'A Streetcar Named Desire' Quote banks

Blanche Dubois

'her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light'
'Blanche sits in a chair very stiffly'
BLANCHE - 'You haven’t said a word about my appearance.' STELLA - 'You look just fine' BLANCHE - 'God love you for a liar!'
'I want you to look at my figure
BLANCHE - 'I still have that awful vanity about my looks even now that my looks are slipping!' [she laughs nervously and glances at Stella for reassurance] STELLA - [dutifully] 'They haven't slipped one particle'
'I can't be alone'
'A cat screeches near the window. Blanche springs up'
'Excuse me while I slip on my pretty new dress' (She is changing while Stanley is present)
'The bind are - leading the blind'
'sick people have such deep, sincere attachments'
'I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action'
'Thank you for being so kind! I need kindness now' (To Mitch)
'voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir? Vous ne comprenez pas? Ah, quel dommage!'
'I don't want realism [...] I'll tell you what I want. Magic!'
'I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.'

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'Stella complies reluctantly' (when Blanche tells her to stand up)
'She catches his head and raises him level with her' (When she forgives Stanley)
'He was as good as a lamb when I came back and he's really very, very ashamed of himself'
'What have I done to my sister?'

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'Gaudy seed - bearer'
'He sizes women up at a glance'
'He starts to remove his shirt' (He feels hot, he takes off his clothes whilst Blanche is present)
'[Ominously] so?'
'he stalks into the bedroom and she follows him' (she = Stella)
'He hurls the furs to the daybed. Then he jerks open a small drawer in the trunk and pulls up a fist-full of costume jewellery'
BLANCHE - 'You're simple, straightforward and honest, a little bit on the primitive side'
'He breaks into sobs.' (When he realises Stella has gone to Eunice's house)
'I am not a Polack. People from Poland are Poles'
'[...his fingers find the opening of her blouse] Now, now, love'

3 of 8

He heaves the package at her (stage directions; Stanley to Stella)
'Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh' STELLA - 'That's not fun, Stanley'
'Stanley charges after Stella'
'There is the sound of a blow'
MITCH - 'But don't take it serious' BLANCHE - 'Violence! is so------'
STANLEY - 'We've had this date with each other from the beginning.' (Before he rapes Blanche)

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STANLEY - 'You see, under the Napoleonic code – a man has to take an interest in his wife’s affairs'
MITCH - 'I’m out again. I oughta go home pretty soon.' STANLEY - 'Shut up.' MITCH - 'I gotta sick mother. She don’t go to sleep until I come in at night.'
[Stanley charges after Stella.]
MITCH - 'Poker should not be played in a house with women.'
STEVE - 'Seven card stud' (he then tells a racist joke) THE LAST LINE OF THE PLAY, STEVE - 'This game is seven-card stud'
STELA - 'People have got to tolerate each other's habits, I guess'
'He hurls a plate to the floor' (Stanley)
STELLA - 'But people like you abused her, and forced her to change'
'The bottle cap pops off and a geyser of foam shoots up'
STANLEY - 'When the telephone rings and they say "you've got a son" I'll tear this thing off'
'he picks up her inert figure and carries her to bed' (Stanley and Blanche)
'she cries out as if the lantern was her' (when Stanley rips the lantern in front of Blanche)
MATRON - 'Jacket, Doctor?'

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(about Blanche) - Her appearance is incongruous to the setting.
BLANCHE - 'What are you doing in a place like this?' (first seeing Stella's home)
STELLA - 'Stanley is polish you know.' BLANCHE - 'Oh, yes. They're something like Irish, aren't they? [...] only not so - highbrow?'
BLANCHE - '…I let the place go? Where were you! In bed with your – Polack!'
BLANCHE - 'I thought he had a sort of sensitive look.' (about Mitch)
STANLEY - 'That’s how I’ll clear the table! [He seizes her arm.] Don’t ever talk that way to me! "Pig – Polack – disgusting – vulgar – greasy!"'
STANLEY - 'What do you think you two are? A pair of queens? Remember what Huey Long said – "Every Man is a King!" And I am the King around here, so don’t forget it!'
BLANCHE - 'I won't have you cleaning up for him' STELLA - 'Then who's going to do it? Are you?' BLANCHE - 'I? I!'
STELLA - 'Blanche wouldn't go on a bus'

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'They catch each other in a spasmodic embrace' (Blanche and Stella)
STELLA - 'you can't describe someone you're in love with!'
STANLEY - '...You were married once weren't you?' BANCHE - 'Yes. When I was quite young.' ... 'the boy died'
STELLA - 'I put you a cold plate on ice' STANLEY - 'Well, isn't that just dandy!'
STELLA - '…You come out with me while Blanche is getting dressed. STANLEY - 'Since when do you give me orders?'
STELLA - 'Stanley doesn’t give me a regular allowance, he likes to pay bills himself.'
BLANHE - '...the boy I had married broke away from me and ran out of the casino. A few moments later - a shot!'

7 of 8

'you are all married. But I'll be alone when she goes'
BLANCHE - 'I thought he had a sort of sensitive look.'
'She knew she was dying when she gave me this' (talking to Blanche about the inscription on his cigarette box)
'he comes behind her and puts his hand on her waist and raises her lightly off the ground' ... 'he lowers her but keeps his hands on her waist'
'we was together in the Two-forty-first' (talking about his and Stanley's time together in the army)
'... he stalks into the bedroom' (after having a few drinks and being told by Stanley about Blanche's past)
'He tears the paper lantern off the light bulb'

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