shelter” (pg 45)

→ Blanche’s use of “colours” become a metaphor for the beauty that Blanche desires to have so that she can have “one night’s shelter” which is a metaphor for her “hunt for protection”. The use of “soft colours” juxtaposed with “hard ones”, highlights Blanche’s awareness that she has to be “soft” in order to be attractive and wanted. Her sophistication comes from this awareness of what is needed to survive, unlike Stella who refuses listen and regards her as “morbid”, further reinforcing how Blanche sophistication and knowledge result in her inability to fit in 

BP#2 The juxtaposition between Stanley and Blanche serves to highlight Blanche’s sophistication while bringing out the animalistic nature in Stanley

“Her appearance in incongruous to this setting. She is daintily dressed in a white suit with a fluffy bodice, necklace and earrings of pearl, white gloves and hat, looking as if she were arriving at a summer tea or cocktail party in the garden district” (pg 5)

→ The first description of Blanche, highlights how “incongruous” Blanche is in the “dirty...Elysian Fields” and in turn bringing out the sophistication in Blanche as compared to the setting she is put in. The image of Blanche being dressed “daintily in a white suit” with a “necklace and earrings of pearl”. The symbol of jewelry depicts Blanche as someone whose appearance does not fit into “Elysian Fields”

“I got an acquaintance who deals in this sort of merchandise. I”ll have him in here to appraise it. I’m willing to bet you there’s thousands of dollars invested in this stuff here” (pg 18)

→ Stanley’s ignorance towards Blanche’s clothes reflect his lack of knowledge as opposed to Blanche. The final revelation by Stella that “those are inexpensive summer furs”, result in the clothes being a symbol for the privileged life which Stanley believes that Blanche has. Hence, the contrast between Blanche’s use of metaphors in her speech create a juxtaposition between her sophistication as manifested through education 

“Stanley is Polish, you know…. They’re something like the Irish, aren’t they?...Heterogenous - types?” (pg 10)

→ Blanche’s comparison of the polish to the Irish reflects both her ignorance and her denouncement of Stanley’s ethnicity. The former is indicative of Blanche’s allusion and knowledge as merely a mask of her naivety. The latter implies that Stanley is expected by Blanche to behave like the Americans, who at the time were seen as foreign immigrants. Ironically, it is Blanche who is foreign in the Elysian Fields society. 

“What do you two think you are? A pair of queens?.... So don’t forget it!” (pg65)

→ this is by far not the only instance of an allusion to the motif of gambling. However, it is in this rare instance that Stanley too displays an awareness of some form of sophistication in his allusion to Huey Long. Through this, Stanley reinforces his place as “king” in the power struggle between himself and Blanche. In contrast to Blanche’s allusions to writers, Williams establishes that Stanley is not ignorant but merely brutish. His knowledge of the napoleonic code and established politicians places him at odds with Blanche in that his is a different form of power. Where Blanche relies on the pretense of frivolity, Stanley’s power lies in his pragmatism. Stanley’s ability to manipulate the game of poker reflects his male dominance which ultimately overshadows Blanche’s use of sophistication.

“ And what have we here? …..Next door to glass.” (pg 18)

→ Stanley’s comparison of Blanche coupled with nautical imagery places an emphasis on his understanding of Blanche’s deception and delusion. However, it also magnifies and exposes Stanley’s crudeness in not being able to distinguish Blanche’s costume jewelry and rhinestones from “treasure” and diamonds. The stage directions of Stanley as he “hurls the furs to the daybed” create a visual impression of the juxtaposition between his brutish animalistic force and Blanche’s ironically absent presence shown through her ornaments, which is representative both of her image of sophistication but also of her need for it as a means to remain in the society. 

BP#3 The use of allusion does not amplify Blanche’s sophistication but rather expose her deception and loss of mind as she tries to portray herself as one of dignity and of propriety but fail to do so.

“Now don’t get worried, your sister hasn’t turned into a drunkard, she’s just all shaken up and hot and dirty!” (pg 8)

“You ought to lay off his liquor. He says you been lapping it up all summer like a wild-cat!” (pg 71)

→ the whisky bought by Stanley which Blanche is addicted to alludes to wealth and sophistication which Blanche attempts to portray herself as. However, the animalisation of Blanche and likening her to a “wild-cat” suggests her impulse and how she is uncivilised which is in contrast with how she presents herself in the play. Her addiction to (expensive) alcohol which she covers up poorly attributes to the crumbling of her pristine image that she always try to portray.

“No, one’s my limit” (pg 9)

→ Her refusal to have another round of drinks shows that she is aware of the consequences of excessive drinking and how it will ruin her reputation if she indulges in that vice of hers. Nevertheless, her alcoholism shows as “she springs up and crosses to (the whisky bottle)”(pg 6-7). The first thing she does when arriving at Stella’s place is to drink alcohol which emphasises her alcoholism and dependence on it.

