Classwork: Scene 11a
You will analyze Williams's choices concerning specific parts of the play in order to describe how the overall structure and meaning are determined by its aesthetic impact.
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Before Stella’s sister, Blanche DuBois, visits the Kowalski home, Stella lives up to Stanley’s expectation of having _____1_______. She does what he wants and it keeps him content and _______2________. However, despite his control over the household, he is still dependent on his wife, Stella. Her calming nature seems to be the only thing that can soothe his impulsively _______3_____ instincts. After she runs off in the third scene, in which he strikes her while drunk, he breaks down emotionally and sorrowfully calls for her to come back. As the play progresses, he finds himself competing with Blanche for Stella’s love and ________4__________. Stanley’s relationship with Blanche is ___________5________ from the moment he sees her in his house. He sees her as a threat to his normal way of life and to his ___________6______ with Stella. He feels that she is trying to turn Stella against him, which would cause him to lose control of the household. So he “battles” with her, psychologically and physically, to __________7__________ dominance. He knows that there is something wrong with Blanche and her motives. In his eyes, she is lying to them and should not be _______8______. He constantly searches for clues and hard evidence to ________9________ her to Stella and regain complete control. Another _______10______ that arises from Stanley and Blanche’s relationship is Stanley’s sexual desire. Even though he does not admit it (as that would give Blanche the upper hand), he sees her as very beautiful and as a very ________11_______ sex partner. Multiple times, they will both try to use sexual _________12______ in order to gain control over each other, like Stanley taking his shirt off or Blanche ______13_______ with him. This method, however, eventually takes a sour _______14_____: Stanley takes full advantage of an argument and rapes her, which sends her over the ________15_______ edge and gives him the full control and satisfaction that he was looking for.
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