QUOTES

I'd pay good money to watch Stanley Kowalski get put in a saw trap tbh.

The following are all taken from Blanche’s speech in scene four, which quotes:

A) Show Blanche’s disdain for and feeling of superiority over Stanley (3)

B) Show Blanche’s concern for her sister, perhaps genuine or perhaps a matter of her own classism (1)

A) “sub-human… something ape-like about him” “survivor of the stone age” “That is, if kisses have been discovered yet!”

B) “Don’t, don’t hang back with the brutes!”

Which quote from Stella in scene seven is a shining example of how Stella constantly placates Blanche and her vanity?

“I’ll stop at twenty-five”

Which quote from Stanley in scene eight references a southern politician whose controversial yet pro w/c policies make him one of Stanley’s role models?

“Remember what Huey Long said- every man is a king! and I am the king around here”

Which quote from Mitch in scene nine shows how everybody- not just Blanche- is concerned with reputation and the importance placed on female purity in the mid twentieth century?

“You’re not clean enough to bring in the house with my mother”

Which quote from Stanley in scene eleven shows his desire to embody the ideas of meritocracy and the American dream?

“To hold front position in this rat race you’ve got to believe you are lucky”

Which taunting quote from Stanley in scene ten proves Blanche’s suspicions from scene six?

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

What is the final line spoken by Blanche which shows how she has lost all her agency at this point in the play?

“Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”

Which quote from Blanche in scene eleven shows how she perceives herself as aristocratic and her ever-growing delusions and paranoia?

“I’m going to die on the sea… I shall die of eating an unwashed grape”

In literature, a bug that Blanche is compared to in scene one is often used to represent death due to its suicidal flight towards the flame of a candle- what animal is it?

“a moth”

Which quote from Blanche in scene one ends up being ironic as it hints at her dark past which she desperately tries to keep hidden?

“Your sister hasn’t turned into a drunkard”

The following are all taken from Stanley’s introductory stage directions in scene one, which quotes:

A) Build upon the idea that he is primitive

B) Show that he is in full control of everything in his life

C) Paint him out to be a sort of alpha male

D) Shows how he objectifies women

A) “Animal joy”

B) “pleasure with women… not with weak indulgence”

C) “Power and pride of a richly feathered male bird”

D) “Sizes up women at a glance… Determining how he smiles at them”

Both of these appear in Blanche’s first speech in scene one, which quotes:

A) Which quote could allude to the loss of her reputation as the southern belle?

B) Shows her disdain and envy of Stella’s life and her xenophobia?

A) “Death is expensive, Miss Stella!”

B) “In bed with your- Polak!”

which bit of stage direction at the start of scene two reinforces the idea presented in scene one that Stanley is not submissive to women despite his reliance on sexual pleasure with them?

“She jumps up to kiss him which he accepts with lordly composure”

Which quote shared by Blanche and Stanley in scene two shows how he expects women to fit his exact tastes all the time (and also his distrust of Blanche)?

“To interest you a woman would have to- Lay… Her cards on the table”

Which quote in scene two shows how Stanley prioritises his own wants and needs over anyone else’s?

“When you’re swindled under the Napoleonic code I’m swindled too. And I don’t like to be swindled”

In scene two, Blanche asks Stanley to help button up the back of her dress- what bit of stage direction foreshadows the rape in scene ten?

“He crosses through the drapes with a smouldering look”

Which quotes from Blanche and Stella respectively show Blanche’s naivety and Stella’s compliance in Stanley’s harassment of women (and foreshadows her behaviour in scene 11)

“I was flirting with your husband Stella!… I’m sorry he did that to you”

Which quote from Blanche in scene three alludes to not only Allan Grey but maybe also herself?

“Sick people have such deep, sincere attachments”

Contrasting the violent, religious allusion seen a few lines prior, what stage direction implies that Blanche is praying, seeking divine intervention to escape her dire circumstances?

“She looks up at the sky”

Which quote from Blanche in scene four alludes to how Stanley and Stella’s relationship is purely founded on lust?

“The only way to live with such a man is to- go to bed with him!”

Which quote from Stella at the start of scene four echoes the “boys will be boys” infantilising sentiment and shows how Stanley will never get held accountable for his actions?

“He was as good as a lamb”

What are Stanley and Blanche’s zodiac signs and how do they relate to their respective characters?

Stanley- “Capricorn” goats are often symbols of stubbornness and lust in literature (also links to the devil)

Blanche- “Virgo” ironic because she most definitely is not a virgin

Which quote from Stanley in scene eight reveals his internalised xenophobia and unquenchable thirst to fulfil the American dream?

“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.”

Which stage direction at the end of scene four shows the beginning of the end for Blanche as Stella has physically prioritised Stanley over her?

“Stella has embraced him with both arms fiercely and in the full view of Blanche”

Which quote in scene six shows Blanche realising that Stanley may have ulterior motives with her?

“There is such a thing as the hostility of- perhaps in some kind of perverse way he-… She makes a gesture of revulsion”

Which set of stage directions at the end of scene three uses religious imagery to make Stanley look terrifying and all-powerful over Stella?

“With heaven splitting violence”

What shirts are Mitch and Stanley seen wearing in scene thee and how does it shine a light on their characters?

Stanley- “solid blue” embodying wholly the modern values of toxic masculinity

Mitch- “red and white check” mixes to make pink, traditionally for boys prior to the 40s, shows his traditional approach to masculinity. The check pattern also reflects his uncertainty in contrast to Stanley’s “solid” state.

Which two items of clothing from scene one and ten respectively show Blanche’s decay and desperate attempts to hide it?

S1: “pearl earrings”

S10: “rhinestone tiara”

Which quote from scene one’s opening stage directions describes New Orleans but also gives insight into what Stella sees in Stanley?

“Raffish charm”

Which quote from Blanche in scene four shows her fall from grace as she has lost her southern belle-ness and now only sees money as means to an end (e.g. rent)

“Y’know how indifferent I am to money. I think of money in terms of what it does for you”

Which quote from scene one reflects the almost primitive sexual dominance that Stanley exercises over Stella?

“He heaves the package at her. She cries out in protest but manages to catch it: she then laughs breathlessly.”

Which scene five quote reveals Blanche’s insecurities over her quote-unquote impurity and age?

“I want to deceive him enough to make him- want me…”