A Streetcar Named Desire - Themes & Moments

Blanche’s repetitive bathing:

Blanche [airily]: “Hello, Stanley! Here I am, all freshly bathed and scented, and feeling like a brand-new human being!

…

Blanche: “I think I will bathe. My nerves are in knots.”

…

[In the bathroom the water goes on loud; little breathless cries and peals of laughter are heard as if a child were frolicking in the tub]

…

Stanley: “Hey, canary bird! Toots! Get OUT of the BATHROOM! Must I speak more plainly?”

…

Blanche: “I take hot baths for my nerves. Hydro-therapy, they call it.”

Scene 2 + 3 + 7 + 8 - Fantasy and reality

Blanche and the use of light imagery:

[…dressed in a white suit […] white gloves and hat]

…

Blanche: “Turn that over-light off! Turn that off! I won't be looked at in this merciless glare!”

…

Blanche: “The soft people have got to - shimmer and glow - put a - paper lantern over the light… […] You’ve got to be soft and attractive.”

…

Blanche: “I like it dark. The dark is comforting to me.”

Scene 1 + 5 + 9

Blanche having stayed at the Hotel Flamingo

Blanche: “Make a little - temporary magic just in order to pay for - one night’s shelter! […] I’ve run for protection, Stella, from under one leaky roof to another leaky roof - because it was storm - all storm and I was - caught in the centre…”

Blanche: “[She pours herself another drink.] Yes, I had many intimacies with strangers. After the death of Allan - intimacies with strangers was all I seemed able to fill my empty heart with…”

Scene 5 + 9 - Loneliness

Stanley throwing meat to Stella:

Stanley: “Catch!”

Stella: “What?”

Stanley: “Meat!”

[He heaves the package at her. She cries out in protest but manages to catch it: than she laughs breathlessly. Her husband and his companion have already started back around the corner]

Scene 1 - Gender

Blanche’s description of clothes:

[Her appearance is incongruous to this setting. She is daintily dressed un a white suit with a fluffy bodice, necklace and ear-rings of pearl, white gloves and hat, looking as if she were arriving at a summer tea or cocktail party in the garden district]

Scene 1 - Class

Blanche and Stella meeting:

Stella [calling out joyfully]: “Blanche!”

[For a moment they stare at each other. Then BLANCHE springs up and runs to her with a wild cry]

Blanche: “Stella, oh, Stella, Stella! Stella for Star!”

[She begins to speak with feverish vivacity as if she feared for either of them to stop and think. They catch each other in a spasmodic embrace.]

Scene 1 - Family

Blanche being critical of Stella’s apartment:

Blanche: “This - can this be - her home?”

…

Eunice [defensively, noticing BLANCHE’s look]: “It’s sort of messed up right now but when it’s clean it’s real sweet”

Blanche: “Is it?”

…

Blanche: “I thought you would never come back to this horrible place!”

…

Blanche: “Why didn’t you tell me, why didn’t you write me, honey, why didn’t you let me know?”

Stella: “Tell you what, Blanche?”

Blanche: “Why, that you had to live in these conditions!”

Scene 1 - Class

Blanche demanding orders from Stella:

Blanche: “You hear me? I said stand up! [STELLA complies reluctantly]”

Scene 1 - Power

Blanche telling Stella about how she can not be left alone:

Blanche: “I’m not going to put up at a hotel. I want to be near you, got to be with somebody, I can’t be alone! Because - as you must have noticed - I’m not very well… [Her voice drops and her look is rightened.]

Scene 1 - Loneliness

Stella describing Stanley to Blanche upon her arrival to New Orleans:

Stella: “I can hardly stand it when he is away for a night…”

Blanche: “Why, Stella?”

Stella: “When he’s away for a week I nearly go wild!”

Blanche: “Gracious!”

Stella: “And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby…” [She smiles to herself]

Scene 1 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Love

Blanche recalling Belle Reve being lost, along with her family members passing away with Stella not being there with her and staying at New Orleans with Stanley instead whilst she suffered:

Blanche [slowly]: “The loss - the loss…”

Stella: “Belle Reve? Lost, is it? No!”

…

Blanche: “I, I, I took the blows in my face and my body! All of those deaths! The long parade to the graveyard! Father, mother! Margaret, that dreadful way! […] Where were you. In bed with you - Polak!”

…

Blanche: “Oh, Stella, Stella, you’re crying!”

Stella: “Does that surprise you?

