A Streetcar Named Desire- Study Notes: Scene 1

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Quotation Character/Setting Analysis Contextual/Thematic

How is the character Language or structural techniques? Effect? Significance
portrayed? Image created Perceptive points? What aspects of the context
depending on does it link to in relation to
descriptors/dialogue themes?

● “Elysian fields… Setting: New Orleans ● “Elysian Fields”- Symbolism either ● Society and class- the
raffish charm… ● Elysian fields are connoting that New Orleans is Blanche’s setting develops the
white frame, contextually last stop before she spirals downwards idea that old world
weathered grey… significant; it is or it gives light to the fact that Blanche is values are disregarded
rickety… quaintly associated with Greek perhaps already dead, even before the in the animalistic and
ornamented mythology where play begins- her downfall is therefore brutal new world.
gables…” (1) heroes went to rest inevitable. Thus, the
after death. ● “Raffish… rickety”- Harsh consonance undercurrent of decay
derived from the alliteration of ‘r’ that permeates
● New Orleans was the suggests the brutality and animalistic alongside the
first place where nature of the new world, almost overpowering
homosexuality was disjointed from the old world. richness of society’s
tolerated, thus ● “White… weathered”- Alliteration of ‘w’ flexible views
Williams’ creates a contrasts with “raffish” to suggest the symbolises the conflict
welcoming nature broken down and perhaps simplistic between traditional
whilst failing to hide lives of Stanley and Stella. It also values and the
the decay of the old foreshadows how Blanche will also be aggressive
world; in this case, weathered down. Everything white in materialism of the
Blanche. the scene appears to be “faded” new.
suggesting how she herself cannot
survive. ● The fact that the play
● “Quaintly ornamented”- Word choice is set in New Orleans
itself evokes the idea of fantasy and represents the diverse
reality; the fact that the gables are community, wherein
“ornamented” reflects upon how Blanche many previously
also puts on a façade. The use of shunned aspects were
“quaintly” suggests the remains of the accepted.
old world, almost suggesting that
America can only move forward if people
like Blanche are terminated.

● “Faded white… Setting: New Orleans ● “Faded white… dim white”- Repetition of ● Society and class:
dim white… ● Setting acts as a white acts as a metaphor for Blanche, The references to the
atmosphere of microcosm for the suggesting that she too, will fade. setting further
decay.” (1) future of ● The semantic field around “faded” and emphasise that there
industrialised “dim” associated with “decay” suggests is no place for Blanche
America, to emphasise that the French Colonial past is worn out. in this society;
how Blanche can ● The nomenclature of Blanche refers to perhaps she is already
never fit into this white, symbolising her death. It seems dead and the remains
world. that her “white” illusion will be tainted are the “decay” that is
by Stanley’s actions to uncover and being referred to;
present her true nature in a raw and Stanley is therefore
primal way. the one to wipe
Blanche’s views out of
existence, by merely
getting rid of her
‘vessel’ (body)

