A Streetcar Named Desire: Key Quotes Scenes 3-4

A Streetcar Named Desire: Key Quotes Scenes 3-4

Understanding the Scene

  • Scene 3 revolves around Stanley’s poker night where the tension between him and Blanche escalates.
  • Scene 4 provides a morning-after perspective revealing the aftermath of the previous night’s chaotic poker party.
  • The contrast in mood between scenes 3 and 4 represents the stark duality in the play’s characters.

Characters

  • Stanley Kowalski: His boisterous and aggressive behaviour during scene 3 shows his insensitive nature, while his contriteness in scene 4 brings out his manipulative side.
  • Stella Kowalski: Her return to Stanley after the abusive poker night shows her conflicting emotions and dependence on him.
  • Blanche DuBois: She maintains her illusory world by demeaning the ‘primitive’ side of Stanley to Stella and justifying her own life choices.

Themes

  • Domestic Violence and Power: Stanley’s violent outburst towards Stella in the poker night scene illuminates the theme of power imbalance.
  • Dependency vs Rebellion: Scene 4 witnesses Stella torn between her sister Blanche’s rational advice and her strange dependency on Stanley.
  • Culture Clash: The interaction between Stanley’s friends and Blanche accentuates the ongoing class struggle.

Important Quotes

  • “Every man is a king.” - Stanley Kowalski. This reveals Stanley’s belief in his authority and dominance.
  • “It’s really a lovely place… you saw it with my eyes, you’d see it differently.” - Blanche DuBois. This offers understanding into Blanche’s perspective, showing her need to perceive reality through rose-tinted glasses.

Literary Style, Language and Devices

  • Tennessee Williams uses symbolism through the poker game, representing the ongoing power struggle in the household.
  • Stanley’s violent monologue of “every man is a king” depicts his definition of masculinity.
  • Dramatic irony is at play again - Blanche’s ‘transparent’ efforts to conceal reality from Stella is quite obvious to the audience.
  • Williams again utilises stage directions effectively; in scene 4 Blanche’s fear and her genuine concern for Stella are communicated to the audience.

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