Does Blanche suspect that something is up? From the book "A Streetcar Named Desire": characters and conflict.

History · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021

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In Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire," Blanche Dubois does indeed become suspicious that not all is as it seems. Over the course of the play, Blanche senses the tension and hostility in her interactions with her brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski, while her sister Stella seems to be caught between her loyalty to her husband and her sister. Blanche's suspicions are further aroused when she observes discrepancies between her expectations and the reality she encounters at Stella and Stanley's home in New Orleans.

Blanche's unease is compounded by her own fragile state of mind following a series of personal losses, including the loss of their family estate, Belle Reve, which makes her all the more sensitive to the undercurrents and dynamics around her. Her suspicions grow as she becomes more aware of Stanley's antagonistic behavior towards her, which ranges from outright disdain to invasive probing into her past. While Blanche may not be aware of all the specific details, she is keenly aware that "something is up," feeling an impending sense of conflict and crisis.

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