Explore how Williams presents desire in the opening of the play

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  • Explore how Williams presents the theme of desire in the opening of the play.
    • Desire is presented as all-consuming in the opening.
      • Blanche's desire for REASSURANCE and COMPLIMENT
        • Evident where she first meets Stella
          • "You haven't said a word about my appearance."
          • "I still have that awful vanity about my looks even now that my looks are slipping! [She laughs nervously and glances at Stella for reassurance.]
          • "But don't you look at me, Stella, no, no, no, not till later, not till I've bathed and rested!"
            • (About the over-light) "Turn that off! I won't be looked at in this merciless glare!"
          • "[She rises] I want you to look at my figure! [She turns around] You know, I haven't put on one ounce in ten years, Stella?"
        • Blanche's insecurity and desire for admiration even leads her to desire her sister's husband?
          • [She hands a photograph  to Blanche.] BLANCHE: "An officer?"
            • Her upper-class instincts cause her to become interested.
              • "Had he those on when you met him?"
                • Evidently something to be attracted to in Blanche's opinion
          • [He starts to remove his shirt.] "Please, please do."
      • Desire between Stanley and Stella (equally as intense but healthier than Blanche's desire).
        • "Catch!" "What?" "Meat!" [He heaves the package at her. She cries out in protest but manages to catch it. She laughs breathlessly.]
        • "When he's away for a week I nearly go wild!"
        • "Since earliest manhood the centre of his life had been pleasure with women... not with weak indulgence, dependently, but with the power and pride of a richly feathered male bird."
  • Blanche's desire for REASSURANCE and COMPLIMENT
    • Evident where she first meets Stella
      • "You haven't said a word about my appearance."
      • "I still have that awful vanity about my looks even now that my looks are slipping! [She laughs nervously and glances at Stella for reassurance.]
      • "But don't you look at me, Stella, no, no, no, not till later, not till I've bathed and rested!"
        • (About the over-light) "Turn that off! I won't be looked at in this merciless glare!"
      • "[She rises] I want you to look at my figure! [She turns around] You know, I haven't put on one ounce in ten years, Stella?"
    • Blanche's insecurity and desire for admiration even leads her to desire her sister's husband?
      • [She hands a photograph  to Blanche.] BLANCHE: "An officer?"
        • Her upper-class instincts cause her to become interested.
          • "Had he those on when you met him?"
            • Evidently something to be attracted to in Blanche's opinion
      • [He starts to remove his shirt.] "Please, please do."

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