Streetcar Quotes Flashcards
“Poker should not be played in a house with women” Mitch (2 points)
- this characterises Mitch as someone who believes women are soft and gentle and should be protected from the toughness of the poker and the violence it brings to male characters e.g Stanley
- this also shows divide between men and women
“But there are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark- the sort of things that make everything else seem - unimportant”
Stella
(3 points)
- this suggest the physical passion Stella has for Stanley
- this foreshadows how inevitably Stella chooses sex and Stanley over her sister
- the adjective ‘dark’ suggests that the sex is hiding the truth in their relationship
“I don’t want realism. I want magic!” Blanche
3 points
- repetition of the verb ‘want’ shows Blanches desperation to be part of her fantasy
- the exclamative and declarative shows how demanding she is. This shows the differences between the old and new south as Blanche is used to get what she wants.
- the punctuation separating the two sentences shows the unrealistic nature and incompatibility of her desires.
(“Half to herself”)
Stella
Stage direction
(3 points)
- shy and inferior to other male characters, typical of woman at the time
- ‘half’ suggests how she feels incomplete without Stanley
- alternatively could show her split identity between the old and new south
“I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley”
Stella
(4 long points)
- draws a comparison between two sisters as the both withdraw into a world of fantasy when presented with a harsh reality.
- this suggests that even in the liberal metropolitan city of New Orleans in the late 40s steals cannot survive on her own and inevitability chooses the comfort and security of her marriage over her sisters well being.
- use of ‘her and ‘couldn’t’ to refer to Blanche shows her choice
- ‘story’ suggests she is trying to convince her self and the audience that it is a product of her imagination
“Oh I guess he’s just not the type that goes for jasmine perfume”
Stella about Stanley
(2 points)
- ‘perfume’ may suggest Stanley’s ability to see through blanches fantasy as he cares more the raw reality than the sweet smelling world
- shows how Stanley lacks refinement.
Scene 11 “whoever you are.. I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”
Blanche
(3 points)
- pronoun “whoever” shows her desperation for help
- tells us her fatal flaw, reason she hasn’t fared well, strangers have only been kind in exchange for sex.
- indicates her detachment from retaliation and her decision to see life only as she wishes to perceive it.
“We’ve has this date with each other from the beginning” - Stanley to Blanche
- the use of the pronoun ‘we’ve is Stanley’s way of manipulating Blanche using her vulnerabilities to his advantage
- this physical destruction of Blanche completes the verbal destruction that began earlier when her past was revealed. The rape represents the sudden end to her dreams
Blanche (“slams the mirror face down with such violence that the glass cracks”)
2 points
- the use of the mirror shows she is no longer satisfied with her appearance and indicates her deteriorating mental state
- the use of the verb ‘cracks’ reflects the shattering of her illusion, emphasised by the fragility of the noun ‘glass’
(“The sound of it as it turns into the roar of an approaching locomotive”)
3 points
- the verb ‘-approach’ signifies the end of blanches journey as the bright lights of the locomotive are coming towards her putting her past in the spotlight.
- the motif of the train is a modern concept showing how the modern world inevitably destroys her
The onomatopoeic ‘roar’ has animalistic connotation of dominance and suggests her fear of this reality taking over.
“Can- I- uh-kiss-you-goodnight?”
Mitch
2 points
- the questioning shows his gentlemanly manner and awkwardness between them.
- the pauses could show his hes it may and lack of experience which contrast with blanches promiscuous past.
“You’re not clean enough to bring in the house with my mother” - 2 points Mitch
- this shows his condemnation of Blanche and his traditional additives towards her promiscuous past.
- the adjective ‘clean’ is ironic and evokes sympathy for Blanche and she spends all her time bathing to cleanse her sins.
“I can’t stand a naked light”
Blanche
2 points
- The premodifying adjective naked foreshadows her true characteristics being revealed, while emphasising has desire to cover the be light and cover her appearance.
- the personal pronoun “I” shifts responsibility of blanches issues onto the audience connecting us to Blanche.
“Paper lantern”
Blanche
2 points
- This image is not very stable and can easily be destroyed, this symbolised the temporary nature of blanches illusion.
- the use of the noun paper implies something blank ready to be drawn on, this links to blanches white appearance that quickly becomes “stained” and “soiled”
