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Post by Mr. Thomas on Apr 3, 2014 6:51:36 GMT -5
"Stellaaaa!"
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Post by 1adams12 on Apr 5, 2014 23:55:38 GMT -5
C. What was the big point of Stanley asking Blanche if she had the papers in the chest? Was this really what he cared about or did he want something bigger and just wanted to get on Blanche's good side? What was going on exactly. Was it to try to show her wife that he really cares for Blanche after he did all that stuff to Blanche's things? The lines that I am referring to are on page 37 and the lines say "where are the papers? in the trunk?".
A. One thing that happens to a lot of people is the fact that you have something that you love dearly, and you want to make that it is safe from everyone else's hands, and the next thing, they are touching the thing that is treasured to you or "trying it on". The love letters that Blanche had were extremely important to her, and then Stanley just grabbed them and started reading them like they belong to him. Like many other people, Blanche wanted to burn the letters, because obviously there was something private in their that Stanley could use against her at some point, or the thing that you treasured the most gets contaminated with other people touching it or doing other things to it. That is why Blanche wanted to burn the papers after Stanley read them.
D. The one that I really liked when I was reading the two scenes from the book was the fact that all of them seem really close to each other. Especially Blanche and Stella, even though they have not seen each other for a long time. "Stella, oh, Stella, Stella! Stella for Star!" (page 8). I really liked the fact that they were really close even though Blanche dropped in when Stella and her husband Stanley didn't expect it.
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Post by epoccia on Apr 6, 2014 15:39:33 GMT -5
Eddie Poccia
Mr. Thomas
English 11
6 April 2014
Streetcar Named Desire Scenes 1+2
Blanche seems like a very invasive person. She doesn't mind her own business and she basically invites herself into Stella and Stanley's home. She also drinks a half a glass of their Whiskey without anyone knowing. Blanche also doesn't like Stanley and blames Stella for leaving the plantation to run away with him.
I think Stanley was overreacting when he started freaking out looking for the papers in blanche's chest. He felt that he deserved a share of the profit that she got from selling the plantation. I don't think he should've gotten involved because it is none of his business. Anything related to the plantation should be between Blanche and Stella.
I found it strange how Stanley and Blanche suddenly made up and stopped arguing when Stella came back into the room. They were just having a huge argument and then it just stopped. They may have done it just to keep Stella happy.
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Post by scanley73 on Apr 6, 2014 17:41:38 GMT -5
I. In response to Eddie’s question about Stanley looking for the papers, he was trying to find a bill of sale or something like that. That way he would be able to profit from the loss of the plantation. He kept talking about the Napoleonic code because Stella would have profited from the sale of Belle Reve so he would in turn get the money as well. Clearly they don’t have a lot of money because they live in an apartment with only two rooms so money is obviously a very important commodity to them.
C. One thing that I want to know is who this dead husband that Balanche keeps referencing is. It sounded at first like she was scarred by his death but then at the end of scene 2 it sounds like she hurt him. What could have happened? And why does it seem to affect her to the point where Stella warns Stanley to avoid the topic completely.
A. Balanche seems to be one of those stereotypical old southern girls. She is completely obsessed with herself and how she dresses. She grew up on a plantation and was very privillaged growing up. As of right now I don’t like her too much. She seems like she’s really annoying and needy. Like Stella mentions when she tells Stanley that she needs to be complemented on her appearance like every five seconds. I mean she hasn’t done anything wrong yet but I just have a bad feeling about her
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Post by emmanuelluna on Apr 6, 2014 19:10:08 GMT -5
Emmanuel Luna
Mr. Thomas
English 11
4/4/14
E. I get the feeling that Blanche is very out of place in Elysian Fields. She seems very lost throughout the majority of the first chapter and just everything about her implies that she is from a wealthy or well-educated background. She arrives at Elysian Fields with her valise, which is a suitcase but fancier. We also learn that she was a teacher in Mississippi and had a big plantation named “Belle Reve.” Belle Reve mean “beautiful dream” in French so I instantly get the sense that everything about her life is like a dream.
D. I feel like I might be reading too much into this but the names of the places Blanche has to go to really stand out to me. First she has to take a streetcar named Desire to another called Cemeteries, and then she has to go to the Elysian Fields. I get the feeling that those names are important. A cemetery is pretty self explanatory as it is a burial place for the dead. The Elysian Fields in Greek mythology is the final resting place of the heroic and virtuous souls, which were ruled by Hades. Once again relating to death and the fact that the car was named Desire might be a commentary on the fact that exaggerated desire can sometimes lead to death. Or it might be foreshadowing for the play. I’m possibly reading too much into it but it makes sense to me that this is a possibility.
C. I was confused about how Blanche lost Belle Reve. They just say that she lost it and since we just met her we still don’t have enough details on how she could have lost the plantation. This might relate to what I think the name Desire and Elysian Fields refer to. Maybe she was too greedy and had too much desire and ultimately lost Belle Reve. This is a possibility, but I am still not sure.
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Post by eointunney on Apr 6, 2014 19:48:53 GMT -5
Eoin Tunney
Mr. Thomas
English 11
6 April 2014
D. Blanche seems to be a very odd character. She arrives at her sister’s house, without any notice. She seems to be one of these persons that thinks’ she can do whatever she wants because she comes from a wealthy family. She doesn’t really care what she says and doesn’t really care about what people think.