Scene 1 - Family

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - The past

Stanley confronting Stella about Belle Reve:

Stanley: “So that’s the deal, uh? Sister Blanche cannot be annoyed with business details right now!”

…

Stanley: “Have you ever heard of the Napoleonic code?”

Stanley: “Let me enlighten you on a point or two, baby.”

Stanley: “It looks to me you have been swindled, baby, and when you’re swindles under the Napoleonic code I’m swindled too. And I don’t like to be swindled.”

Scene 2 - Gender

Stanley and Stella’s argument about ‘losing’ Belle Reve and Blanche’s wealth:

Stanley: “I don’t care if she hears me. let’s see the papers!

Stella: “There weren’t any papers, she didn’t show any papers, I don’t care about papers.”

…

Stanley: “Genuine fox pieces, a half mile long! Where are your fox pieces, Stella? Bushy snow-white ones, no less! Where are your white fox pieces?”

Stella: “Those are inexpensive summer furs that Blanche has had a long time.”

…

Stella: “You come out with me while Blanche is getting dressed.”

Stanley: “Since when do you give me orders?”

Scene 2 - Class

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Conflict

Blanche trying to take back love letters by Allan from Stanley:

Blanche: “These are love-letters, yellowing with antiquity, all from one boy. [He snatches them up. She speaks fiercely.] Give those back to me!”

…

Blanche: “The touch of your hands insults them!”

[He rips off the ribbon […]. BLANCHE snatches them from him]

Blanche: “Now that you’ve touched them I’ll burn them!”

Stanley: “What in hell are they?”

Scene 2 - Love

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - The past

Mitch at poker night saying how he should go home early in order to take care of his mother:

Mitch: “I’m out again. I oughta go home pretty soon.”

Stanley: “Shut up.”

Mitch: “I gotta sick mother. She don’t go to sleep until I come in at night […] She says to go out, so I go, but I don’t enjoy it. All the while I keep wondering how she is.”

Stanley: “Aw, for God’s sake, go home, then!”

Scene 3 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎- Family

Stanley, Mitch, Steve and Pablo in the apartment during poker night:

[A chair scrapes. STANLEY gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh]

Stella: “That’s not fun, Stanley.”

[The men laugh.]

Stella: “It makes me so mad when he does that in front of people.”

Scene 3 - Gender

Stanley hitting Stella:

[STANLEY charges after STELLA]

…

[She backs out of sight. He advances and disappears. There is the sound of a blow. STELLA cries out.]

Scene 3 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Conflict

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Power

Blanche’s reaction after Stella being hit by Stanley:

Blanche [shrilly]: My sister is going to have a baby!

Scene 3 - Family

Stanley and Stella having sex after the poker night:

Stanley: “Eunice, I want my girl to come down with me!”

…

Stanley [with heaven-splitting violence]: “STELLL-AHHHHH!”

[STELLA slips down the rickety stairs in her robe. Her eyes are glistening with tears and her hair loose around her throat and shoulders. They stare at each other. Then they come together with low, animal moans. He falls on his knees on the steps and presses his face to her belly, curving a little with maternity. Her eyes go blind with tenderness as she catches his head and raises him level with her. He snatches the screen door open and lifts her off her feet and bears her into the dark flat]

End of Scene 3 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Desire

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Power

Stella thinking positively of Stanley:

Stella: “I’m awful sorry it had to happen, but it wasn’t anything as serious as you seem to take it. In the first place, when men are drinking and playing poker anything can happen. It’s always a powder-keg. he didn’t know what he was doing… He was as good as a lamb when i came back and he’s really, very, very ashamed of himself.”

Blanche: “And that - that makes it all right?”

Stella: “No, it isn’t all right for anybody to make such a terrible row, but - people do sometimes."

Scene 4 - Fantasy and reality

Stella believing Stanley is a good husband, whilst Stella disagrees:

Blanche: “In my opinion? You’re married to a madman!”

Stella: “No!”

Blanche: “Yes, you are, your fix is worse than mine is! Only you’re not being sensible about it. I’m going to do something. Get hold of myself and make myself a new life!”

Stella: “Yes?”

Blanche: “But you’ve given in. And that isn’t right, you’re not old! You can get out.

Stella [slowly and empathetically]: I’m not in anything I want to get out of.”

Scene 4 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Conflict

The day after the poker night:

Blanche: “It brought me here. - Where I’m not wanted and where I’m ashamed to be…”

Stella: “Then don’t you think your superior attitude is a bit out of place?”