● Mortality: New
Orleans seems
surrounded by “decay”
which links to
Blanche’s fear of
death/ Belle Rève’s
downfall.
● “Warm breath of Setting: New Orleans ● “Warm breath”- Personification of the ● Society and class:
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the brown river… ● The liveliness and river almost creates a suffocating Williams’ is keen to
infatuated richness of the culture atmosphere, in which Blanche is suggest how attitudes
fluency of brown and changing attitudes suppressed. In this way, new America are changing, yet the
fingers… blue seems to overpower displays a sense of artful aggression, suffocating setting
piano expresses the accentuated deriving from simplistic survival instinct. also seems to suppress
the spirit of life.” poverty present, ● “Infatuated fluency of brown fingers”- the existence of the
(1) almost breaking away Fricative language with reference to old world, almost
from old societal alliteration of “f” symbolises the ease despising it; this is
views. with which people accept everyone; no reflective of
one is restricted by a hierarchy or their immigrant attitudes
upbringing, unlike Blanche. after the war.
● “Infatuated”- Links with Stella’s narcotic
addiction to the new world, especially ● Marriage and Sex:
Stanley and the physical aggression of The setting effectively
their relationship. explores the raw
● “Blue piano expresses the spirit of life”- nature of Stanley and
Symbolic to reflect upon the heightened Stella’s relationship. It
emotions experienced by the characters; could suggest that
the setting evokes an easy-going nature. Stella is perhaps
suffocated in a trance,
thus she is dependent
upon Stanley.
● “Re-e-ed h-o-o- Stanley and primal behaviour: ● “Red hot”- Repetition forewarns the ● Masculinity: Stanley’s
t!” ● Stanley’s clothes and danger that is to come. The permeating primal behaviour and
his actions emanate a voice suggests a suffocating nature. The power over both Stella
● Two men… sense of physical semantic field of “red” is associated with and the remaining
roughly dressed… aggression and power. the meat imagery, to present the raw and characters dominate
blue denim work His actions seem primal nature present. his physical attributes.
clothes… red primal, almost ● “Roughly dressed”- Word choice
stained instinctive; everything suggests gruffness. ● Marriage and sex:
package.” derives from the ● “Denim work clothes”- Phallic imagery of Stella is clearly
principles of survival. “denim” suggests a rough nature infatuated by Stanley’s
● “Gentle young surrounding Mitch and Stanley, which sexual prowess; it is
women… ● His short dialogue they perhaps obtained when they fought revealed that Stella is
background expresses an in war. The fact that both wear the same dependent upon
obviously quite uncivilised and clothes suggests Stanley’s power in Stanley within the
different…” simplistic nature, society. relationship.
which he prides ● “Red stained”- Word choice links to
● “Heaves the himself in. Stanley’s vulgar character; double
package… cries entendre suggests that the meat is also ● Society and class:
out in protest… ● We can immediately representative of sexual desire. Despite Stella’s
manages to note the conflict ● “Roughly” and “Gentle”- Juxtaposition of dependence upon
catch it.” (2) between Blanche and men/women suggests the power within Stanley, her
Stanley. gender. mannerisms set her
● “Heaves”- Animalistic behaviour apart, detaching her
suggests his physical prowess; the fact from the new world.
that she manages to catch the package
confirms Stella’s sexual dependence and ● Gender roles: Stella
infatuation upon Stanley. almost seems
subservient to Stanley
when she accepts the
meat; sexual imagery
displays her
infatuation with
Stanley.

● “Blanche… Blanche’s incongruity: ● “Shocked disbelief”- Word choice ● Fantasy and reality:
expression is one ● Blanche’s character highlights her opposing class/views She has lost track of
of shocked opposes the setting, upon the new world. The double herself as she has
disbelief… almost foreshadowing descriptions emphasise upon her fear, as changed to please the
appearance is that she has no place New Orleans acts as a confirmation of men in her life; now
incongruous… in this society. the death of Belle Rève. she can only survive
looking as if she ● “Incongruous”- Word choice detaches by living in her
were arriving at ● Stanley opposes her her immediately, almost making her fantasy; once this is
a summer tea… delicate nature; the seem otherworldly. Thus, the lexis broken, she has no
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delicate beauty order of descriptions suggesting that she is perhaps dead place in this world.
must avoid a establishes that before the play begins is apparent.
strong light…” Stanley has the power ● “Delicate beauty must avoid a strong ● Society and class:
in the new world. light”- Phrase stresses upon her Blanche is an
● “Uncertain fragmented nature. Also, the fact that she embodiment of the old
manner… her ● The fact that she is must “avoid” light suggests a sense of views challenging and
white clothes… structurally secrecy; irony is evoked as she tries to threatening the
that suggests a introduced after the ‘feign innocence’ yet this only reveals her progression of the
moth.” (3) other characters corruption. new. Even her mere
suggests how she will ● “Suggest a moth”- Metaphor to represent presence in this
be the only one left her self-destruction. Although she must setting is disjointed to
behind in her fantasy. “avoid” a strong light, moths tend to seek suggest the power that
out the light, suggesting her innocence her prejudices hold,
and need for protection. already forewarning
● “Moths”- Symbolic of animals that mimic her fate. Thus, the
or undergo metamorphosis, akin to reader cannot blame
Blanche who lies and puts on a façade to Blanche for her
present herself in a better light. downfall; more so, her
upbringing.

