Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Secondly in scene eleven when Stella sends Blanche a mental institution because she doesnt believe Blanche when she says she was raped by Stanley, Stanley comforts Stella with sex. You left nothing here but spilt talcum and old empty perfume bottlesunless its the paper lantern you want to take with you. Stella believes that there is nothing wrong and she cant understand why Blanche is so frantic. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Blanche: Oh, Stella. where the atmosphere is raw and lurid again. Now just remember what Huey Long said - that every man's a king - and I'm the King around here, and don't you forget it. And wasnt we happy together, wasnt it all okay till she showed here?. A seventeen-year-old kid she got mixed up with - and the boy's dad learned about it and he got in touch with the high-school superintendent. Run to the drug-store and get me a lemon-coke with plenty of chipped ice in it! 'I pulled you down off them columns.'. Oh, well, its his pleasure, like mine is movies and bridge. So many characters have different 'A Streetcar Named Desire' quotes that have different meanings in our life. In this article, we have covered some of the famous 'Streetcar' quotes by most of the characters. "Stanley hesitates, licking his lips. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Not surprisingly, since they have a two-room apartment (we're talking a kitchen and a bedroom), when Blanche shows up, Stanley and Stella's sex life suffers, and their mechanism for maintaining the peace in their relationship is disrupted. Stella further denies Stanleys, There is a lot of fighting and then love making in their relationship, as well. He picks up her inert figure and carries her to the bed. Stanley - 'We gotta have odds!' Shows Stanley believes in luck, reference to poker. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Scene 1 - when Stella described him to Blanche. Stella starts ordering him around in Scene Eight and telling him to clean up the table after dinner and stop eating so messily. Stanley Kowalski lives in a basic, fundamental world which allows for no subtleties and no refinements. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Blanche's influence is definitely weighty. Purchasing Well, I guess I'm gonna strike you as being the unrefined type, huh? Discover the most important quotes from 'A Streetcar Named Desire' in this list of Stella quotes, which is your favorite? She is often overlooked in the play because of her husband Stanley and her sister Blanche are much more dynamic. They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off atElysian Fields. Central Idea Essay: Is Blanche a Sympathetic Character? It received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in . I'll bet you were born under Aries. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. He is, then, "the gaudy seed-bearer," who takes pleasure in his masculinity. In the first scene, he is seen bringing home the raw meat. Stanley has just become a father, so he wants to celebrate. Many critics have pointed out that Stanley is part of a new America, one comprised of immigrants of all races with equal opportunity for all. After fighting with Stella about Blanche, Stanley talks about how he wants their relationship to simply go back to normal: STANLEY:Stell, it's gonna be all right after she [Blanche] goes and after you've had the baby. Stanley is right, they do not respect him, and the eruption of raw emotions creates fear in the sisters and suspense for the audience. Stanley begins to question Blanche's past and intentions with: "I got an acquaintance who deals with this sort of merchandise. Dont have an account? ", (Sarcasm) The minor sentence shows Stanley's sarcastic upwards convergence, The metaphor shows Stanley's simple enjoyments, "We've had this date with each other from the beginning! Eunice comes downstairs and into the apartment. When she asks how much longer does the game have, he replies Till we get ready to quit (1833). Where could it be, I wonder?, 5. Blanche tries to go back into the bedroom, but. There's even something subhuman about him. Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. Once hearing Blanches story that Stanley raped her, Stella admits she could not believe her story and go on living the way she had (164). She even seems to repeat exactly what Blanche would say, "drunk drunk animal thing, you!" Please wait while we process your payment. . "I don't think I want to marry you anymore.". He is the man of physical action. Blanche becomes a threat to his way of life; she is a foreign element, a hostile force, a superior being whom he can't understand. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Zoomorphism "his life has been pleasure with women" Stanley can be broken down into raw, primitive desires. A Streetcar Named Desire Quotes, A Streetcar Named Desire Important Quotes, Key Quotations Sayings Scenes 1-6. . Stanley perceives Blanche as having made him endure too much. Blanche begins to flirt with Stanleys friend Mitch which makes him even angrier. He does not care for Belle Reve as a bit of ancestral property, but, instead, he feels that a part of it is his. Stanley: Man, liquor goes fast in the hot weather. Blanche: I was fishing for a compliment, Stanley. