Lady Bracknell: “I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square.” 


Analyse the quotation (word and sentence level) and explain how humour is created. How does Wilde explore Victorian attitudes in through the character of Lady B.



Wilde shows Victorian attitudes through Lady Bracknell's character by the way she speaks and views society.
'Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever' This suggests that Wilde  is mocking the Victorian attitude towards education. It is irony that Lady Bracknell uses the word fortuan 

How does Wilde convey Jack's attitudes towards Algernon?

The language choices Wilde uses to convey Jack's attitudes towards Algernon vary throughout the play.

In the play 'The Importance of Being Ernest'  Jacks quarrels a lot with Algernon. In Act 1 Scene 1 they argue over the muffins which both Jack and Algernon had taken were eaten 'How can you sit there, calmly eating muffins when we are in this horrible trouble, I can’t make out. You seem to me to be perfectly heartless' The squabble with each other just like brothers do. Wilde inserts the scene with muffins to bring humour to the play. The fact that they are arguing over muffins which is quite a trivial matter while the 'loves of there lives' are angry with them. Wilde shows that Jack dislike the idea of Algernon being in his home because he will eat all of his food.

Scene 9 Analysis

Why does she break the mirror?
Blanche breaks the mirror because she doesn't want to look in the mirror and see her ageing face. She  want to keep up the illusion that she is young and is wanted by everyone. Her happiest point in life was when she was 16 and with Allan. Now when she looks int the mirror, all she can see is her failure, she wasted her life

What are his motives for raping her?
Stanley raped her because he wanted to undermine her, he wanted her to feel weak. He did it to prove that he is a man. It is almost like he is doing exactly as Blanche described him as when she said 'Maybe he'll strike you or maybe grunt and kiss you, That is if kisses have been discovered yet' This is like foreshadowing of Stanley raping her

Stella's conversation with Eunice

 After Stanley reveals Blanches past

Stella: EUNICE, EUNICE YOU UP THERE

(Running up the stairs towards Eunice's apartment)

Eunice: Stella? What's all the hollering about?

Stella: Oh thank god your here, I really need talk to you

Eunice: Of course, Come in, Come in. Sit. I'll fetch you a glass of lemonade

(Walking towards the kitchen)

Stella: Oh Eunice (sobs), Stanley just told me the most horrible things about Blanche. She's lied to me, she's lied to all of us.

Eunice: Stella what has Blanche done?

Stella: Well you know about Hotel Flamingo, well Blanche has been giving it a bad name, can you believe that.

Eunice: Are you sure you can believe Stanley?

Stella: I don't know, but would he really lie about this, I'd better get back, Blanche is in the bathroom and Stanley is getting agitated.

Blanche's Diary

Dear Diary,
                   Today has been a long day, I just had my date with Mitch, I'm not sure what to make of it. I don't think Mitch has ever been on a date with a girl like me let alone with anyone else, the way he acted. He was completely oblivious to my advances. Mind you, he's not like the boys I used to date back in Laurel. But I guess that is a good thing, I can really be real with him. I can forget everything when I'm with him, but I worry about what Stanley has been telling him. He hates me and I don't think he wants me anywhere near Mitch, but that isn't his decision. Mitch needs me, like I need him and that's all that matters 

I trust him, he won't leave me, I told him about Alan.. about how I killed him. It felt so good to get if of my chest and to know that Mitch accepts me the way I am shows that there is a god out there. Though i am smarter than him, oh what a laugh, miss out on an opportunity ha ' Voulez vous coucher avec moi se soir'

Oh I hope everything goes well

Au Revoir Blanche

Writing Task

Write the scene between Stanley and Stella as they had breakfast.

Stanley: You know i didn't mean it right?

Stella: What?

Stanley:When I hit you, I didn't mean to, I was drunk and ... please forgive me

Stella: I know Stanley and I forgive you, What do you think Blanche will say?

Stanley: Why do you care what she thinks?

Stella: Well it's just the way she reacted last night, I guess she must be terrified, I'll talk to her once she comes down and we can sort this out.

Stanley: You should. I don't want her in our personal life

Stella: I'm going back to bed, ok

Stanley: Ok, I'll go fix the radio  

Scene 3

 PEEL's of Extracts 1-5

Extract 1

             I think that Stanley is in control in the opening scene of scene 3. He says 'Get off the table Mitch. Nothing belongs on a poker table but cards chips and whisky' This is probably the longest sentence Stanley says throughout the play. It shows that what he says is important and that no one should question it. The fact that Stanley gives Mitch a command shows that he is in charge and does not listen to anyone else. Stanley wants to show all his friends that he is more dominant than the rest and therefore in charge, he does not like Mitch helping his wife and her sister, so he is assertive and does not allow anyone to say anything about it.

