FANTASY

• " But it's only a paper moon [...] - but it wouldn’t be make believe, if you believed in me!” - Blanche - S7

  • Confidence in Mitch + him she has found the shelter and protection from the world
  • Tension - Singing alongside Stanley's revelations about past - Mitch is no longer interested in her - wants to send her back to Laurel - happiness = short lived.
  • “paper moon” - desire to view the world in a more beautiful light , not a harsh reality - needs other people to believe her. Audience realise only one person for desire them to crumble
• " I'm writing a letter to Shep " - S5 - Blanche

  •  Shep Huntleigh = college boyfriend of Blanche’s - Now married, he has become a Texas oil millionaire
  • Blanche often refers to him -claims he’s invited her on a Caribbean cruise; and finally, she believes he’s about to call for her, getting him mixed up with the vacation Stella’s promised her
  • Never appears in the play but symbol of Blanche’s fantasy world - as a representative of the gentlemanly past + saviour, coming to rescue her from the “desperate circumstances” she’s in.
• " young Prince of Arabian nights " - S5 - Blanche

  • Arabian Nights is a series of Middle Eastern folk stories - Dramatic irony
  • DESIRE - Man = not exotic figure Blanche says - “stands like a bashful kid”.
  • refers to having had a “cherry soda”, -- American commercial culture - juxtaposing the foreign influence Blanche imagines.
  • misuse of literature (a comfort zone, as a former English teacher) for self-delusion.
• " I've always depended on the kindness of strangers " - S11 - Blanche
• " I know you must have some liquor in this place " - Blanche - S1