Mitch

• S3- "I'm out again. I oughta go home pretty soon."

  • Subtly underscores Mitch's discomfort in the world of Stanley's brutish masculinity
  • Underlying unease and desire to distance himself from the toxic environment fostered by Stanley
  • Discomfort aligns with broader cultural tensions in the 1940s
  • Notions of masculinity were increasingly scrutinized and challenged
• S3- "Poker shouldn't be played in the house with women."

  • Voices rare moment of opposition to Stanley's dominating behaviour
  • Highlights Mitch's more traditional and protective attitude towards women= juxtaposes with Stanley's aggressive and chauvinistic demeanor
  • Reflects post-war gender dynamics and shifting expectation of women and men's roles within the domestic sphere
• S5- "My Rosenkavalier!"

  • Showcases Blanche's romantic idealisation of the two- Mitch is her pawn of achieving her fairytale fantasy
  • Rosenkavalier= hero of Strauss' comic-romantic opera, hinting at Blanche's educated and aristocratic culture
  • After Blanche flirts with paper boy, dual personality//juxtaposition explores how the true Blanche Dubois comes out at times, doesn't stay consistent to being a Southern Belle
• S3- "Moves in an awkward imitation like a dancing bear."

  • Animal imagery like Stanley yet a contrast
  • Dynamic verb, "dancing", clumsy and goofy= embodies an alt type of masculinity subversive of stereotypes
  • Lacks inherent machismo that draws women in & fills them with lust
  • Comical image of a dancing bear, Mitch is endearing
  • T.W suggests society should have more respect for these pure men with good intentions and not overlook them
  • Embrace men with emotive sensitive side
  • Bears can be extremely violent when pushed too far= Mitch may be dangerous
• S9- "What I been missing all summer."

  • Sex that Blanche has withheld, supposedly because of her old-fashioned morality
  • Now Mitch knows her sexual past, he thinks he deserves to have sex with her
  • Lack of grammar= slurred speech, emphasising his strong desire and lust for Blanche
  • Rips paper lantern
• S6- "The polka tune fades out." (SD)

  • Shows tenderness in his and Blanche's relationship
  • Provides comfort to Blanche; enables her to forget her past, gets rid of traumatic memories for her by "Kisses" to her "forehead and her eyes."
• S9- "She looks fearfully after him as he stalks into the bedroom." (SD)

  • Verb often used to describe Stanley- acts in same way as Stanley
  • Blanche reacts to him like she would react to Stanley- Men are inherently the same