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Complete your free account to request a guide. (4.103). Williams creates and maintains an antipathy and tension between them so that, despite the audiences horror at what Stanley does to Blanche in scene 10, the fact that there is a final clash between the two characters comes as no surprise to us. Purchasing Take a look at yourself here in a worn-out Mardi Gras outfit, rented for 50 cents from some rag-picker. How do you think all that sickness and dying was paid for? According to the structure of their usual relationship, Stella is trespassing into his territoryhe's the dominant one; she shouldn't be ordering him around. Stanley Kowalski is a very brutal and barbaric person who always has to feel that no one is better than him. This causes the first argument between the two when Stella replies "Don't be such an idiot, Stanley" (1828). Stanley Kowalski: It certainly looks like you raided some stylish shops of Paris, Blanche. Stanleys behavior is also viewed as animal like, Tennessee Williams may be revealing the more animalistic, immoderate behavior of the working classes which violently swings from one extreme to the other with little notice we see this repeated again later in the play with Steve and Eunice after their fight. In spite of the fact that he is a delicate character, he does not share Blanche's sentimental viewpoint and otherworldliness, nor her comprehension of verse and writing. And do you know what I say? 11 terms. The structure of the sentence shows this, with 'women' being both the object of the sentence and the object of his desire. Stella : I wish you'd stop taking it for granted that I'm in something I want to get out of. ", "His poker night!--you call it--this party of apes! You want a shot?, 14. Tigertiger! You ought to lay off his liquor. I predict that in the future, nothing will change with Stanley and he will continue to be his aggressive self and Stella will eventually leave him for the sake of herself and her child. "Animal joy in his being is implicit in all his movements and attitudes", the constant comparisons of Stanley to an animal is seen throughout the play. He didnt know what he, Stella Kowalski is one of the main characters in the Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire. (including. What do you two think you are? Stanley: Hey, you hens! Hey, Stellaaa! The two come from completely different societal worlds and have contrasting personalities, Stanley being powerful, controlling and strong and Blanche, being fragile, weak and vulnerable. Stanley Kowalski, a focal character, is the epitome of male dominance and primitive aggression. She is presented as a woman who has an older sister Blanch and a husband named Stanley. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Open your pretty mouth and talk while I look around for some liquor! This duality makes Stanley a tough nut to crack. Scene 1 Quotes Blanche says that Mitch seems superior to the others, and Stella says that. It uh It looks like my trunk has exploded. Because the following dramatic action of the play rests on what Blanche decides, when she decides to alternatively lie or tell the truth, the consequences of her decisions drive the action of the play forward., Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. Drop the bottle-top! Stanley converges his language upwards in this declarative. The bottle top falls. for a customized plan. Previous JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one! Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. the men, but in particular Stanley are more simplistic in their sociolect, speaking in monosyllabics, Stanley is simplistic, as shown by his emotions. Since earliest manhood the center of [Stanleys] life has been pleasure with women, the giving and taking of it, not with weak indulgence, dependently, but with the power and pride of a richly feathered male bird among hens. Stanley Kowalski Quotes in A Streetcar Named Desire The A Streetcar Named Desire quotes below are all either spoken by Stanley Kowalski or refer to Stanley Kowalski. $24.99 That we have got to make grow! From these two brief extracts, the keynote is that the red meat is a symbol used to show Stanley's 'bestial' attitude, which is also in another of Blanche's dialogues: Blanche: There's something downright - bestial - about him! Now will you just open your eyes to this stuff here? She turns on her music when Stanley just wants to focus on his hand of cards. Central Idea Essay: Is Blanche a Sympathetic Character? She is as famous in Laurel as if she was the President of the United States, only she is not respected by any party. His poker night you call it. Whats so interesting is the opposite way these characteristics are interpreted by the two sisters. