A Streetcar Named Desire: Top Ten Character Quotes (plus analysis...)

A Streetcar Named Desire: Top Ten Character Quotes (plus analysis…)

Blanche DuBois Quotes

  • “I don’t want realism. I want magic!…I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don’t tell truth, I tell what ought to be truth.” - This quote encapsulates Blanche’s reliance on fantasy and illusion to cope with reality. Her conscious decision to “misrepresent things” offers crucial insight into her tragic flaw.

  • “Death—I used to sit here and she used to sit over there and death was as close as you are… We didn’t dare even admit we had ever heard of it!” - This poignant quote illustrates Blanche’s fear of death and ageing, shedding light on her efforts to present as youthful and virginal.

  • “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” - Tragic and telling, this line underscores Blanche’s lifelong dependency on others for survival, reflecting her inability to fend for herself.

Stanley Kowalski Quotes

  • “I am the king around here, so don’t forget it.” - A blunt assertion of Stanley’s domineering nature and belief in patriarchal authority, this quote underlines his raw aggression and sense of entitlement.

  • “She’s going to interfere with you?… This looks to me like you’ve been swindled, baby, and when you’re swindled under the Napoleonic code I’m swindled too.” - Stanley’s comments reflect his suspicion and resentment of Blanche, also illustrating his exploitative tendencies towards Stella.

Stella Kowalski Quotes

  • “I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley.” - Here, Stella’s denial of Blanche’s accusation against Stanley highlights her willful ignorance, revealing the depths of her dependence on Stanley.

  • “Stanley’s always smashed things…Why, on our wedding night—soon as we came in here—he snatched off one of my slippers and rushed about the place smashing the light bulbs with it.” - This quote speaks to the violence within Stella and Stanley’s relationship, capturing the volatile nature of their co-dependence.

Other Character Quotes

  • “I feel that I could be a fine woman to a man like you.” (Blanche to Mitch) - Demonstrating Blanche’s desperation and her willingness to use her sexuality as a survival tool, this quote shows her manipulative side.

  • “It’s Tennesee Williams who offers no way out” (literary critic Leo Bersani’s critique of Williams.) This commenting on the nihilistic perspective portrayed by Tennessee Williams adds a layer of meta-commentary about the overarching themes of the play.

  • “You need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it be—you and me, Blanche?” (Mitch to Blanche) - Revealing Mitch’s loneliness and desperate need for companionship, these words show a softer, more vulnerable side of Mitch, contrasting with Stanley’s harshness.

Remember to consider how these quotes illustrate the character’s motivations, conflicts, and evolutions throughout the play, and how they contribute to the story’s overarching themes.