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? 

Lane's Instruction

TASK

Imagine that Lane has to leave work for a short period and writes his instructions to a

temporary replacement. Write Lane's instructions about how to deal effectively with

Algernon.

Give careful consideration to your language choices, form and style, in order to convey a

sense of Lane's voice and attitudes. 

(45 marks)

Dear Butler,

                     I am writing to inform you that I am leaving for a short period of time to visit an ill relative. During this time away I would like you to take care of Mr Moncreiff. He requires a lot of attention and care for he can not do the simplest things for himself. Follow my instructions carefully and you should have no problem.

Algernon has a friend called Ernest that like to visit a lot. When he enters the room you should leave them to there privacy. The way they banter one would assume that they are brothers. They consume extreme quantities and blames it on the servants so the best thing you can do is just play along.

He also likes to eat. Whether he would admit it or not he can devour several sandwiches which are not prepared for him, he has an extremely large appetite . I had once prepared several cumber sandwiches for when Lady Bracknell arrived for afternoon tea, before however Ernest had arrived and whilst they had there conversation, Algernon had eaten them all. Then when Lady Bracknell had arrived she was quite disappointed that there were no cucumber sandwiches. This is where I had stepped in and said that the market had no cucumbers, even for ready money. This little lies are what you need to do for Mr Moncreiff in his time of need.

Another thing he enjoys doing almost as much as eating is playing the piano. However he may like playing the piano does not mean that he is any good at it. In fact he is dreadful, if he asks how he plays just say 'I didn't think it polite to listen, sir' then say no more. His excuse for his dreadful piano skills is 'I don't play accurately - any one can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte.'

Hopefully I will return soon, but until then I would like to say good luck because working for Mr Moncrieff you will need it

Lane

Resolution

 The play 'The Importance Being Ernest' is resolved when Ms Prism reveals that she left a baby at Victoria train station that belonged to Lady Bracknell's sister. The child inside the hand bag was infant Jack and he could now do all the thing he wanted (marrying Gwendolyn) because he had status.

Jack could now marry Gwendolyn because he now had position, status  and most importantly the name Ernest 'I always told you, Gwendolyn, my name was Ernest didn't I' This suggest that when we find out what his name it brings him status. When he finds out that his has a place in aristocracy he immediately becomes arrogant. This shows that aristocracy brings arrogance and a sense of importance.

When Ms Prism Reveals that she left the handbag at the station with little Jack/Ernest held within you think that the play is resolved. 'Unmarried! I do not deny that is serious blow. But after all who has the right to cast one who has suffered ?' Jack is quick to forgive her because the first thing he thinks about is that he forgives her before his status because he has finally found his mother. This is completely different  to what  he believes later when he finds out that he is part of aristocracy.