AS ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
INTEGRATED ANALYSIS AND TEXT PRODUCTION
BLANCHE’S CHARACTER – SYMBOLS - KEY SPEECHES
To be able to write a strong answer on A Streetcar Named Desire - either for the production task or the essay question - for the exam you will need an in depth and thorough understanding of the main characters. Blanche is the most important character of the play.
Below is a list of core characteristics of Blanche’s character. Look through the play and identify key quotations that you can use to support these claims about her.
CHARACTER OF BLANCHE – SOME FEATURES
FEATURE
|
QUOTATION
|
COMMENT
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Vain
|
I want you to look at my figure!
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This is a short imperative statement to Stella. It emphasises her physical appearance. It shows Blanche in a position of power and control. It is also an exclamative statement - adding emphasis and force to her demand.
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Agitated
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A Liar
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Judgemental
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Isolated
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Insecure
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Desires
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SOME SYMBOLS
Below is a table you can use to consider the symbols we can associate with her character.
FEATURE
|
QUOTATION
|
COMMENT
|
The Dark
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“I like it dark, the dark is comforting to me.”
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In this compound, declarative statement. Blanche is associated with darkness. The connotations of darkness include, hiding, refuge and disguise. In the darkness she can fantasise. In it she is mysterious, unknowable and romantic.
|
Coloured paper lantern
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Moth
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Trunk
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Alcohol
|
SPEECHES
Sc 1 p 12 I took the blows in my face
FEATURE
|
COMMENTS
|
Context
| |
Summary
| |
Key quote
| |
Attitude
| |
Feature[s]
|
Sc 2 p 24 There are thousands of papers
FEATURE
|
COMMENTS
|
Context
| |
Summary
| |
Key quote
| |
Attitude
| |
Feature[s]
|
Sc 4 p 47 – He acts like an animal
FEATURE
|
COMMENTS
|
Context
| |
Summary
| |
Key quote
| |
Attitude
| |
Feature[s]
|
Sc 5 p 53 – I never was hard or self sufficient enough
FEATURE
|
COMMENTS
|
Context
| |
Summary
| |
Key quote
| |
Attitude
| |
Feature[s]
|
Sc 6 p 66 – He was a boy, just a boy
FEATURE
|
COMMENTS
|
Context
| |
Summary
| |
Key quote
| |
Attitude
| |
Feature[s]
|
Sc 9 p 87 – Yes, a big spider
FEATURE
|
COMMENTS
|
Context
| |
Summary
| |
Key quote
| |
Attitude
| |
Feature[s]
|
Sc 10 p 93 – A cultivated woman / Yes swine! Swine! / But then he came back
FEATURE
|
COMMENTS
|
Context
| |
Summary
| |
Key quote
| |
Attitude
| |
Feature[s]
|
Sc 11 p 102 – I can smell the sea air
FEATURE
|
COMMENTS
|
Context
| |
Summary
| |
Key quote
| |
Attitude
| |
Feature[s]
|