…

Blanche: “Well - if you forgive me - he’s common!”

Stella: “Why, yes, I suppose he is.”

Blanche: “Suppose! You can’t have forgotten that much of our bringing up, Stella!”

Scene 4 - Class

Stella with Stanley after the poker night:

[STELLA has embraced him with both arms, fiercely, and full in the view of BLANCHE. He laughs and clasps her head to him.]

Scene 4 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎- Love

Blanche writing a letter to Shep Huntley:

Stella: “What are you laughing at, honey?”

Blanche: “Myself, myself, for being such a liar! I’m writing a letter to Shep [She picks up the letter.] ‘Darling Shep. I am spending the summer on the win, making flying visits here and there. and who knows, perhaps I shall take a sudden notion to swoop down on Dallas! How would you feel about that? Ha-ha! [She laughs nervously and brightly, touching her throat as if actually talking to [SHEP.]

Scene 5 - Fantasy and reality

Blanche and the young man:

Blanche: “You make my mouth water.”

…

Blanche: “Come here! Come on over here like I told you! I want to kiss you - just once - softly and sweetly on your mouth [Without waiting for him to accept, she crosses quickly to him and presses her lips to his.] Run along now! It would be nice to keep you, but I’ve got to be good and keep my hands off children.”

End of Scene 5 - Desire

‎ - Power

Mitch and Blanche’s date, with Blanche pretending to be in a café in Paris:

Blanche: “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! [She lights a candle and puts it in a bottle]

Scene 6 - Class

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Fantasy and Reality

Mitch wanting to be with Blanche in order to put his mother at ease:

Mitch: “She worries because I’m not settled […] She wants me to be settled down before she - [His voice is hoarse and he clears his throat twice, shuffling nervously around with his hands in and out of his pockets.]”

Scene 6 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Family

Blanche talking about Allan to Mitch:

Blanche: “I loved someone, too, and the person I loved I lost.”

…

Blanche: “It was like you suddenly turned a blinding light on something that had always been half in shadow, that’s how it struck the world for me. But I was unlucky. Deluded.”

…

Blanche: “He was in the quicksands and clutching at me - but I wasn’t holding him out, I was slipping in with him! I didn’t know that. I didn’t know anything except I loved him unendurably but without being able to help him or help myself".”

…

Blanche: “And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment has here been any light that’s stronger than this - kitchen - candle…”

Scene 6 - Love

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - The past

Blanche and Mitch at the end of their date:

Mitch: “You need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it - be you and me, Blanche?”

[She stares at him vacantly for a moment. Then with a soft cry huddles in his embrace. She makes a sobbing effort to speak but the words won’t come. He kisses her forehead and her eyes and finally her lips. […] Her breath is drawn and released in long, grateful sobs.]

End of Scene 6 - Love

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Loneliness

Stanley being critical of Blanche towards to Stella:

Stanley: “That girl calls me common!”

Scene 7 - Class

Stanley revealing the reason why Blanche had stopped teaching:

Stanley: “She moved to the Flamingo! A second-class hotel which has the advantage of not interfering in the private social life of the personalities there! […] they were so impressed by Dame Blanche that they requested to turn in her room-key - for permanently!”

…

Stanley: “They kicked her out of that high school before the spring term ended […] A seventeen-year old boy - she’d gotten mixed up with!”

Scene 7 - The past

Stanley standing up to Blanche’s and Stella’s derogatory terms towards him:

Stanley: “That’s how I’ll clear the table! [He seizes her arm.] Don’t ever talk that way to me! ‘Pig - Polack - disgusting - vulgar - greasy!"‘ […] What do you two think you are? A pair of queens?”

…

Blanche: “You healthy Polack, without a nerve in your body.”

Stanley: “I am not a Polack. But what I am is one hundred per cent American, born and raised in the greatest country on earth and proud as hell of it, so don’t ever call me a Polack.”

Scene 8 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Conflict

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - The past

Only Stella and Stanley being at Blanche's birthday - not Mitch:

Blanche: "What happened while I was bathing? What did he tell you, Stella?”

Stella: “Nothing, nothing, nothing!”

Blanche: “I think he told you something about Mitch and me! You know why Mitch didn’t come but you won’t tell me! [STELLA shakes her head helplessly.]”

