These are summary sheets for 'A Streetcar Named Desire' by Tennessee Williams. They include key quotes and a concise analysis, relevant contexts and critical quotes.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE - QUOTES
Quote Brief analysis
‘[Daintily dressed…]’ - Juxtaposition: establishes class differences, femininity and masculinity,
‘[Roughly dressed in blue denim work and the dichotomy between Blanche and Stanley.
clothes]’
‘[White clothes suggest a moth]’ - Moth metaphor: fragility, links to self-destructiveness.
‘a Streetcar named named Desire, and - Extended metaphor: Blanche’s sexual desire leads to her downfall;
then transfer to one called Cemeteries’ figurative death.
‘They’re Stanley’s friends’. - Over-reliance on Stanley, isolated without him.
- Everything belonging to Stanley.
‘I let the place go? Where were you? In - Derogatory term: complicates sympathy for Blanche.
bed with your - Polack!’ - Emphasises significance of sex in their relationship.
- Juxtaposition between the sisters: Blanche’s outburst of hysteria whilst
Stella conceals her emotions.
‘[Power and pride of a richly feathered - Bird imagery: animalistic, dominance over women. Comedic?
male bird among hens… gaudy - Emphasis on sexuality highlights how desire links with masculinity.
seed-bearer]’
‘How about my supper, huh? I’m not - Informal language: suggests his lower-class backgrounds, contrasting with
going to no Galatoires’ for supper!’ the upper-class connotation of ‘Galatoires’.
- Sexist stereotypes.
‘[He stalks into the bedroom, and she - Animal imagery: motif for Stanley.
follows him]’ - Symbolises their gender roles: Stanley leading, Stella following.
‘Grandfathers and fathers and uncles and - Syndetic listing: men are to blame for the downfall of Belle Reve, but the
brothers exchanged the land for their women have to deal with consequences.
epic fornications.’ - Sexist double standards: male promiscuity is not condemned.
‘[They are men at the peak of their - Colour imagery: masculinity.
physical manhood, as course and direct - Syndetic listing: emphasises the power of men.
and powerful as the primary colours… - Symbol of masculinity: links to Stanley as a ‘gaudy seed-bearer’.
vivid slices of watermelon]’
‘[A chair scrapes. Stanley gives a loud - Onomatopoeic: auditory representation of Stanley’s aggressive
whack of his hand on her thigh.]’ masculinity.
‘[The men laugh.]’ - Emphasises gender roles.
‘You hens cut out that conversation in - Bird imagery: dehumanising.
there!’ - Imperative exclamation: commanding the women, restricted freedom to
talk in the presence of men.
‘[He stops short at the sight of Blanche. - Illustrative of their dynamic: conflict and desire.
She returns his look without flinching.]’ - Blanche unflinching suggests she is equal in power to Stanley, not
submissive like Stella.
‘It’s a French name… Like an orchard in - Spring imagery: impression of youth and innocence, a facade.
spring!’ - French background, implying higher-class European origins.
‘[Stanley charges after Stella]’ - Animal imagery: suggests a bull, a symbol of powerful masculinity and
‘Take it easy, Stanley. Easy fellow…’ aggression. Emphasised by the men coaxing as if he is a wild,
uncontrollable animal.
‘[Her eyes go blind with tenderness]’ - Metaphor: desire clouds Stella’s judgement.
‘[A book of coloured comics]’ - Symbol of lower-class: acceptance of Stanley’s values, where colourful
comics are read instead of books, indicated by Blanche’s literary
knowledge.
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