A Streetcar Named Desire: Key Quotes

Plot: The plot of A Streetcar Named Desire revolves around the tragic downfall of Blanche DuBois, who seeks refuge with her sister Stella and brother-in-law Stanley in New Orleans, but is tormented by her past and the brutish Stanley.
Characters: The main characters in A Streetcar Named Desire include Blanche DuBois, an erudite and fragile woman with a troubled past; Stanley Kowalski, a brutishly realistic and antagonistic character; and Stella Kowalski, the bridge between Blanche and Stanley, torn between her love and loyalty towards both.
Themes: The key themes in A Streetcar Named Desire include reality vs illusion, where Blanche often retreating into her own imagined world to escape her harsh reality; class and social status, which underpin Blanche’s fall from Southern grandeur and Stanley’s blue-collar attitude; and sexuality and violence, which are portrayed as toxic elements within the characters’ lives.