● “Looking for… Blanche’s past: ● “Stella DuBois- Mrs Stanley Kowalski”- ● Society and class:
Stella Dubois. I ● Blanche’s past Word order of Stella before referring to Descriptions of the
mean- Mrs connects her to the her sister as belonging to Stanley, plantation further
Stanley ‘aristocracy’ and establishes the struggle for power connect to the slave
Kowalski.” (4) hierarchy, suggesting between S+B. It seems that status comes trade, thus Blanche’s
her conflicting views. before Stella being associated as prejudices
● “Your home- Stanley’s wife. immediately make the
place, the ● All that Blanche does ● “-Mrs Stanley Kowalski”- Blanche’s reader view her in a
plantation… and says further traditional views itself seem to suggest negative light, which is
/Belle Rève?/ A defines her as an that men hold power within a ironic as she struggles
great big place outcast in this evolved relationship as she omits Stella’s name to maintain a façade.
with white society. It is ironic that from the title. The hyphenation is
columns.” (5) she insults ‘un- suggestive of her detachment and ● Gender roles: There
evolved’ Stanley when disapproval of Stella’s marriage. seems to be minimal
she is the one who has ● “Your home-place, the plantation”- The progress in gender
failed to adapt to new comma within the sentence represents roles in both Blanche’s
world ideals. that Belle Rève could never be seen as a and Stella’s world. The
home/sanctuary. It was merely a place to idea of male
suggest status and power. dominance permeates
● “Plantation- Word choice links to the and Blanche’s
American civil war, further conveying challenging nature
her prejudiced views. towards the idea of
● “Great big place”- Word choice brings masculinity also fuels
down the importance of social status. her downfall.
Eunice and the new world disregard
hierarchy and opt for equality in the
social sense.
● “White columns”- The structure refers to
French and Roman architecture and also
links to Blanche’s name. It emphasises
the extent of damage done to Blanche’s
status.
Blanche’s mind-set: ● “Stiffly… shoulder slightly”- Alliteration ● Fantasy and Reality:
● “Sits… stiffly… ● Blanche is presented of ‘s’ permeates, creating a sinister and Blanche is constantly
shoulders slightly as mentally unstable snake-like atmosphere, almost echoing reminded of her past
hunched… legs from the outset, that Blanche has walked into a trap- the by the sound effects
pressed close… though we only notice final destination before her downfall. present in the setting
hands tightly fragments of this Stanley’s name also echoes this. she is now in, thus the
clutching her aspect to start with. ● “Hunched… tightly… clutching”- stage directions also
purse…” Semantic field surrounding her uptight contribute to sussing
● Her alcoholism gives nature highlights how she is out the truth and
● “Cat screeches… way to her troubled directionless in this world. The phrases breaking her illusions;
She springs up… past and suggests she also act as a metaphor to reflect upon Stanley merely fuels
removes a whisky is keeping her how she clutches to Belle Rève, which is this by revealing what
bottle… carefully situation clandestine. now merely a skeleton. she truly cannot face
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replaces the ● “Cat screeches”- Sound amidst the on her own.

