In the passage, Williams outlines the beginnings of a violent tug of war between Blanche and Stanley -- a fight of manners versus manhood. This battle, carried out through overt displays of sexuality and subtle wordplay, foreshadows Blanche’s destruction at Stanley’s hands as well as reinforcing Blanche’s insecurities and Stanley’s dominating, alpha-male persona. Here, the battleground for the pair’s fight is Stella, the rope in their metaphorical tug of war, In this passage, Williams outlines the beginnings of a violent tug of war between Blanche and Stanley -- a fight of manners versus manhood. This battle, carried out through displays of sexuality and wordplay, foreshadows Blanche’s destruction at Stanley’s hands as well as reinforcing Blanche’s
…show more content…
She uses the word “little” to subtly demean Stanley 's pastime and hobby, draws a line between herself and her sister and Stanley by emphasising the fact they are “ladies,” and finally introduces a further element of whimsy by saying that she and Stella are “cordially not invited.” Through this sentence, Blanche successfully asserts her social and intellectual superiority over Stanley -- she is dismissive of his “little card party” and the separation of women and men in its process, all whilst maintaining an air of polite interest. Stanley 's reaction here is to respond in an “ominous” tone of voice, an action which is obviously foreboding. Williams’ emphasis on this through the use of specific stage directions is important as Blanche’s anxiety appears to be triggered by audible influences later in the play. Perhaps, one may argue, Stanley’s “ominous” tone foreshadows not only the pair’s tumultuous relationship at this point in the play, but also Blanche’s defeat at Stanley’s hands in its final …show more content…
The language used to describe this immediately becomes more formal, and converges towards Blanche’s, with Stanley beginning the sentence with “There is such a thing in this…” and making references to the Latin words “vice versa.” This “judicial air,” as it is described by Blanche, is almost comical as there is a harsh contrast between it and Stanley’s previous animalistic simplicity. This is the one and only attempt Stanley makes to try and fight Blanche on her terms rather than his own, suggesting Blanche’s power over him in this passage. Blanche’s responses here are similarly indicative of her victory in the situation of the Napoleonic Code -- she refers to the legal papers pertaining to the “loss” of Belle Reve as “some papers [...] somewhere,” clearly expressing a dismissal of Stanley’s financial
She uses the word “little” to subtly demean Stanley 's pastime and hobby, draws a line between herself and her sister and Stanley by emphasising the fact they are “ladies,” and finally introduces a further element of whimsy by saying that she and Stella are “cordially not invited.” Through this sentence, Blanche successfully asserts her social and intellectual superiority over Stanley -- she is dismissive of his “little card party” and the separation of women and men in its process, all whilst maintaining an air of polite interest. Stanley 's reaction here is to respond in an “ominous” tone of voice, an action which is obviously foreboding. Williams’ emphasis on this through the use of specific stage directions is important as Blanche’s anxiety appears to be triggered by audible influences later in the play. Perhaps, one may argue, Stanley’s “ominous” tone foreshadows not only the pair’s tumultuous relationship at this point in the play, but also Blanche’s defeat at Stanley’s hands in its final …show more content…
The language used to describe this immediately becomes more formal, and converges towards Blanche’s, with Stanley beginning the sentence with “There is such a thing in this…” and making references to the Latin words “vice versa.” This “judicial air,” as it is described by Blanche, is almost comical as there is a harsh contrast between it and Stanley’s previous animalistic simplicity. This is the one and only attempt Stanley makes to try and fight Blanche on her terms rather than his own, suggesting Blanche’s power over him in this passage. Blanche’s responses here are similarly indicative of her victory in the situation of the Napoleonic Code -- she refers to the legal papers pertaining to the “loss” of Belle Reve as “some papers [...] somewhere,” clearly expressing a dismissal of Stanley’s financial