Scene 5

• Scene Summary and Analysis

  The scene opens with Blanche fanning herself with a palm leaf. This is a humorously luxurious prop. She is seen laughing to herself as she writes a letter to Shep Huntleigh. Stella asks her what she’s laughing at and Blanche explains she’s laughing at herself“for being such a liar”. This line utilises some dramatic irony due to our awareness of Blanche’s bigger lies and illusions.She reads out herletter to Shep,which is filled with the same over the top sensationalisation of her lifeas many of her regular stories and references to her wealth.
• Scene Summary and Analysis

  The conversation is interrupted by Eunice and Steve fighting over his alleged infidelity upstairs. The situation escalates until the sisters hear Eunice shouting that Steve hit her, along with achaoticburst of violent noises. Blanche is terrified that he killed her.This raw depiction of domestic violence so closely following the incident at the poker night implies the normalisation of aggression from men in this context. This depicts the extent to which it’s out in the open. This issomething which leaves Blanche feeling disturbed, as she isaccustomed to living through a façade.
• Scene Summary and Analysis

  Eunice runs out into the street, saying she’s going to call the police. Stanley returns from bowling, and when he asks what happened to Eunice Stella tells him she just had “a row” with Steve. This highlights how she is living under the delusion that this kind of violence should be tolerated. Stanley lets her know Eunice didn’t call the police, she’s just getting a drink, and Stella laughs that this is“much more practical”. This reminds us of how many characters seek refuge in alcohol, but it also illustrates that the situation will ultimately get blown off, just like the poker night incident did. Stanley and Stella are not a singular case. Steve goes after Eunice.
• Scene Summary and Analysis

  Blanche makes light conversation with Stanley. She is clearly in a relatively good mood, but still winces at theaggressionin each of his actions as he settles back into the home environment. She starts to ask him about his astrological sign, wondering if it’ll explain his brutishness, but he’s relativelydismissiveof her. He mocks her when she tells him her own sign is associated with virginity.
• Scene Summary and Analysis

  Stanley changes the conversation, asking Blanche if she knows somebody named Shaw and causing her to be visibly shocked. She tries tododgethe question in her usual airy manner, but, alwaysconfrontational, Stanley tells her he knows a Shaw who is convinced he knows her from the Hotel Flamingo in Laurel. Blanche is clearlyuncomfortableat this delve into her past. The two have a tense conversation, as they both try to manipulate each other. Blanche tries to brush him off, but she is clearly filled with fear, her hands trembling.Tension is high and escalating at this point in the play, as Blacnhe’s lies are slowly unraveling.
• Scene Summary and Analysis

  Steve and Eunice come back down the street in a loving embrace,mirroringthe image of Stella and Stanley making up after the poker night a few scenes before. Stanley leaves.
• Scene Summary and Analysis

  Blanche rises in anervous panic, asking Stella what she’s heard about her. She demands to know if there’s been gossip going around about her, but Stella seems confused and assures her there isn’t. Blancheadmitsthat the last few years, since she started losing Belle Reve, she acted badly. Stella seems confused again, and tries to reassure her that everyone does things they aren’t proud of, but Blanche interrupts her with a speech which reveals the extent to which she is burdened byguilt and shameover what happened during this time.
• Scene Summary and Analysis

  Time passes. Stella tells Blanche she doesn’t listen to her when she is being morbid. She brings Blanche a coke, and Blanche asks for a shot in it. They laugh that Stella doesn’t mind waiting on Blanche, because it reminds her of their childhood together. In a sudden burst ofemotion,Blanche tells Stella how good she is, andhystericallypromises she won’t overstay her welcome. She tries to stay calm, but shrieks when Stella accidentally spills coke on her white skirt. This isa symbol and metaphor of her terror of impurity, especially within the context of this conversation about her past.
• Scene Summary and Analysis

  Blanche sits down, tries to calm herself, and dismisses her shakiness to nerves about meeting Mitch later. She then goes intofragmented discourse, which is usual when she is feeling on edge. She speaks about her relations with Mitch, saying she hasn’t given him more than a kiss because she wants his respect. Sheopens upagain about her difficult relationship with men and with her sexuality, claiming that Mitch won’t want her if he sees her as “easy” or promiscuous, but that she doesn’t want him to lose interest either.This is a frank expression of the anxiety of being a woman with conflicting expectations constantly put on by men. She worries about her age in relation to this, and tells Stella that Mitch doesn’t know her real age. She explains that she feels she needs to deceive Mitch into wanting her. Stella kisses Blanche andreassuresher. This isa moment of frank tenderness between the two sisters, who, despite their differences, can both understand the difficulties of being a woman.Stanley arrives, and Stella goes out to meet him.
• Scene Summary and Analysis

  The blue piano plays, and Blanche sits alone in the apartment waiting for Mitch. A young man arrives collecting for the newspaper. Hetriggersher sexuality as well as herloneliness, leading Blanche to seduce him by flirting and offering him a drink. She calls him an Arabian prince and kisses himwithout consentbefore sending him away. The young man also appearsuncomfortable throughout the debacle. The scene ends with Mitch arriving with flowers that Blanche accepts.
• Key Quotes


  BLANCHE: I never was hard or sell-sufficient enough. When people are soft--soft people have got to shimmer and glow--they've got to put on soft colors, the colors of butterfly wings, and put a-- paper lantern over the light. ... It isn't enough to be soft. You've got to be soft and attractive. And I--I'm fading now! I don't know how much longer I can turn the trick. [The afternoon has faded to dusk. Stella goes intothe bedroom and turns on the light under the paper lantern. She holds a bottled soft drink in her hand.]

  This abstract, poetic speech continuously refers to the ideas of ‘hardness’ and ‘softness’,alludingthematically to the way Williams has been portrayinggender and sensitivity.She accuses herself of always being too soft, having to put on an illusion to make “temporary magic” in order to get help from others, due to her lack ofself sufficiency. She refers to men specifically, who she feels won’t see or help you unless they can sexualise you. This explains her subsequent need to “glow” and attract men in order to get help. There are many references to the importantmotifsof light and paper lanterns which paint the picture of the “glow” Blanche is trying to cloak herself in. Finally, she worries that she is “fading now” due to her gradual ageing, suggesting that can’t rely on this help from men anymore. This speech shows asurprisingamount ofclarityand openness from Blanche.
• Key Quotes


  BLANCHE: I want to kiss you – just once – softly and sweetly – on your mouth [without waiting for him to accept, she crosses quickly to him and presses her lips to his.] Run along now! It would be nice to keep you, but I’ve got to be good and keep my hands off children! Adios!

  Blanche cannot seem to convalesce from theobsessionof desire. She rejects the brutal physicality of her sister’s relationship, but aches fromlonelinessand guilt, thatmanifestsin inappropriate ways. The above instance is the first time the audience sees Blanche’s past come to life. Her obsession for young men is avisual stimulusfor the audience now and not just auditory. Being surrounded by happy couples leaves her to approach the first person she sees to find some comfort.