bottle and ● Although it is silence acts as an alarm, triggering
washes out the apparent that she does memories of her husband’s death and
tumbler…” (5) not want others to thus, forcing her to drink.
find out about her ● “Carefully replaces… washes out”- The
alcoholism, she is in word choice suggests her paranoid state.
actual fact, struggling She is not willing to allow reality to
with coming to terms consume her, thus she denies her drink
with this herself. problem by washing out the tumbler.
Blanche and Stella’s ● “Stella”- Nomenclature suggests that ● Past: Blanche seems
● “Stella, oh, Stella, relationship: Stella means star in Latin, symbolising stuck in the past,
Stella! Stella for ● Stella seems that Stella is the only hope left for unable to let go of
Star!” (6) somewhat Blanche’s survival. However, as Blanche Belle Rève, yet she is
anachronistic when shies away from the burning brightness also stuck in her
● “Turn that over- with Blanche; where of Stella’s light, she fails to take the circumstances in the
light off! I won’t Stella has moved away opportunity to redeem herself. present. In a sense,
be looked at in from Belle Rève, ● “Merciless glare!”- Constant exclamation her mind is also in
this merciless Blanche is trapped by marks suggest her panicked and limbo, as a result of
glare!” it; the opposing clash breathless state, almost as if she is the future. Thus, her
between fantasy constantly suffocating in her past. She is growth is stunted.
● “Sister… shaken presented by the almost stuck both in the past and the
up and hot and sentence structure present. ● Fantasy and reality:
tired and dirty… and light motifs ● “Hot and tired and dirty”- The triple Blanche still chooses
What are you demonstrate this. presents Blanche in a fragmented light, to believe that the
doing in a place almost as if she has given up on living. hierarchical structure
like this?” (6) Repetition of the connective “and” is maintained and fails
creates a dragging tone to suggest her to see its destruction
weary state. in the progression of
● “You… in a place like this?”- Word order the new world.
of “you” and “place” gives power to the
DuBois name but the punctuation mark
brings down its importance to suggest
the deterioration of Belle Rève.
● I’m not going to Blanche: ● “Hypocritical… honestly critical”- Irony ● Society and class:
be hypocritical… is created in the contradictory nature of Williams suggests
be honestly ● Blanche’s old world Blanche’s dialogue, further indicating that despite changing
critical about it!” ideals are threatening how she imposes her attitudes upon society, attitudes
both Stella’s position Stella. towards mental
● “You never did in the new world, and ● “Just got in the habit of being quiet health remain
give me a the progression of it. around you”- Stella and Blanche’s unchanged, thus
chance… relationship also suggests inequality Blanche is left to fend
Blanche… I just ● Blanche also struggles akin to the one with Stanley. Blanche for herself.
got in the habit to keep up with her and Stanley seem domineering, thus
of being quiet lies; by living in her forewarning the conflict between the ● Power: It is ironic for
around you.” fantasy, she is two. a current audience to
eventually consumed ● “Thought… fired?”- Rhetorical question note Blanche as the
by it. suggests how she wishes to maintain antagonist’s challenge
● “You thought I’d her illusion and fears any hint at the of the time,
been fired? / truth; her paranoia also contributes to considering she is a
No… -resigned” ● Both these aspects her downfall. Her assumptions reveal woman. Williams’
suggest her state of the truth. aims to suggest that
● “I was on the madness; perhaps, she ● “Verge of lunacy”- Symbolises how she women of the time
verge of- lunacy.” is dead before the play is perhaps already mentally unstable. held no power, even
(5) has commenced. The hyphenation detaches “lunacy,” in the changing
almost making it seem otherworldly. society, thus even
Williams suggests the social stigma status cannot offer
surrounding mental health associated protection from
with and fuelled by people, akin to how Stanley’s brutality.
all the characters ignore Blanche’s
delicate state. ● Fantasy and reality:
One could argue that
she lives in her
fantasy, as no one in
reality is willing to
help her.
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● “Messy child... Blanche: ● “Messy… spilt”- Lexis suggests the ● Society and class:
you’ve spilt ● The fact that Blanche importance Blanche places on maintain Blanche’s concern
something on looks down on her a pure image, akin to many rich figures over her image
that pretty white own sister lays the of the time. reflects upon the high
lace collar!” (8) groundwork for ● “Pretty white lace collar!” Symbolises society of the time;
Blanche’s own how both Stella and Stanley contribute the rich used their
destruction as Stanley to Blanche’s downfall, thus status to hide their
rises to her threats. foreshadowing that Blanche must soon corruption, yet the
face her reality. new world uncovers
● The idea of feigned the truth.
innocence surrounds
Blanche; her paranoia
in how others view
her is accentuated.
● “Polacks?” / Stanley and Stella vs. Blanche: ● “Polacks”- The fact that Blanche ● Gender roles: Women
“They’re a mixed ● Blanche seems out of categorises everyone based on image are considered
lot, Blanche.” (9) place in a setting reveals how she was brought up living in dependent upon men,
where Stanley and an illusion; thus, the reader questions both in the old and
● “Try not to- well- Stella are united, thus how she can ever escape her fantasy. new society; Blanche
compare him the struggle for power ● “Mixed lot”- Word choice highlights that epitomises the
with men… at is established. upon Blanche’s influence, Stella’s past is destruction of women
home.” also triggered as she begins to refer to when abandoned by
● Blanche’s racist views people by race, but manages to escape it. her “forefathers”
● “I can hardly upon immigrants ● “Hardly stand it when he’s away for a whereas Stella
stand it when further develop the night”- Stella’s sexual dependence upon represents her sexual
he’s away for a tension/conflict that is Stanley reassures the reader that Stanley dependence on
night… I nearly to come. will maintain power, regardless of Stanley, which is
go wild.” (10) Blanche’s threats. The dialogue regarded an
however, degrades women, suggesting infatuation.
● Stella’s sexual and their lack of importance outside the
financial dependence domestic world. ● Society and class:
upon Stanley is ● “Nearly go wild”- Develops upon how The continual
apparent to establish Stanley’s primal nature has influenced segregations between
that Blanche is Stella. races is somewhat
fighting a battle she redundant in the new
cannot win, world, who symbolise
forewarning her a sense of acceptance.
downfall.
● “I stayed in Belle Blanche and Belle Rève: ● “I stayed”- Repetition of the personal ● Society and class: It
Rève and tried to ● Blanche initially pronoun “I” is suggestive of her seems that Blanche’s
hold it together… seems attached to possessive nature over the past. She society only fends for
all the burden Belle Rève but when cannot seem to escape Belle Rève and itself by evolving
descended on we peel away this the old world. along with changing
my shoulders…” illusion, we can note ● “Hold it together”- The phrasing is ironic attitudes and fails to
that it is Belle Rève, a as by trying to maintain her social protect the people that
● “I stayed and haunting skeleton of power, Blanche deteriorates mentally, are still stuck in the
fought for it, bled the previous hierarchy thus suggesting that society regards traditional mind-set.
for it, almost that seems to have a Blanche as a pawn, used to maintain Rather than creating
died for it!” (11) hold on her. order. order, society seems
● “Burden descended on my shoulders”- to deteriorate those
● Her faith in family, in the rest of the words overcrowd the who cannot survive its
particular men, is personal pronoun of “my”, and in terms change.
lacking, suggesting her of sentence structure, this suggests how
fragmented nature. Belle Rève has mentally destroyed ● Fantasy and reality
Blanche, and her physical nature is the
only illusion capable of hiding her mental ● Masculinity: Williams
instability. mocks the idea of a
● “Fought for it, bled for it, almost died for patriarchy, when it
it!”- The triple emphasises the extent of cannot even protect
Blanche’s fragmented nature, however the women living
the repetition of “it” brings don the within it, which is
importance of Belle Rève, deeming it a ironic as Stanley’s
mere skeleton; a sense of pathos is world faces a new
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evoked as we realise that Blanche was struggle between

