83-87+Penney+Soon

83-87 Penney Soon

83 - Long Holder

In order to get the young man’s attention Blanche puts a cigarette in her long holder and asks him to light it for her. The long holder gives an elegant feel, to add on to her image of having a lavish lifestyle.

84- Gossamer scarf

A light feathered scarf, often decorated with lots of colors. It is very delicate and often creates a dreamy feel. Blanche searches through her trunk for a Gossamer scarf, tossing it over herself to infuse her life with radiance while flirting with the young man. By putting on this scarf she is creating an illusion/fantasy of her seducing the young man.

84 - Rosenkavalier

Reference to Der Rosenkavalier, a famous opera written in 1911 by Richard Struss. Der Rosenkavalier in translation means “The Knight of the Rose”. This comic opera is about a teenage boy Octavian who falls in love with a girl Sophie. Baron von Lechenau, Sophie’s father disallows such relation between the two and forces Sophia to convent. But Octavian, determined to win her hand, concocts a scheme to discredit the baron. In the end the two lovers ended up together. In A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche calls Mitch “My Rosenkavalier!” as he appears around the corner with a bunch of roses for their first date. The fact that she calls him Rosenkavalier reflects her romantic idealization for the two of them to get together. She hopes that Mitch would be her Octavian, who will save her from all the problems that she is facing.

85 - Lake Pontchartrain



The image above is of the amusement park that is located at Lake Pontchartrain. Blanche and Mitch went to this amusement park on their first date. This area was known to be the best place for entertainment, where people seek for thrill and excitement. There were many parades and was filled with jazz music. This place seem to be exactly opposite to what Blanche is used to which is somewhere more quiet and high class.

85 - Mae West

Mae West was a famous comedienne in the 1930s. She was famous for her self-admiration, independence and her treating of sex with broad humor. She had many fans, but equally had as many who went against her for they believed that she was lowering social morality. Similar to Mae West, Blanche often dressed herself up in jewels and glamour clothing. She was also known for her sexual encounters/ flirtatious act with other men. Although Mae West is not directly mentioned, she is present as a prop.

85 - Bourbon

Bourbon is a street where Mitch catches his ride home. The word Bourbon originated from a royal family in France. Bourbon is now often used to describe a person who is conservative or reactionary. This is because the political handlings by the Bourbon used to be ultraconservative. The fact that Mitch walks to Bourbon and Blanche goes in a different direction shows their difference. Mitch is a conservative man who lives with his mother, and is unable to accept Blanche for what she truly is because of her conservative views.