A Streetcar Named Desire - Key Quotes Analysis
Blanche DuBois's Significant Quotes
"I don't want realism. I want magic!"
This pivotal quote encapsulates Blanche's entire character and her central conflict within the play. Let's break it down:
- Represents Blanche's rejection of harsh reality
- Shows her preference for illusion and fantasy
- Demonstrates her inability to cope with the modern world
- Foreshadows her eventual mental breakdown
"Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."
This famous closing line reveals multiple layers of meaning:
- Highlights Blanche's vulnerability and dependency
- Shows her disconnection from reality
- Represents her final descent into madness
- Ironically reflects how "kindness" from strangers has often led to her downfall
Stanley Kowalski's Key Quotes
"We've had this date with each other from the beginning!"
A chilling line that precedes the play's climactic moment:
- Suggests inevitable confrontation between old and new worlds
- Represents the triumph of brutal reality over fantasy
- Indicates Stanley's predatory nature
- Shows the power dynamics at play
"In my territory the Napoleonic code still prevails."
This quote reveals Stanley's character and the play's power dynamics:
- Demonstrates Stanley's need for control and dominance
