John Mcrae's lectures on ASND

Scene 3

• The poker games represents masculinity, violence and is exclusive to the males. The male rivalry is very relevant.
• Steve's joke is about sex, where the rooster gives up the pursuit of sex in exchange for the corn. that is being thrown on the ground. It is about priority of sex, over food or money.
• The n-word is used without them thinking about it. It means nothing to them.
• The first encounter between Mitch and Blanche is about physical needs (bathroom scene). 
• Mitch represents stability/reliability, and he is often interpreted as being gay as he lives with his mother - yet this is not true. The only gay character is Alan, Blanche's husband who shot himself.
• Mitch's tragedy is that he will be disappointed by what Blanche tells him (she is married?).
• Echoes with 'Gone with the Wind,' as Vivien Leigh also plays the heroine of this film. 
• This scene explodes with violence - there is a clash between masculine egos and values. Stella and Stanley's relationship is a whole other language that Blanche doesn't understand - she doesn't get why Stella returns to Stanley after he beat her. Blanche's world is of "gallantry" whereas in Stella and Stanley's world it is "violence."

Scene 4

• This scene runs on from scene 3 as is the following morning where there is still confusion, shown by a "choral chant." It shows that 'life goes on.'
• Blanche's tragedy is one of unfulfilled desire, where Mitch becomes the emblem of unfulfilled desire. Desire is the key.
• Blanche doesn't give up hope for Shep Huntley. Although he could be fantasy character, is he really real? She refers to him when she is in need, showing that he could be an escape route. 
• Blanche gives the lesson that when a man is more 'animal,' the only thing to do would be go to bed with him as she suggests to Stella. She refers to Stella going to bed with Stanley as her "job," which is a strange word to use as it is as if she is getting paid for it.
• Blanche admires the new animal vitality of the New American Polak male. She calls Stanley a "survivor of the Stone Age," which she conflates with the modernism. This is to do with acceptance; where Stella has found her role yet Blanche has never found someone to have this role with. This will come to destroy her in the coming scenes.
• The sound of the trains is a sexual symbol again.
• The word 'flag' is important because the Confederate flag is still flown in some Southern states of the USA.
• The idea of "tenderer feelings" is permitted. Stanley's feelings come out as animal feelings.