A. When Blanche first arrives to Stella’s house she seems a bit disappointed about how poor Stella is. She is angered because she knows she is going to sleep on the foldout bed located in the kitchen. Stella ridicules Elysian Fields, which reminded me of the Great Gatsby and the Valley of Ashes. Blanche is a wealthy woman (or was) who thinks she is too good to be staying in such a place. This is what the people of East and West Egg are like to the Valley of Ashes in The Great Gatsby.
C. Parts of this poem were extremely confusing, especially the part about how Blanche lost Belle Reve, the family plantation. I was confused on how she lost the property, and I wasn’t sure if I missed the part where she tells us how. I feel like she lost it through the government or banks taking it.
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Post by rodriguezj15 on Apr 6, 2014 23:28:13 GMT -5
Joel Rodriguez Mr. Thomas English 11 April 6, 2014 A Streetcar Named Desire 1+2 A. I can already see this recurring theme of economic statuses playing a part of the plot, Blanche and Stanley, just like in The Great Gatsby. Speaking of the Great Gatsby I can see Blanche being very similar to Gatsby. First Blanche lived in Belle Reve, apparently the Dubois rich estate, while Gatsby lived in East Egg. Also there is this mystery that surrounds Blanche like with Gatsby. It’s this mystery that drives Stanley to search her bag. But unlike Gatsby, Blanche is the antagonist of the story in my opinion. Also instead of going to rags to riches like Gatsby, Blanche is going in the opposite direction. I. I agree with Emmanuel that the names mention here have deeper meaning. Another name Emmanuel didn’t mention was Belle Reve which means “beautiful dream” in French. This plays into the common modernist theme of dreaming, like we saw in The Great Gatsby. If we were to look at Blanche’s travels across New Orleans, we can find this sort of hidden message. Dreams lead to desire, that would eventually lead to death, and after death you find yourself in the Underworld. Sort of depressing, but this is modernism. E. Stella seems to be the most likeable character of the play so far. The problem is Blanche and Stanley. It looks like they’re fighting over Stella and it kind of funny because one was rich and one is poor. They both reflect one part of Stella, Blanche being her rich past, and Stanley being her poor present and possibly future. |
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Post by bourdonm15 on Apr 7, 2014 0:01:41 GMT -5
Matthew Bourdon
Mr. Thomas
English 11
4/6/14
C. What is the point of mentioning the notes from the piano in the bar? “from a tinny piano being played with the infatuated fluency of brown fingers. This “blue piano” expresses the spirit of the life which goes on here.” (Page 3) This quote caught my eye as soon as I started to read the book because I am still wondering how the piano is going to be able to set the mood of the story. The language used within this quote for the description of the piano shows the type of time period this was. I will stand by my question throughout the book as to why the piano is so important for setting the mood of the story.
A. I can relate Blanche to the characters in the Great Gatsby who are all affixed with the theme of wealth. “Tell you what, Blanche? Why, that you live in these conditions!” (Page 12) This shows us what type of character Blanche is as immediately as she got to the house all she cared about was why it was not a mansion or some sort of rich estate. I related it to Gatsby in the case that all the characters in that book and Blanche feel like everything revolves around wealth. It does not even seem like she is happy to see Stella and she gets mad that Stella does not have a maid which is honestly mind boggling.
I. I agree with Eoin’s comment on the parts of the book. There were a lot of confusing parts to the play specifically the way that Blanche lost Belle Reve. It may just be because of all that was going on in just two scenes.
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Post by georgebaroudos on Apr 7, 2014 20:39:53 GMT -5
George Baroudos
Mr. Thomas
English 11
7 April 2014
A – Stella’s absence from her original job is because of her nerves. This shows how the stress of life is often times unbearable and it is difficult to deal with the stresses of daily life. Often times we underestimate the stresses of life. Everyone needs a break once in a while. This build up of stress eventually leads to a breakdown where drastic measures need to be taken. As people it is so important to have an outlet to relieve stress.
D – “I’m not young and vulnerable any more” (42). Through experience comes maturity and intelligence. The fact that the older we get the more wise we become. Through this growth that vulnerability can be sidelined as we make better decisions. Through these better decisions we place ourselves in a better position. But in their society it seems that insecurities and trust issues are abroad. This can only be aided through hard work and dedication. I hope that as the book goes on they are introduced into new patterns that better them.
I – This sense of non-trust I think is prevalent. Stanley does not believe Blanche and believes she is ultimately conning him. But many humans have difficult trusting other people. Through that they need hard cold evidence to make a decision and that reflects their insecurities. I think that the importance of land is prevalent within this society. Just like in Huck Finn, land stayed within families and it was a big part of society. This brings about precaution and a difficulty finding trust
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Post by fotia15 on Apr 7, 2014 23:21:32 GMT -5
a. The entering with the blues piano i think really help set the tone of the chapter. i like the thought of the blues music being in new orleans, its its origin and it fits quite well with the time period. I also enjoy the description of the building, elysian fields. Eysian is like heavenly mean while they are in a kind of poor neighborhood surrounded by the trains.
c. Why does stella keep insisting shes not a drunk. She jokes about and keep saying things like "you think your sisters a drunkard". I dont know why its a big deal if shes drinking alot or not. Her sister is a drunk to. she practically drinks a whole bottle of wiskey by herself anyway?
e. Im interested in seeing stella description of love. "when he's away for a week i nearly go wild! ... and when he comes back i cry on his lap like a baby". i mean that cool that shes open with him like that but at the same time thats a little strange. i dont understand the relationship. i look forward to learning more about it through more of the readings.
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