not even responsible for her fate. gender roles; this
revolves around
physical and sexual
dominance as
demonstrated by
Eunice and Steve
● “I, I, I took the Blanche and Belle Rève: ● “I, I, I took the blows in my face”- The ● Mortality: The fear of
blows in my ● Blanche’s fight to keep repetition of the personal pronoun “I” is death is explored to
face… long the old society alive hyperbolic, suggesting her distress and suggest Blanche’s
parade to the only increases her fear sense of grief. The word choice of loneliness and justifies
graveyard!” of mortality; in a “blows” represents how she has her need to live in her
sense, she is pushed to deteriorated and she almost puts fantasy.
● “Funerals are a world of fantasy as a importance upon the fact that she has
pretty compared result of depression, aged, when her beauty was the only
to deaths… abandonment and aspect that provided attention.
funerals are continuous ● “Parade… graveyard!”- The oxymoron
quiet, but disappointment. suggests how she views death as perhaps
deaths- not a better choice than trying to save Belle
always… their ● Her background and Rève. Blanche seems to suggest that
breathing is status seems to break everyone abandoned her in reality.
hoarse… rattles” her in this world, ● “Funerals are pretty”- The juxtaposition
rather than protect suggests her fear towards death whilst
her, as the rich of the ironically conveying her acceptance to
● “Death is time believed. rest in peace.
expensive… Belle ● “Breathing is hoarse… rattles”- The
Rève… slipped ● The rich society, disturbing imagery created by the
through my which she thought onomatopoetic word choice echoes her
fingers!” (12) could save her, fear towards the idea of death.
destroyed her instead ● “Slipped through… fingers!”- Blanche’s
as society evolved. powerlessness is exemplified by the
passive nature of Belle Rève. Blanche is
the only one who tried to grip onto her
status whilst Belle Rève merely “slipped”
past, leaving her behind.

