AWA: Academic Writing at Auckland

Task 1: What element of the play have you decided to expand upon? (1 point) Explain the main theme and aspect of the narrative that you will focus on.

I have decided to expand on Blanche’s story about her husband Allan and how his death signalled both the end of happiness in her life, her reliance on fantasy, and the beginning of her descent into madness. The main theme of this scene will be teenage bliss and fantasy versus reality for Blanche, while the theme of sex and death will be briefly shown via Allan’s character. The main aspect and point of this scene is to display a young and in love Blanche who can’t comprehend her husband’s true nature, leading to his death and her slide into a fantasy-filled world that is shown in the play itself.

Task 2: What is the setting for your scene and why have you chosen it (1 point) Explain whether your setting is an existing or new setting, and how it will be important to your scene.

The Moon Lake Casino was chosen because this is where the main action takes place. It is technically a new setting as it doesn’t appear in the play, but it is mentioned. The setting plays an important part in the scene for multiple reasons. Firstly, it is important as this is where the main action of events take place. It is here that Blanche’s husband kills himself. It is here that the event that causes Blanche’s descent into madness occurs. Secondly, the Casino creates the significant elements of staging in this scene, such as lighting and music.

Task 3: What will the main action of the scene be? (1 point) What are the characters doing in the scene (both physically and psychologically)?

Most of the scene will be Allan and Blanche dancing together and talking. Physically they will be dancing, looking like any other person in the Casino. However, psychologically both characters will be dealing with what occurred beforehand where Blanche caught Allan in bed with another man. Blanche will be ignoring it to the best of her abilities, pretending that everything is fine and that being in the Casino is magical (just how adult Blanche acts in New Orleans at Stanley and Stella’s home; echos adult Blanche and her fantasies). As for Allan, he will play along with Blanche’s facade for her sake, but will struggle to do so. Psychologically Allan will be filled with fear and worry as to what Blanche thinks about him now that she knows the truth (he knows she saw him and is just downplaying what occurred). When Blanche finally admits that his actions disgust her, Allan will come to realize that his own fantasy- that Blanche could save him from himself- is fake and that there is no escaping his sexuality.

Task 4: How will our understanding of the character/s be enhanced (1 point) What are the objectives of your characters in this scene and do they achieve their goal?

With this scene the reader gets to see Blanche just before she becomes fully immersed in her fantasy delusions. She is young and in love but this ends when she realizes the truth about her husband. Instead of facing the reality of it, though, she ignores it. This begins her need for living a fantasy life over a realistic one, something she will end up doing for the rest of her life. Her objective is to ignore the truth and continue living a happy life. However, in a moment of weakness reality cuts in and suddenly her goal is dashed and she is left alone. With Allen, the reader is able to learn a little more about the character that was not present in the play. He has the same objective as Blanche, which is to continue living the fantasy life that she can save him from himself. However, his psychological needs and emotions end up conflicting and he realizes the truth. In the end, both characters do not achieve their goal in this scene. 

Task 5: What will be the significant elements of staging in your scene (1 point) Explain how you will use music, light, costume etc.

Light- Adult Blanche refuses to be seen in it as it represents a past that she no longer has. In this extended scene at the Casino she will be bathed in bright lights that accent her youth and life. This will all disappear when she runs outside into the dark where her husband has killed himself. Light will not return to her ever again. It also shows how, in scene six, she saw her love for Allan as a light that lit up her world. Now that he is dead he has taken that light away from her.

Shadows- Only descend on Blanche at the end when she is in the dark, hints at the beginning of her descent into madness.

Music: The Varsouviana Polka- A tune that sticks with adult Blanche whenever she thinks about Allan, this plays continuously as the pair dance at the Casino. Just like in the future and how Blanche only stops hearing it when she hears a gunshot, the music stops playing when we hear the gunshot of Allan killing himself. All goes quiet as Blanche and others races outside into the dark. Low, quiet jungle cries are heard in the background when Blanche realizes that Allan is dead: this hints at the beginning of her descent into madness. The scene ends here.