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. plans for poker the following evening. Historical Context Essay: Post-World War II New Orleans, Literary Context Essay: Social Realism in the Play. Stanley is standing outside, licking his lips in a rather serpentine manner. I never met a dame yet that didn't know if she was good-looking or not without being told, and some of them give themselves credit for more than they've got. Stella: A rhinestone tiara she wore to a costume ball! I cry in his lap like a baby. Stella: Actually, I was sorta thrilled by it. Character Analysis Stellas life is dependent on the idea of Stanley being what is good for her, and she could not go on living if that idea was proved false. Teachers and parents! Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one!" (Williams 83) Scene 11 pg 177 Blanche has gone wild like an animal and they are trying to "cage" her all stand tensely for a moment. Mitch says that he doesnt want, that she doesnt know what Southern Comfort is. You don't even know when you get wised up. ", The simile of Stanley being a lamb shows how he is protective and desires above all else Stella, since she fulfils his needs, "Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one! Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one! When Stella and Blanche return home to a poker night, Stanley is drunk and rude to his wife. In the play, the 'Streetcar Named Desire' is very symbolic. During his entire rage during poker night he is not sober which leads to another problem. He considers himself to be a social leveler, as he tells Stella in scene eight. You showed me the snapshot of the place with the columns and how you loved it., 15. Stanley sees himself as the provider and head of the household He sees Stella's role as a homemaker, who stays at home, cooks his meals, and generally takes care of him. He resents her superior attitude and bides his time. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. What do you think you are? The Matron advances on one side, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Stella excuses getting hit by telling Blanche that When men are drinking and playing poker anything can happen. What am I saying? Blanche turns on the radio, but Stanley demands her to turn it off. He says you been lapping it up all summer like a wild-cat., 21. Stella: Next door to glass. Wed love to have you back! Even the symbols connected with Stanley support his brutal, animal-like approach to life. Stanley ultimately hits Stella before the nights over. I let the place go? For example, in scene three when Stanley is drunk and Stella is being loud, Stanley gets frustrated with her and throws her radio out of the window. Female Conflict. Thousands of years have passed him right by, and there he is. Could it beyou and me, Blanche?, 20. Your privacy is important to us. We know that sex is important to Stanley in his marriage, but even outside of his marriage, he basically relates to seemingly all women on a sexual level. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. Stella cries out Something is over turned with a crash (57). Stella: You can't hear us. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. ", Rape! The something could be an object, idea . Ill have him in here to appraise it (Williams 1828). 'A Streetcar Named Desire' quotes can always be made applicable to us, and that is part of the reason the show is so loved. Blanche makes her opinion pretty clear in a long passage in Scene Four which we distill here for you: BLANCHEHe acts like an animal, has an animals habits! You showed me a snapshot of the place with them columns, and I pulled you down off them columns, and you loved it, having them colored lights goin'. It's gonna be all right again between you and me the way it was. Stanley: Hey, Stella! One example that shows this about Stanley is in scene ten, it says She moans. Stanley: You know, if I didn't know that you was my wife's sister, I would get ideas about you Don't play so dumb. Continue to start your free trial. Blanche: You're married to a madman. Later that night Stanley forgets about everything that happened and lets out his famous, STELL-LAHHHHH (60)! What is this article? Mitch Quotes. There are four main characters in 'A Streetcar Named Desire', and they are Blanche Dubois, Stella Kowalski, Stanley Kowalski, and Harold Mitchell. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. I meanMrs. Now, love.", Stanley attempts to calm his wife in a loving way, yet the stage directions tell another narrative of his desire, Powerful vs Weak Quotes - 'A Streetcar Named, Tragedy Quotes - 'A Streetcar Named Desire', Illusion Quotes - 'A Streetcar Named Desire', Comparing the US President with the UK PM, Comparing Congress with the UK Parliament. The name of that rattle-trap streetcar that bangs through the Quarter, up one old narrow street and down another. Not to mention, he feels that his wife is looking down on him. You'll also receive an email with the link. Eunice: I hope they haul you in and turn the fire hose on you like they did last time! Eunice: You can't beat on a woman and then call her back, Because she ain't gonna come! You never did give me a chance to say much, Blanche. