The Dehumanization of Institutions

The state institution that takes Blanche away represents the cold, bureaucratic side of society, which offers no real help but only labels and confinement.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Arrival of the Doctor and Matron

The Face of the System A Clinical Entrance The doctor and the matron are described as having the "unmistakable aura of the state institution." They are efficient and detached. The matron is particularly cold, and she is ready to use force if necessary. Their arrival signals that Blanche is no longer a person but a case to be processed. The Loss of Humanity The institution represents the failure of society to deal with human suffering. Instead of offering support, it labels Blanche as mentally ill and removes her from the community. The play is critical of this dehumanizing process. The doctor's kindness is a small mercy, but it cannot change the fact that Blanche is being taken away to a place that will likely strip her of her remaining dignity. The theme of institutional oppression is a dark undercurrent in the play.

final scene, some weeks after the rape