A Streetcar Named Desire Quotes

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Characterisation : Blanche

Instability:

  • "She presses her knuckles nervously to her lips."
  • "paper lantern over the lamp"
  • "The Moth"

Seduction:

  • "Would you think it possible I was once considered to be - attractive?"
  • "Sprays him with it."

Cultural Values:

  • "Southern Belle"
  • "her appearence entirely contrasts with Stella's"

Deception:

  • "I want to deceive him enough to make him - want me"
  • "My Rosenkavalier"
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Characterisation : Stanley

Chauvinist:

  • "loud whack of his hand on her thigh"
  • "low whistle" 

Dominating:

  • "the country place was disposed of.."
  • "coloured shirts, solid blue, a purple, a red - and - white check, a light green.."
  • "Hesitates, licking his lips"

Violence:

  • "Stanley charges after Stella"
  • "kicks", "rips" ,"hurls"

Northen Modernism:

  • I am willing to bet you"
  • "wasn't we happy together, wasn't it all okay till she showed here?"
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Characterisation : Stella

Ancestry:

  • "Rhinestone tiara"
  • "Mr Kowalski is too busy making a pig of himself to think of anything else"

Sibling Protection:

  • "there's not a word of truth in it"
  • "people like you abused her, and forced her to change"

Self aware of surroundings:

  • "There are things about my sister I don't approve of- things that caused sorrow at home. She was always- flighty!"
  • "drunk - animal thing you!"

Lack of Control in relationship:

  • "helplessly"
  • "I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley"
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Characterisation : Mitch

Opression: 

  • "Hurry back and we'll fix you a sugar- ***."
  • "he'll deposit them one by one in a piggy bank his mother give him for christmas."

Feministic:

  • "I told my mother how nice you were, and I liked you."

Lack of Confidence:

  • "Can I - uh - kiss you - goodnight?"
  • "coughing a little shyly"

Change of Character:

  • "He draws his foot up on the bed and stares at her contemptuously."
  • "let's turn the light on here."
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Theme : Desire and Fate

Seduction:

  • "If I didn't know that you was my wife's sister I'd get ideas about you!"
  • "Would you think it possible that I was once considered to be- attractive?"
  • "Voulez-vous chouchez avec moi ce soir?.. Vous ne comprenez pas? Ah, quel dommage!"

Danger and lust:

  • "what you are talking about is Brutal Desire- just- desire!"
  • "loud whack of his hand on her thigh"

Northern Modernism:

  • "Sunlight ... serene ... tranquility" ( scene 4 setting)
  • "red hots"

Passion:

  • "STELL-LAAHHHH"
  • "Falls to his knees"
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Theme : Death

Blanche's homosexual husband: 

  • "locomotive is heard approaching outside.. hands to her ears and crouches over."
  • " -a shot!"

Escapism:

  • "she tinkles her highball glass."
  • "I ought to go there on a rocket that never comes down"

Blanche 's mental death

  • "I can smell the sea air ... die ... my first lovers eyes!"
  • "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.. lead her as if she were blind"

Belle Reve:

  • "blood- stained pillow slips"
  • "Death is expensive... which of them left us a fortune? Which of them left a cent of insurence even?"
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Theme : Instability

Destruction:

  • "The moth...paper lantern"
  • "Lurid reflections appear on the walls in odd, sinuous shapes .. cries and noises of the jungle"

Escapism:

  • "your fix is worst that mine"
  • "I can smeel the sea air ... die ... my first lover's eyes!"

New Oreans setting:

  • "Eunice shrieks with laughter and runs down the steps."
  • "poker should not be played in a house with women."

Relationships:

  • "Stanley charges at Stella"
  • "what you are talking about is Brutal Desire - just - Desire!"
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Theme : Chauvanism

Characterisation of Stanley:

  • "Loud whack of his hand on her thigh"
  • "Low whistle"

Characterisation of Mitch:

  • "Can I - uh - kiss you - goodnight?"
  • "He draws his foot up and stares at her contemptuously"

Sexual Desire:

  • "offers him her lips ... He ignores it and pushes past"
  • "STELLLL -AHHHH ...falls to his knees"

Women:

  • "poker should not be played in a house with women
  • "the country place was disposed of..."
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Theme : Feminism

Power:

  • "Honey"
  • "Sweetie"

Strength:

  • "Let Blanche finish dressing"

Ownership and Control:

  • "The Country place was disposed of..."
  • "I heard about you and that blonde!"

Blanche:

  • "white suit"
  • "fluffy bodice, necklace and earrings or pearl, white gloves and hat."
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Theme : North Vs South

Blanche and Stanley's relationship:

  • "survivor of the stoneage"
  • "her appearence entirely contrasts with Stella's"

Spontinuity:

  • "Eunice shrieks with laughter and runs down the steps"
  • "Stanley charges after Stella"

Each character represents elements of all:

  • Stanley:"I am willing to bet you"
  • Stella : "Mr Kowalski is too busy making a pig of himself to think of anything else"
  • Blanche: "The kind that get lost immedietly, on a first date"

The southern values are destryed by the northern.

  • "Stella is packing Blanche's things."
  • "Our ways of life are too different. Our attitudes and our backgrounds are incompatible."
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Theme : Deception

Lies:

  • "I'm not accustomed to having more than one drink."
  • "Yes, Blanche is. She's going on a vacation."

Secrets:

  • "I can't stand a naked light bulb."
  • "bobby-soxers and drug-store Romeos"

Manipulation:

  • "She's very run down"
  • "I want to decieve him enough to make him want me.

Betrayal:

  • "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers ... lead her as if she were blind"
  • "Stella is packing Blanche's things."
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