Scene 8 - Loneliness

Stanley being critical of Blanche towards to Stella:

Stanley: “What do you two think you are? A pair of queens? Remember what Huey Long said - ‘Every man is a King!’ And I am the king around here, so don’t forget it!”

Scene 8 - Class

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Gender

Stanley handing Blanche a ticket to go out of New Orleans:

Stanley: “Sister Blanche, I got a little birthday remembrance for you […] Ticket! Back to Laurel! On the Greyhound! Tuesday!”

[BLANCHE tries to smile. Then she tries to laugh. Then she gives both up and springs from the table and runs into the next room. She clutches her throat and then runs into the bathroom. Coughing, gagging sounds are heard.]

Scene 8 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Loneliness

Stanley stating how him and Stella’s life will be as usual again once Blanche leaves:

Stanley: “It’s gonna be all right again between you and me the way that it was. You remember that way that it was? Them nights we had together? God, honey, it’s gonna be sweet when we can make noise in the night the way that we used to and get the coloured lights going with nobody’s sister behind the curtains to hear us!”

End of Scene 8 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎- Desire

Mitch attempting to find out the ‘truth’ about Blanche + have sex with her:

Mitch: “What it means is I’ve never had a real good look at you, Blanche.”

Blanche: “What are you leading up to?”

Mitch: “Let’s turn the light on here.”

[MITCH crosses to the switch. He turns the light on and stares at her. She cries out and covers her face. He turns the light off again.]

Scene 9 - Power

Mitch attempting to have sex with Blanche:

[MITCH rises and follows her purposefully […] He places his hands on her waist and tries to turn her about]

Blanche: “What do you want?”

Mitch [fumbling to embrace her]: “What I been missing all summer.”

Blanche: “Then marry me, Mitch!”

Mitch: “I don’t think I want to marry you any more.”

Blanche: “No?”

Mitch [dropping his hands from her waist]: “You’re not clean enough to bring in the house with my mother.”

Scene 9 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Desire

Blanche trying to get Mitch away:

Blanche: Go away, then. Get out of here quick before I start screaming fire! [Her throat is tightening with hysteria] Get out of here quick before I start screaming fire. […] Fire! Fire! Fire!

Scene 9 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Power

Stanley catching out on Blanche’s lies:

Stanley: “As a matter of fact there wasn’t no wire at all!”

Blanche: “Oh!”

Stanley: “There isn’t no millionaire! And Mitch didn’t come back with roses ‘cause I know where he is -”

Blanche: “Oh!”

Stanley: “There isn’t a goddamn thing but imagination!”

Blanche: “Oh!”

Stanley: “And lies and conceit and tricks!”

Blanche: “Oh!”

Stanley: “And look at yourself! Take a look at yourself in that worn-out Mardi Gras outfit, rented for fifty cents from some rag-picker! And with the crazy crown on! What queen do you think you are!”

Blanche: “Oh - God…”

Scene 10 - Class

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎- Fantasy and reality

Stanley sexually assaulting Blanche:

[He springs towards her, overturning the table. She cries out and strikes at him with the bottle top but he catches her wrist.]

Stanley: “Tiger - tiger! Drop the bottle-top! Drop it! We’ve had this date with each other form the beginning!”

[The bottle-top falls. She sinks to her knees. He picks up her inert figure and carries her to the bed]

Scene 10 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎- Desire

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎- Conflict

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Power

Stella not believing Stanley had raped Blanche, leading her to send Blanche to a mental institution:

Stella: I don’t know if I did the right thing. […] I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley.”

…

Stella: “Oh, my God, Eunice, help me! Don’t let them do that her, don’t let them hurt her! Oh God, oh, please God, don’t hurt her! What are they doing to her? What are they doing? [She tries to break from EUNICE’S arms.]

…

Stella: “Blanche! Blanche, Blanche!”

[BLANCHE walks on without turning, followed by the DOCTOR and the MATRON”

Scene 11 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Family

Blanche walking out with the doctor, showing how she can not rely on anybody in Stella’s circle:

Blanche [holding tight to his arm]: “Whoever you are - I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”

…

Stella: “Blanche! Blanche, Blanche!”

[BLANCHE walks on without turning, followed by the DOCTOR and the MATRON”

Scene 11 - Loneliness

Stanley and Stella having sex after Blanche has left:

Stanley [voluptuously soothingly]: “Now, honey. Now, love. Now, now love. [He kneels beside her and his fingers find the opening of her blouse.] Now, Now, love. Now, love…”

End of Scene 11 - Gender

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ - Desire