A Streetcar Named Desire- femininity

Initial stage directions of Stella

A gentle young woman

Initial stage directions of Blanche

Her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light

Stella speaking of Stanley going away

I can hardly stand it when he's away for a night [...] When he's away for a week I nearly go wild! [...] And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby...

Stella's financial dependance

You'd better give me some money.

Stanley and Stella's reconciliation

They come together in low, animal moans

Stella's eyes during reconciliation

Her eyes go blind with tenderness

Stella's serenity after the Poker night

Her face is serene [...] almost narcotised tranquility

Stella about the wedding night

I was - sort of - thrilled by it.

Stella about not wanting to leave Stanley

I'm not in anything I want to get out of [...] People have got to tolerate each other's habits, I guess.

Blanche on how to live with Stanley

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

Blanche writing to Shep to escape

'Darling Shep. Sister and I in a desperate situation.'

Stella about sex resolving problems

There are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark - that sort of make everything else seem - unimportant.

Stella about Eunice drinking after a 'row'

That's much more practical!

Blanche about prostitution

Put on soft colours, the colours of butterfly wings, and glow - make a little - temporary magic just in order to pay for - one night's shelter!

Blanche about male sexuality

Men don't even - admit your existence unless they are making love to you.

Blanche storm metaphor

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 about why she wants Mitch

I want to rest! I want to breathe quietly again!

Blanche kissing the young boy

I want to kiss you - just once - softly and sweetly on your mouth

Blanche about being single

A single girl, a girl alone in the world, has got to keep a firm hold on her emotions or she'll be lost!

Stanley describing Blanche as a prostitute

Dame Blanche

Blanche on coping by using sex

After the death of Allen, intimacies with strangers is all I seemed able to fill my empty heart with...

Stella on why she chose to disbelieve Blanche

I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley.

Blanche's final line

I have always depended on the kindness of strangers