There are many great and thought-provoking lines in A Streetcar Named Desire. I have listed a few quotes below; select one or select your own quote and explain its significance to the play and/or character. Discuss what and how it reveals a theme presented in the novel. CATCH: You may not respond on the same quote as the two posters prior than you. (No credit will be given to plagiarized responses. The deadline to post is midnight, March 20, 2013.)
“I have always depended upon the kindness of strangers.”
“I am not in anything that I want to get out of.”
“We have had this date from the beginning.”
“I never lied in my heart.”
“I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley.”
12 comments:
“I have always depended upon the kindness of strangers.”---
This quote is spoken by Blanche when she is speaking to the doctor who came to "rescue" her from her misery in Scene Eleven. Blanche was expecting this man to be like Shep Huntleigh, however, he was not. She relies on strangers, like Huntleigh, in order to escape and become successful, resulting in her failure throughout the play. This ultimately highlights Blanche's struggle in seeing how life really is. She is living in a fantasy world.
"We have had this date from the beginning."
At this point in the play Stanley is overtaking Blanche. This the final conflict between Stanley and Blanche. Stanley rapes Blanche and destroys her completely. His actions reveal a theme of male dominance. Stanley has to dominate ever aspect of his life including Stella. When Blanche comes, she threatens his dominance of Stella. He does everything in his power to destroy her. At this point in time it is a man's world, and the women are there only to be used or abused.
"I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley."
Stella believes that her sister is crazy and plans on sending her to a mental ward because Blanche told her that Stanley raped her. However, Stella does not believe her because she loves Stanley and thinks Blanche is delusional. By saying this, Stella reveals that she would rather believe a person that hits her than a person she has known her whole life. She can no longer look at Blanche because of the story she supposedly made up. Since Stella chose Stanley over Blanche, she shows that old South and new South will never mix.
"I am not in anything I want to get out of."
When Blanche talks to stella about leaving Stanley, stella tells Blanche that she doesn't want to get out. This quote reveals that Stella likes being in a relationship with Stanley. Although Stanley hits Stella, Stella still has sex with him. Stella has abandoned her upbringing and does not look for any passion in her relationship. She chooses sex over her own protection.
"I never lied in my heart." When Blanche says this, she is telling that she never meant to lie. She wants what is best for her and wants to have a good life, but she lies to make herself look better. This reveals that Blanche sees no wrong in lying in order to make herself seem superior. In the play, this theme is revealed and repeated as Blanche's lies are explained.
“I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley.”
At this moment in the book Stella is making her final decision. Previously, Stanley had raped Blanche, Stella's sister. Blanche had already desired for Stella to leave Stanley and decided to tell her of the rape. However, Stella believes Stanley, instead of her sister, and believing she is delusional sends Blanche to a mental ward. This final event shows Stanley over coming Blanche and defeating her in their battle. During the book there are many examples to show that Stanley and Stella do not truly love each other but simply stay together for the sex. Therefore, Stella has, in a way, chosen sex over her own sister. These events show much about the people and times of the play. These events demonstrate how the old and new South do not mix well, and how sex plays a much larger role then true feelings during this time.
"I am not in anything I want to get out of."
Stella says this to Blanche the morning after Stan has hit her. She doesn't want to get out of her abusive marriage but Blanche wants her too. This reveals that Stella's and Stanley's relationship is based upon sex. They believe they hurt one another and then make up later by having sex. It shows how stupid Stella actually is and will never leave Stanley because all their relationship is based on is sexual desire.
"I have always depended upon the kindness of strangers."--
During the play when Blanche says this, she is refering the doctor from the mental institute where she is being sent and how he was nice to her. This reveals about the play that Blanche was dependant on strangers to be kind to her when her own family good not. Her own sister, Stella, chooses her abusive husband over Blanche. Blanche's need for the kindness of strangers emphasizes her main issue throughout the play which is she is living in her own world full of fantasy and desire.
"We have had this date from the beginning"
In this quote, Stanley is showing his dominance over Blanche by raping her. Stanley must have dominance, but Blanche threatens this so he puts her back in her place. This is the climax of the novel and it shows how in that time all men were dominant. The women did not really have any say in the matter.
"I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley." Stella states this quote to Eunice. Stella has always been in denial about Stanley's actions of violence. It reveals that loved ones may not always tell the truth. Stella deceives her sister through denial.
"I am not in anything that I want to get out of."
Out of the entire play, I believe this quote most fittingly sums up Stella's character. While Blanche holds high standards for her life and wants to be loved for her personality. Stella feels content exactly where she is. Blanche believes Stella's position in a tiny apartment with a beast of a man is way below Stella's potential and Blanche wishes to help her get more from life. However, Stella does not wish to go any further in her life. This quote not only contributes to the characterization of Stella in the play, but is also well applicable in life. From the viewpoint of someone living in Hancock County, I have seen many high school students not live up to their potentials by not applying themselves, dropping out of school, getting into drugs, or not applying to college. I understand that many people want to be on different paths and are content with where they are in life, but I also believe that many people can amount to so much more than they give themselves credit for.
"We have had this date from the beginning."
This line best summarizes the relationship between Blanche and Stanley in the play. Even from the moment they first meet, there is tension between them. Although some of the tension comes from Stanley not liking Blanche because of her background, most of it is sexual tension which stems from Stanley's animosity and Blanche's fragility and flirtatious nature. Although Blanche attempts to remove herself and her sister from their hopeless situation, Stanley asserts his dominance by raping Blanche. By Stanley saying this line, it shows that he knew from the beginning that his relationship with Blanche could end in no other way but violence. This line also further establishes the themes of death and sex. When Stanley rapes Blanche, it symbolically kills her and she falls into a state of madness.
Post a Comment