Come in-Ahhh Merciii Essay

Scene V, Blanche Come in-Ahhh Merciii Discuss this extract in relation to the rest of the text paying attention to structure, form and implement of language. The ending section of scene five of Tennessee Williamss play A Streetcar Named Desire has provoked much confusion and debate as to the writers motives in regards to the portrayal of Blanche. One school of model on the matter is that, in spite of the fact that Williams largely establish the character of Blanche upon himself his primary aim in the play is to punish her for her calamity to show empathy towards her homosexual husband Allan.Williams was of course a homosexual himself, sustenance in a largely homophobic world where gayness was not a talked somewhat subject. He often brought the issue up in his other works such(prenominal) as Cat on a Hot Tin ceiling where the characters Brick and Skipper and both portrayed as possible homosexuals. Blanches lack of empathy and compassion are highlighted once again in this extract when she totally fails to take into account the feelings of a second new-fangled part, and instead uses him to live out her fantasies of desire for her late husband.During the exchange mingled with Blanche and the junior service existence she is portrayed as seductive and dominant I want to kiss you making it clear that she is the integrity initiating the situation, this is a salient contrast to her normal persona well-nigh other men such as Mitch and Stanley where she brings herself out to be both innocent and pure. This extract is one of the places where her illusion starts to slip and her past actions are indicateed at to the audience.Blanches response to you small mans mention of cherry soda you make my mouth water has a strong sexually reference, a cherry universe a simile for virginity, which probably only Blanche is aware of. This shows that she is simply playing games with the young man apply him for her aver enjoyment. In the next scene Blanche treats Mitch in a genuinely similar expressive style, after discovering that he does not speak cut she says Voulez-vous couches avec mo ice soir? meaning would you like to sleep with me this evening? which is the song of a French prostitute. The lack of consideration that Blanche shows towards both men and the way she appears to be using them both (The young man for a bitch and Mitch for security) hints not only towards the fact that in the past she has sought remedies for her lonesomeness with strangers but also supports the metaphor presented later on in the play of Blanche being a tarantula trapping her victims in a web of illusions Yes a big spider Thats where I brought my victims.Another example of how Williams is using this scene to condemn Blanches can be found by sounding at the actions of the young man. During the scene he speaks nervously and makes frequent glances towards the adit portraying his wish to escape form Blanches and making it obvious that he is uncomfortable with the situation. Well Id better be-. When describing the young man Blanche repeatedly uses the word young and also calls him lamb, this not only enforces his younker to the audience but also the fact that Blanche is aware of how much jr. than her he is.The final and perhaps most damming piece of evidence towards Blanche is her reaction towards Mitch at the end of the scene, where, having tho kissed a young boy she greets the man she is hoping to marry with open arms, reverting back to her old illusion of purity. This shows her as uncaring and manipulative towards both parties, in the she takes on the roll of dickens completely different people to get what she wants. It also presents a hint that Blanche is lying about(predicate) her sexual history.Blanches actions in this extract could also be seen as an example of deliberate cruelty, in so far as she is willing to take advantage of a confused and reluctant young man just for her own pleasure. Blanche has of cores been guilty of deliberate cruelty in her past when she spoke of her revulsion towards Allan I know. I saw. You disgust me. jumper lead to his suicide. Deliberate cruelty is something that Blanche states that she despises and has Never been guilty off making her demarcation rather hypocritical.Some might argue in fact that Williams is in fact using this extract to elicit the audiences forgiveness towards Blanche as opposed to their condemnation. Throughout the play reference has been frequently make to Blanches declining mental state, such as when Stanley takes the letters written by Allan by from her and she becomes hysterical. Williams gently reminds the audience of this in numerous ways throughout the extract.For a start, in reference to the lighter Blanche uses the word Temperamental, which is a very unusual description and probably intended to reflect upon her mental state. During the later part of the scene the convocation is accompanied by the Blue Piano, a recurring sign of Blanches gu ilt, misery and mental declination. It features at legion(predicate) points in the play, usually during periods of anguish for Blanche such as when she is reminiscing about the spillage of Bell Reve to Stella.Blanches crumbling mental state is not helped by her alcoholism, another(prenominal) one of Williamss personality traits that feature throughout his plays, such as with Brick in Cat on a hot tin Roof. Although Blanche isnt actually drinking in this extract the audience knows that she has inebriated earlier in the scene a shot never does a coke any harm and are shown how drink can make people do things be the actions of the drunken Negro woman just before the young man arrives. The negro woman cackling hysterically, swaying drunkenly comes around the corner. Williams may also have been trying to make the audience realize with Blanches paranoia about her appearance and desperation to feel young again. ahead is the scene the audience sees Blanche looking in the mirror she is later to smash, demonstrate emphasising her fragility about her looks. She also talked to Stella about her fading appearance I Im fading now. The audience has also been bathroom to Blanches hatred of light I cant stand a naked light bulb and her need to hear positive remarks about her appearance I was fishing for a compliment Stanley.Another gene that must be considered is that previously in the scene Stanley has begun to tear gloomy the illusions Blanche weaves to protect herself be hinting that he knows about her past actions (Again hinting that Blanche is lying about her past) Shaw is under the impression that he met you in Loral leaving her exposed and in a state of hysteric shock shown by her frequent pauses in sentences and trembling her hand shakes so it almost slips form the glass.mayhap the most likely explanation for this why this scene seems to show Blanche is two contradictory lights however is that Williams is deliberately leaving it ambiguous, allowing the audienc e to decide upon their own feelings towards Blanche, and that the true purpose of this scene is to prefigure the revelations about Blanches past, particularly her blood with the 17 year old boy that lost her her job.