“The rapid feverish polka tune, the "Varsouviana," is heard. The music is in her mind; she is drinking to escape.”  (pg 69)

→ The mise en scene and allusion to alcohol explains Blanche’s alcoholism. Blanche’s desire to escape from her past as well as her age in order to seem more desirable to men causes her to be addicted to alcohol. The extent of her alcoholism, which she understands to be detrimental to her relationship with Mitch and hence her chance of survival in Elysian Fields is manifested through her attempt to hide her voice when Mitch arrives. “She rushes about frantically, hiding the bottle in a closet”(pg 70)

→ The allusion to the polka tune also represents her loss of grasp on reality as it is only heard whenever she panics. The tune symbolises her innocence as it was first played during her relationship with her Allen Grey and only stops when the gunshot (the death of Allen and hence her innocence) is heard. The frequency of the polka tune being played increases as the play progresses which mirrors Blanche’s mental degeneration. The music being “in her mind” further emphasises on the madness that she is descending into as the music and its significance can only be felt by her.

“As the drinking and packing went on, a mood of hysterical exhilaration came into her and she has decked herself out in a somewhat soiled and crumpled white satin evening gown and a pair of scuffed silver slippers with brilliants set in their heels. Now she is placing the rhinestone tiara on her head before the mirror of the dressing-table and murmuring excitedly as if to a group of spectral admirers.” (pg 75)

→ The mise en scene of her unkempt appearance contrasts between that of her appearance when she first arrived in Elysian Fields where she was “daintily dressed in a white suit with fluffy bodice, necklace and earrings of pearl, white gloves and hat, looking as if she were arriving arriving at a summer tea or cocktail party in the garden district” (pg 5) shows her loss of touch with reality. The symbolism of her clothing which represents her desire to appear as sophisticated instead shows her descent into madness since she has arrived in Elysian Fields.

BP#4: Blanche’s emphatic use of Allusions undermine her place in society as her pretense of sophistication is merely a facade. When exposed, her means of survival in Elysian Fields through her connection with Stella and Mitch are severed, and her image of purity stained thus expelling her from the society. 

“And if God chose… from the Portuguese… Mrs. Browning!” (pg 29)

→ the shared knowledge of the inscription on the case and the fact that Blanche shows favour to the poem suggest the large importance in which both characters value the experience of death. Blanche’s surprise as shown through her exclamation and question highlights the surprise she feels, emphasizing her expectation of all in Elysian Fields to not be culturally literate. Blanche’s need for companionship is manifested in the stage directions of her reading with feigned difficulty as this implies that her display of sophistication in this instance is used to seek companionship and therefore engage forms of deception. 

“Sign?....Capricorn-the goat!...Virgo is the virgin” (pg 44) 

→ Astrological allusions here again highlight the discrepancy between Blanche and Stanley in that one is sexually active and the other feigns her purity. Stanley’s not knowing of horoscopes reflects the lack of need for him to put up a facade, contrasting to Blanche. Link to mise en scene in Blanche’s costume choice of white, representing purity, and the irony of her name in that it suggests innocence. 

“Cadillac convertible...Texas is literally spouting gold in his pockets” (pg 37) + “and admire her dress…. Important to Blanche” (pg 16) 

→ Blanche’s knowledge of car brands and the emphasis she places on “looking fresh” as manifested in her rhinestones and faux fur clothes suggests that Blanche understands that money is needed in any American society for survival. Her sophistication can thus be seen as a means of survival which ultimately backfires on her. Illustration: “and you’ve got to have your existence admitted by someone…..put a paper lantern over the light” 

“You look like a young prince out of the Arabian Nights… My Rosenkavalier!” (pg 49) 

→ contrasting allusions parallel and juxtapose each other in that one represents Blanche’s true desire and the other, what she needs. In both, she displays her sophistication but also exposes the discrepancy between the two in that one of them represents her desires for freedom and youth but the other embodies her need for security and protection, as alluded to when she compares Mitch to a Knight.

“You lied to me, Blanche...i didn’t lie in my heart” (pg 73-4)

→ Blanche’s expulsion from Elysian Fields is foreshadowed by the image of upside down, a plaster statuette of Mae West as her relationship with Mitch degenerates. Her refusal to admit to her deception, and the removal of the lantern from the bulb is symbolic of the exposure of Blanche’s sophistication as a guise to be attractive to Mitch. With Stella’s choosing her husband over Blanche, Blanche’s only remaining means to stay in Elysian Fields in the form of Mitch is severed. Thus, the Mexican Woman’s repetition of “Flores. Flores….. Flores para los muertos” is symbolic of Blanche’s spiritual death as she descends even further into madness and is ultimately expelled from Elysian Fields. 

Conclusion: The use of allusion did amplify Blanche’s  sophistication on a superficial level in that it enhanced the social class divide presented between Blanche from Belle Reve and the other characters, especially Stanley from Elysian Fields. However, it also undermined her sophistication in that her delusions and pretence of class caused her persona to be inflated to the point where her true history was exposed, and the deception she underwent in order to remain in Elysian Fields came to light, literally. This distrust prompted a rejection of Blanche from the society both by Stella and Mitch, ultimately serving as the basis for Blanche’s removal from the society due to her inability to maintain the facade of sophistication and innocence.