Used to be an english teacher in Laurel until she had a sexual affair with a pupil and was asked to leave
Widowed to Alan, who commited suicide due to being a homosexual man resricted by society at the time
After loosing Belle Reve, she moved to live with Stella and Stanley in New Orleans, she does not fit in with her surroundings thus the begining of her downfall
Despite having sexual urges and being promiscuis, Blanche acts innocent and pure.
She frequently bathes to represent the idea of cleaning herself of sins.
She avoids reality, symbolically hiding from the light which reveals her true self- she lives in her imagination
Her mental instability grows due to Stanley, who exposes details of her past, ruins her relationship with Mitch, rapes her and sends her to an insane asylum.
1 of 5
Stella
Younger sister of Blanche
left Blanche in Mississippi when she was young and moved to New Orleans
Married her spirit animal, Stanley, they share a relationship that is sexual, animalistic, violent and erratic
There is clear female stereotype mirrored in Stella, she cooks, cleans and obeys Stanley- there is weakness seen in her lack of ability to stand up for her sister
She cannot believe Blanches accusations of Stanley and brushes her to the side, this denial of reality shows she has more in common with her sister than she thinks
2 of 5
Stanley
Husband of Stella
Toxic character who is abusive to both his wife and Blanche however he is loyal and passionate to Stella
He represents the stereotypical macho man, He fought in WW1 he works and provides for Stella
He conflicts with Blanche because he lacks imagination and ideals, he has no patience for a weak character such as Blanche
By the end of the play he is a disturbing character who beats his wife, rapes Blanche and shows no remorse for his actions.
The most unfair part of the play is that Blanche is an outcast and a character such as Stanley is the proud family man.
3 of 5
Mitch
Stanleys friend from the army, plays poker with the men
He courts Blanche until he hears about her shameful past, showing he is easily influenced despite being different to the other men
Unlike Stanley, Mitch is sensitive and gentlemanly, he lives with his dying mother and has been in love before like Blanche
Blanche and Mitch are an unlikely match as he does not fit the rich, hero that Blanche invisions, however their damaged pasts allow them to find comfort in one another
When Blanche is taken away, he is one of the only characters to show despair
4 of 5
Other small parts
Allan- Blanches deceased husband, never seen on stage but his death haunts Blanche
Young collector- Teenage boy who Blanche innapropriately kisses, reminds her of the young boy she cheated with
Shep- Blanches ideal man, he is rich and respectable, she believes he will rescue her
steve- Stellas upstairs neighbour, he is an abusive brutish man
Eunice- Steves wife, similar to Stella
Doctor- Takes blanche away and symbolises the cold, hardness of the mental 'help' that was provided during that time
Mexican woman- vision in Blanches mind selling flowers for the dead, foreshadows her metaphorical death
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