Streetcar quotes

Question 1

What does Stanley do with the light bulbs?

Answer 1

“Smashing light bulbs with it.” (Stanley’s violence—Scene 3)

Question 2

Blanche on love and truth with Mitch

Answer 2

“You suddenly turned a blinding light on something that had always been half in shadow.” (Blanche to Mitch—Scene 6)

Question 3

Blanche on loss and the “searchlight”

Answer 3

“The searchlight which had been turned on the world turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that’s stronger than this kitchen candle.” (Scene 6, memory of Allan)

Question 4

Blanche hiding reality with decor

Answer 4

“Paper lantern… put it over the light bulb.” (Symbol of illusion—Scene 3)

Question 5

Blanche’s sensitivity to harsh truths

Answer 5

“I can’t stand a naked bulb any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action.” (Scene 3)

Question 6

Stanley’s symbolic act of destruction

Answer 6

“He tears the paper lantern off the light bulb. She utters a frightened gasp.” (Scene 11)

Question 7

Blanche on class and memory of Belle Reve

Answer 7

“I take it that you still have sufficient memory of Belle Reve to find this place and these poker players impossible to live with.” (Scene 1)

Question 8

Blanche’s feeling of entrapment

Answer 8

“This place is a trap.” (Scene 2)

Question 9

Stanley’s legal dominance

Answer 9

“Napoleonic code.” (Used to justify power—Scene 2)

Question 10

Blanche’s fantasy of the past

Answer 10

“A great big place with white columns.” (Her memory of Belle Reve—Scene 1)

Question 11

Stanley’s power over Blanche

Answer 11

“I pulled you down off them columns and how you loved it, having them coloured lights going.” (Scene 8)

Question 12

Stanley blaming Blanche for loss

Answer 12

“You are the one that abandoned Belle Reve, not I.” (Scene 2)

Question 13

Mitch and Blanche’s embrace

Answer 13

“It increases and then fades out.” (Stage direction—Scene 6)

Question 14

Blanche’s breakdown in Scene 11

Answer 14

“Varsouviana is filtered into a weird distortion accompanied by cries and noises of the jungle.”

Question 15

Stanley’s aggression toward Stella—music cue

Answer 15

Stanley shouts “Stella!” as the “blue piano” plays. (Scene 3)

Question 16

Music that reflects the setting

Answer 16

“Expresses the spirit of the life which goes on here.” (New Orleans music)

Question 17

Music intensifies Stanley’s assault

Answer 17

“Blue piano drum begins to up louder.” (Scene 10)

Question 18

Blanche’s costume before the climax

Answer 18

“She has slipped on the dark red satin wrapper.” (Scene 10)

Question 19

Stage direction describing Blanche’s aura

Answer 19

“She has a tragic radiance in her red satin robe.” (Scene 10)

Question 20

Blanche’s first appearance

Answer 20

“Daintily dressed in a white suit and fluffy bodice.” (Scene 1)

Question 21

Symbolism of Blanche’s clothes

Answer 21

“Her white clothes that suggests a moth.” (Scene 1)

Question 22

Stella’s costume during poker night

Answer 22

“Stands in her pink silk brassiere and white skirt in the light.” (Scene 3)

Question 23

Symbolism of spilt drink on Blanche

Answer 23

“It foams over and spills—right on my pretty white skirt.” (Scene 5)

Question 24

Blanche’s final appearance

Answer 24

“Soiled and crumpled white satin evening gown and a pair of scuffed silver slippers.” (Scene 11)

Question 25

Cultural mixing in New Orleans

Answer 25

“The warm and easy intermingling of races.” (Opening stage directions)

Question 26

Stanley asserting dominance

Answer 26

“Every man is a king! And I am the king around here, so don't forget it!” (Scene 8)

Question 27

Blanche on the kindness of strangers

Answer 27

“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” (Scene 11)

Question 28

Blanche's desire for illusion

Answer 28

“I don't want realism. I want magic!” (Scene 9)

Question 29

Stanley's confrontation with Blanche

Answer 29

“We've had this date with each other from the beginning!” (Scene 10)

Question 30

Stella torn between Blanche and Stanley

Answer 30

“I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley.” (Scene 11)

Question 31

Mitch disillusioned with Blanche

Answer 31

“You're not clean enough to bring in the house with my mother.” (Scene 9)

Question 32

Blanche justifying her lies

Answer 32

“I misrepresent things to them. I don't tell the truth. I tell what ought to be truth.” (Scene 9)

Question 33

Stanley exposing Blanche's past

Answer 33

“There isn’t no millionaire! And Mitch didn’t come back with roses 'cause I know where he is—” (Scene 10)

Question 34

Description of Stanley

Answer 34

“Animal joy in his being is implicit in all his movements and attitudes.” (Stage directions, Scene 1)

Question 35

Blanche's flirtation

Answer 35

“My, but you have an impressive judicial air!” (Scene 2, to Stanley)

Question 36

Blanche on her fading looks

Answer 36

“I don’t know how much longer I can turn the trick.” (Scene 5)

Question 37

Stella on her desire for Stanley

Answer 37

“There are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark—that sort of make everything else seem unimportant.” (Scene 4)

Question 38

Stage direction: description of Stanley and Stella's relationship

Answer 38

“He falls on his knees and presses his face to her belly.” (Scene 3)

Question 39

Blanche on the past

Answer 39

“The opposite is desire.” (Scene 9, in contrast to death)