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. 20% You know that some men are taken in by all this Hollywood glamour and some men just aren't. Drop it! In his mind, she has never been sympathetic toward him, she has ridiculed him, and earlier she had even flirted with him but has never been his. It will not be good for the child to be raised by parents like that. Blanche: [phone rings] That's for me, I'm sure. Harold Mitchell is Stanley's friend, often known as Mitch. - Stanley Kowalski, 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. With the appearance of Blanche, Stanley feels an uncomfortable threat to those things that are his. [] Maybe hell strike you or maybe grunt and kiss you! ", "it's gonna be all right", "it's gonna be alright", the repetion shows that he does care. You come in here and you sprinkle the place with powder and you spray perfume and you stick a paper lantern over the light bulb - and, lo and behold, the place has turned to Egypt and you are the Queen of the Nile, sitting on your throne, swilling down my liquor. The neighborhood is poor but has a raffish charm., Eunice and a Negro Woman are sitting on the front stoop when. He is bestial and brutal and determined to destroy that which is not his. Stanley is depicted as a strong dominant masculine force, though after the whole dramatic radio scene, he feels excessive remorse and yells at Stella in expectation of forgiveness. Stanley begins to question Blanches past and intentions with: I got an acquaintance who deals with this sort of merchandise. He can hear everything she is saying [A streetcar named desire] brought me here- where I'm not wanted and where I'm ashamed to be Blanche's past desires have led her to Elysian Fields Drunk- drunk- animal thing, you! Lastly, his arrogance and ferocious actions are most apparent when he rapes Blanche, while his wife is in labor in the hospital.

Stanley Kowalski's first exhibition of his brutal actions occurs at poker night. He possesses no quality that would not be considered manly in the most basic sense. Stellas dependence on Stanley and Stanleys brutality leads to their weak, In the 1947 play A Streetcar Named Desire written by Tennessee Williams, there is an on going battle of rivalry between Stanley and Blanche, resulting to Blanche retreating into a world of illusions in order to protect herself. The play begins to get interesting when Stellas sister, Blanche, arrives from out of town. You want a shot? Passionate violence having been transformed into passionate lust by way of passionate regret. Man, liquor goes fast in the hot weather. (8.55). AO5 - Although Stanley is a stereotype of a brutal new America, he does love and provide for his wife. Blanche refuses and so Stanley gets up himself and turns it off himself. The way the content is organized. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. All of those deaths, the long parade to the graveyard. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. Contact us Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Stanley: Well, there's some people that rarely touch it, but it touches them often. Instant PDF downloads. Her desire for such men is an addiction. Like Stanley said, he is the king, and he got his way. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Modern readers especially tend to side with the more liberal idea that meritand not ancestrymakes us who we are. This causes the first argument between the two when Stella replies Dont be such an idiot, Stanley (1828). He has just opened a bottle of beer and a geyser of foam shoots up, a sexual image foreshadowing the action to follow. $24.99 He feels that having proved how degenerate Blanche actually is, he is now justified in punishing her directly for all the indirect insults he has had to suffer from her. Stanley and Blanche are alone in Scene Ten because Stella is in the hospital. 18. Stanley: Well you can hear me, and I told you to hush up. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Now I mean, what - has she got this stuff out of teacher's pay? Primarily, the conflict between Blanche and Stanley reaches a climax here, when the two are alone. However, we soon learn that Blanche is just as bestial as Stanley, just as driven by impulses and desires that are less than tender and formal. If you like our 'A Streetcar Named Desire' quotes, you can also check out these quotes from Gone With The Wind and 'Of Mice And Men' quotes too. She is a maturing Southern beauty who lives in a condition of unending frenzy about her blurring magnificence. 'Delicate beauty must avoid a strong light' White clothes a moth Blanche suggests innocence and vulnerability recurring motif of light Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. You want the lantern? He's like an animal. (1.205). He states it quite clearly: "PigPolakdisgustingvulgargreasy!them kind of words have been on your [Stella's] tongue and your sister's too much around here! Blanche: Gracious. Would you think it possible that I was once considered to be attractive?