The formal lexis of "Miss DuBois" shows the
respect Mitch has for women and he wants to
be represented as a gentleman
The interrogatives of "What do
you teach? What subject?" shows
how he is interested in getting to
know Blanche, unlike Stanley
who is more interested in
physical relationships with
women
However in scene 9, after Mitch has found out about Blanche's past he
comes in "work clothes...unshaven" showing much like Stanley, he
doesn't care what Blanche thinks of him and he no longer has any
respect for her
"Can I - uh - kiss you - good night?" the pauses in this interrogative
sentence shows Mitch isn't confident in the company of Blanche and he
doesn't know how far he should go in the physicality of their
relationship. He is respecting Blanche's privacy
Even as Blanche is taken away by the nurse, after all she put Mitch through, the kinetic body
language of "Mitch ducks his head" shows how he still has respect for Blanche and doesn't want
her to be made a spectacle of or mocked
He also gazes as he is "dissolved into space" suggesting that unlike Stanley, Mitch has a
conscience and is aware that his failed relationship with Blanche could have effected her
spiral into mental instability
Unlike Stanley who "shoves back his chair as if about to rise", Mitch is the only one who stays
seated which suggests that although Mitch felt betrayed by Blanche, he doesn't want people to
mock her for her problems, he saves her from embarrassment
He is a nervous
man
The adverbs to describe his speech "uncomfortably" and "uneasily" shows he isn't
sure about being in the company of Blanche, and perhaps not in the company of
women. Also he isn't comfortable in the company of men and he is often the quietest
of the men ate their poker nights.
In scene 6, after their date, Mitch said he "better leave it on", referring to his
coat and this further shows he isn't totally comfortable in the company of
Blanche
Relationship with
Blanche
From the offset, Blanche and Mitch appear to be perfectly compatible because they're both
loyal and faithful to their roots - Blanche doesn't wish to forget Belle Reve and Mitch is loyal to
his mother who "is sick" (pg 30) and they also both satisfy each others needs for
companionship - Mitch wants to find a wife before his mother dies and Blanche craves the
attention of men