● “Stanley… Stanley: ● “Strongly, compactly”- Word choice ● Masculinity: This is

strongly, ● The primal highlights the power held by Stanley’s suggested by animal
compactly built… descriptions physique, to continually remind the imagery,
Animal joy… surrounding Stanley reader that Stanley will survive and encompassing the
implicit in all of evoke a tense Blanche will not, regardless of intellect. result of patriarchal
his movements.” atmosphere; initially, ● “Centre of life”- Word choice of “centre” pressures upon men
Stanley is unaffected indicates how he holds the power in such like Stanley, in order
● “Centre of life has by Blanche. a patriarchy and those like Stella depend to maintain power.
been pleasure on it to survive.
with women… ● The theme of ● “Pleasure with women… power and
with the power masculinity is pride”- Fricative language permeates to
and pride of a symbolised by suggest his primal prowess, almost
richly feathered Stanley’s character. positioning him on a pedestal in the new
male bird…” society, whilst Blanche is in “medias ris”
of her downfall.
● In a sense, Stanley ● “Richly feathered male bird”- Metaphor
● “His car, his symbolises reality alludes to a peacock, establishing that
radio, that bears whilst Blanche lives in those who threaten his power will be
his emblem…” her fantasy; thus, he is faced by wrath.
(13) the only force that can ● Peacocks also symbolise the beauty of
break her illusion. true colours, akin to how Stanley seeks
out Blanche’s past, to reveal the truth.
The kind-heartedness nature of peacocks
opposes Stanley’s aggression to suggest
his manipulative nature to shatter
Blanche’s illusion.
● “His… bears his emblem”- The possessive
pronouns of “His” suggests the extent of
his power in the household.
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● “Liquor goes fast Stanley vs. Blanche: ● “Hot”- Pathetic fallacy of the heat ● Fantasy and reality:
in hot weather… ● Stanley is intuitive permeates through this scene, to suggest Societal pressures
Some people whereas Blanche is how Blanche is almost placed in a seem to fuel the use of
rarely touch it poetic; where Blanche suffocating situation, which eventually an illusion for many
(liquor) but it considers education as forces her to face her reality; thus, she is characters. In
touches them superior, Stanley is the cause of her own destruction. Blanche’s case,
often.” (14) able to possess the ● “Rarely touch… touches them often”- traditional views
features need to Stanley’s use of an aphorism forewarns restrict her from being
● “Cat screeches…” survive evolving how he will shatter Blanche’s illusions able to face her
society. (Society fails through his intuition and destructive alcoholism and mental
Blanche) nature needed to survive in the new instability.
● “I’ll strike you as world.
the unrefined ● Blanche’s reality is ● “Strike… unrefined”- Word choice of ● Masculinity: The
type… You were what kills her; Stanley “strike” holds a harsh and raw social pressures of
married once, only catalyses her consonance, which aims to mirror his men of the time are
weren’t you?” downfall by animalistic nature. It also connotes a expressed; men like
(15) presenting her with predatory nature on Stanley’s part. The Stanley are
this information. use of “unrefined” acts as a litotes; immediately
Stanley purposefully degrades his social threatened by
status, perhaps to create an illusion to challenging women,
● Stanley is the fool Blanche. Although she regards him and Stanley fails to see
antithesis of Blanche. as “sub-human, he ends up surviving. the reason why
● “Married once…?”- Rhetorical question Blanche behaves the
almost hangs in the still atmosphere, way she does.
lingering and threatening to shatter
Blanche’s illusion.
Blanche’s past: ● “Polka rises up, faint in the distance”- ● Mortality/ Fantasy
● “Music of the ● It is evident that Juxtaposition defined by the use of a and Reality: Blanche
polka rises up, Blanche’s past haunts comma suggests how in reality, the seems to fear death, as
faint in the her, thus she is driven music seems to overpower Blanche due a result of its
distance.” to create an alternate to her guilt, yet in her fantasy, she pushes permeating presence
past, in order to her husband’s death to the farthest part throughout her life; to
● “The boy- the prevent breaking of her mind. her mind-set, fantasy
boy died. (She down. ● The word choice of “faint” is symbolic of is a much better
sinks back down) ● The fact that she is how she tries to numb the pain by option compared to
I’m afraid I’m- aware of her own drinking and bathing. the decaying reality
going to be sick! mistakes contradicts ● “Boy”- Repetition grieves the loss of her her body is living in.
(…Head falls on the way she treats youth.
her arms). (15) those around her, thus ● “Sinks back down”- Stage directions are
evoking a sense of oxymoronic as the music “rises up”
pathos. almost trying to lift her up with it in
hopes of redeeming her, yet her refusal
to let go of the past forces her to “sink”
into her downfall.