Blanche

Question 1

Blanche’s directions to the Kowalski’s apartment

Answer 1

They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off at—Elysian Fields!

Question 2

Blanche greeting her sister

Answer 2

Stella, oh, Stella, Stella! Stella for Star!

Question 3

Blanche defending her loss of Belle Reve to Stella

Answer 3

Sit there and stare at me, thinking I let the place go? I let the place go? Where were you! In bed with your–Polack!

Question 4

Blanche’s witty comment about charm

Answer 4

After all, a woman’s charm is fifty percent illusion.

Question 5

Blanche describing Stanley and perfume

Answer 5

Oh, I guess he’s just not the type that goes for jasmine perfume, but maybe he’s what we need to mix with our blood now that we’ve lost Belle Reve.

Question 6

Blanche conveying her pet peeves to Mitch

Answer 6

I can’t stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action.

Question 7

Blanche condemning Stella and Stanley’s relationship

Answer 7

What you are talking about is brutal desire–just–Desire!–the name of that rattle-trap street-car that bangs through the Quarter.

Question 8

Blanche condemning Stanley as sub human

Answer 8

There’s even something–sub-human–something not quite to the stage of humanity yet!

Question 9

Blanche’s warning to Stella

Answer 9

Don’t–don’t hang back with the brutes!

Question 10

Blanche’s fears of losing her attractiveness with age

Answer 10

I never was hard or self-sufficient enough. When people are soft–soft people have got to shimmer and glow–they’ve got to put on soft colors, the colors of butterfly wings, and put a–paper lantern over the light…It isn’t enough to be soft. You’ve got to be soft and attractive. And I–I’m fading now!

Question 11

Blanche speaking to the Evening Star boy

Answer 11

Young man! Young, young, young man! Has anyone ever told you that you look like a young Prince out of the Arabian Nights?

Question 12

Blanche’s fantasy with Mitch

Answer 12

We are going to be very Bohemian. We are going to pretend that we are sitting in a little artists’ café on the Left Bank in Paris!

Question 13

Blanche speaking about her husband’s suicide

Answer 13

And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that’s stronger than this–kitchen–candle…

Question 14

Stanley telling Blanche he knows about her past

Answer 14

The Flamingo is used to all kinds of goings-on. But even the Flamingo was impressed by Dame Blanche!

Question 15

Blanche singing in the bath

Answer 15

It’s only a paper moon, Just as phony as it can be–But it wouldn’t be make-believe If you believed in me!

Question 16

Blanche explaining what she wants to Mitch

Answer 16

I don’t want realism. I want magic!

Question 17

Blanche speaking to the poker players as they stand up for her exit

Answer 17

Please don’t get up. I’m only passing through.

Question 18

Stanley’s final words to Blanche

Answer 18

You left nothing here but spilt talcum and old empty perfume bottles–unless it’s the paper lantern you want to take with you. You want the lantern?

Question 19

Blanche speaking to the doctor

Answer 19

Whoever you are—I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.

Question 20

Stage directions describing Blanche

Answer 20

her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light. there is something about her uncertain manner that suggests a moth

Question 21

When asked by Stella if she wants Mitch

Answer 21

I want to rest! I want to breathe quietly again! Yes—I want Mitch… very badly! Just think! If it happens! I can leave here and not be anyone’s problem…

Question 22

Blanche trying to tell Mitch she was still honest

Answer 22

Never inside, I didn’t lie in my heart

Question 23

Stella’s description of Blanche as a girl

Answer 23

You didn’t know Blanche as a girl. Nobody, nobody was tender and trusting as she was. But people like you abused her, and forced her to change