A Streetcar Named Desire- Theatricality in Blanche
Descripción
Edexcel A Level English Language and Literature: A Streetcar Named Desire. This mindmap explores theatricality linked to Blanche, including costume, props, symbols, and sounds.
A Streetcar Named Desire-
Theatricality in Blanche
Costume
Colours and patterns
White is typically
associated with
purity and
innocence
Scene 2: 'I like an artist who paints in strong,
bold colours, primary colours. I don’t
like pinks and creams-
Ironically, she then wears a
'pink brassiere and white
skirt' in Scene 3
Contradicts this in her lack of
sexual purity
Red symbolises
sex and desire,
but also
danger
Flowers are temporary,
and bound to wilt
Scene 1
'daintily dressed in a white
suit with a fluffy bodice,
necklace, and earrings of
pearl, white gloves and hat,
looking as if she were
arriving at a summer tea or
cocktail party'
'gloves'= concealment
'pearls'- link to death at sea,
and yonic shape- sex
Scene 2
'a flower printed dress'
'a red satin robe'
Scene 3
'she takes off the blouse and stands in her
pink silk brassiere and white skirt'
'dark red satin wrapper'
Scene 5
'"Right on my pretty white skirt"'
Stained- corruption
Coke bottle is a phallic symbol
Stickiness of coke has sexual connotations
Scene 9
'scarlet satin robe'
Scene 10
'soiled and crumpled white satin evening gown'
Purity has been corrupted
'scuffed silver slippers with brilliants'
Destruction of fairytale
'rhinestone tiara'
Like a costume
False aristocracy
Scene 11
'red satin robe'
'Della Robbia blue [jacket].
The blue of the robe in the
old Madonna pictures'
'Madonna'= Virgin Mary
Ironic due to her sexual promiscuity
Facade of purity
Props, symbols and sounds
Mirror
Link to appearance
Varsouviana polka
Link to
Blanche's past
and madness
Light
Truth
Paper lantern/ Paper Moon
Fragility
Bathing
Purity
Flowers
Temporary-
inevitable
wilting
Butterfly/moth
Fragile, with a short life span
White radio
Alcohol
Yonic imagery
Rhinestone tiara
Blue piano
Reality
Streetcar
Fate
Desire leads to death,
be it literal or
metaphorical