Extract 2

             The main topic within the woman's conversation is how Blanche looks. Blanche is a lot like Stanley and likes to dominate the conversation. She is aware of all the men playing poker and wants to make an impression. She asks Stella hows she looks because she is insecure and only takes comfort when people complement her appearance even though she is getting old. 

Blanche throughout the play repeatedly says 'I must go and bathe'. She wants to bathe a lot seems like it could be a biblical illusion to a baptism. She wants to cleanse herself from her past. This refers back to the 'blue piano' that Blanche constantly hears

Extract 3

        

A Scene Between Mitch, Steve and Stanley

Write a scene between Mitch, Steve and Stanley that would fit between Scenes 2 and 3. Consider how they discuss Blanche.

Steve - Who is that?

Stanley - Who? Blanche? oh thats just Stella's sister

Mitch - Well she is very purrty, Is she married??

Steve - Oooooh someone has his eye on a lady

Stanley - Blanche looks like bad news, you could do so much better

Mitch - What do you mean? And i never said i like her

Steve - Right, so you just asked if she was married for the sake of it

Diary Entry For Stella After She has had her Baby

Imagine that while Stella is in hospital after having the baby, she writes an entry in her diary about how she feels about returning home to Stanley and Blanche. Write this diary entry in which Stella expresses her hopes and fears for the future. 

You should give careful consideration to your language choices and style. Write in dramatic form and dialogue suitable for the characters.

Dear Diary,

                    I have just had my baby, I am in the hospital after several days of waiting. I think i'll be able to leave soon. I wonder what is happening back home, Stanley was being very rude to Blanche, I know he is just looking out for our family but she deserves more respect. The way he showed her the train ticket was the last straw i guess, the look on her face was heartbreaking maybe due to all that stress my baby decided it was time to be born.

My baby is a beautiful bouncing baby boy, looks just like Stanley. I don't have name for him yet i'm hoping when Stanley comes to collect me we can discuss this. Maybe we can name him after my father ore Stanley's ...

No we'll decide together, Oh I am so happy words can not describe it. I wish Blanche will be apart of our life but i doubt Stanley would like that much

All that keeps going through my head is the possibility that Blanche could be on the streets alone, I know how she hates to be alone.

Well hopefully this baby will bring us all together

Stella

Writing Task

Blanche is sat on a chair with a cup in hand, looking relived

Stella: Blanche, is that you? What are you doing?

Blanche [shocked]: Oh Stella, my baby, your home. Oh i hope you don't mind that i took a sip of your alcohol it;s just to calm my nerves you see. I hope you don't think of me as a drunkard. Stella for star, my haven't you grown since I saw you last, oh my it has been a while. Gained a bit of weight I see, I have not gained a pound since the day you left Belle Reve. Oh my what am i saying, How are you Stella honey??

Stella: Blanche! You are here! How are you? What are you doing here?

A Streetcar Named Desire - Questions

Why Does Blanche replace the bottle and wash the glass after having a drink?
 Blanche replaces the bottle and washes the glass after having a drink because she does not want Stella to know that she had been drinking her alcohol. Later in the play Blanche says she rarely drinks because she doesn't want her to think she was a alcoholic (or a drunkard as Blanche says).

Pick out the pet names which Blanche has for Stella and explain why Blanche uses them.
 The pet names Blanche uses for Stella are My baby, Stella for Star, Precious Lamb, honey, and Blessed baby. She uses these names to flatter Stella so that she will allow Blanche to stay for however long she need. These names could also show Blanches affection and love for Stella.

What evidence is there that Blanche is concerned about her looks?
Blanche says 'I weigh what i weighed the summer you left Belle Reve' and 'You haven't said a word about my appearance', she evens say 'I still have an awful vanity about my looks even now that my looks are slipping'.

What does this tell you about her character?
 This shows that she is very vain, and wants people to notice her. This also could show that she cares about other peoples opinions of her. She tries to make herself perfect for the benefit of other people and suggests that she is uncomfortable with herself. She strives for perfections and  loves the attention she receives from her looks.

What is Blanche's attitude towards the place where Stella lives?

Blanches attitude to Stella's place is one of shock. She says 'They mustn't have - understood - what number i wanted...' this shows that as soon as she see's Elysian fields and the area that Stella lives in was one that she wasn't expecting. Because Blanche and Stella come from an upper class and was raised on a plantation, Blanche was not expecting her sister to be living in an area so cosmopolitan.

A Streetcar Named Desire

Where and when is the play set?  New Orleans in 1947
What is a streetcar? A tram

What is the music from the period? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTUKHMlbYGA 

What is the social context of the characters?