KEY QUOTATIONS AND THEIR INTERPRETATIONS
'There is something about her uncertain manner... that suggests a moth'
~ Stage Directions (on Blanche), Scene 1 ~
Hints at Blanche's fragility, and perhaps her preference for night-time. It is thought that Blanche was based off of Tennessee Williams' dear sister Rose who suffered with mental instability and was confined to a mental asylum for the majority of her life. An earlier version of the play was entitled 'The Moth'!
"There weren't any papers, she didn't show any papers, I don't care about papers."
~ Stella (to Stanley, about Blanche), Scene ? ~
Stella uses a triplet to emphasise to Stanley her disinterest in how 'Belle Reve' was "lost" and her happiness to accept the vagueness that Blanche delivered this news with. She is evidently exasperated at Stanley for pushing the matter but is this due to a lack of interest in material wealth, or a reluctance to question her sister?
"I need kindness now"
~ Blanche (to Mitch), Scene ? ~
"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers"
~ Blanche (to the doctor), Scene 11? ~
It is Williams' intention here to appeal, on Blanche's behalf, to the audience to understand and pity her. It is telling that she opens up to Mitch about herself and this weakness fairly early on in their relationship - perhaps this bout of honesty was brought about by the sudden violence of the poker party?
"They told me to get a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at - Elysisan Fields!"
~ Blanche (to Eunice), Scene 1 ~
When Stella asks Blanche if she's ever ridden on the 'rattle-trap streetcar', Blanche replies that "it brought [her] here". Aside from the obvious denotation of a journey from the train station to her sister's house, this reply provides the connotation that Blanche's sexual desire (her affair with a student and later prostitution) ruined her life and led her to New Orleans where she now lives on her sister's charity. The metaphor of the "Cemeteries" car leading to Stella's house foreshadows the death of her mental stability although "Elysian Fields" suggests a blissful life which could be referring to the haze of imagination she irreversibly slips into after Stanley rapes her!
In Greek Mythology the Elysian Fields are the equivalent of paradise. This is an ironic choice for a run-down street, yet the Elysian Fields were the dwelling-place of the dead and Blanche is obsessed with death!
"I can't stand a naked light-bulb"
~ Blanche (to Mitch), Scene 3 ~
'He tears the paper lantern off the light-bulb.'
~ Stage Directions (on Mitch), Scene 9 ~
'He... seizes the paper lantern, tearing it off the light-bulb'
~ Stage Directions (on Stanley), Scene 11 ~
Clearly Blanche dislikes being exposed which links to her earlier likening to a "moth" - one that is drawn to light but the light will kill her. The metaphor of the "paper lantern" shows the flimsy but effective veil she places around her personality in order to disguise her fragility and vulnerability to those around her. She often dresses in soft colours, giving the impression of a butterfly, and constantly worries about how she looks and fears growing older (she is only 30 but extremely conscious of every flaw - leaving her consistently fishing for compliments throughout the play: Mitch and Stella play up to this but Stanley refuses to acknowledge her need for reassurance). The paper lantern is seen either as a pretty addition to a room or as the reality which is a covering for a glaring truth. Stanley takes the realist approach to Blanche's disguise of her metaphorical paper lantern which is how he manages to destroy her illusion by revealing truths to Mitch in Scene 9, raping her in Scene 10, and continuing to taunt her with his power in Scene 11 when he rips off the paper lantern and "she cries out as if the lantern were herself".
"Sometimes - there's God - so quickly!"
~ Blanche (on Mitch), Scene 6 ~
Sudden outpours of emotion from Blanche are not uncommon throughout the playu, in fact several of the scenes end with similar dramatic lines. Here there is a moment of pathos and hope where the audience can see that Blanche is being rewarded with sympathy from Mitch whom she has just confided in.
"God" is not a truth of Blanche's as she seems more open to taking comfort in men than religion. However, in this moment it seems that her prayer / plea for companionship and understanding has been answered - perhaps this can relate back to the significance of 'Elysian Fields' and how this place has the potential for paradise?
"We've had this date with each other from the beginning!"
The highest percentage of character tension within this play is between Blanche and Stanley. They play off each other's weaknesses and battle for dominance, echoing the contemporary conflict between the 'aristocratic' and 'new' South.
DISCLAIMER: I am planning to add more quotes to this but I know some people may benefit from / may have different interpretations to add to these important ones I've already analysed so I'm going to post these and add to it as I go back through the play!
'There is something about her uncertain manner... that suggests a moth'
~ Stage Directions (on Blanche), Scene 1 ~
Hints at Blanche's fragility, and perhaps her preference for night-time. It is thought that Blanche was based off of Tennessee Williams' dear sister Rose who suffered with mental instability and was confined to a mental asylum for the majority of her life. An earlier version of the play was entitled 'The Moth'!
"There weren't any papers, she didn't show any papers, I don't care about papers."
~ Stella (to Stanley, about Blanche), Scene ? ~
Stella uses a triplet to emphasise to Stanley her disinterest in how 'Belle Reve' was "lost" and her happiness to accept the vagueness that Blanche delivered this news with. She is evidently exasperated at Stanley for pushing the matter but is this due to a lack of interest in material wealth, or a reluctance to question her sister?
"I need kindness now"
~ Blanche (to Mitch), Scene ? ~
"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers"
~ Blanche (to the doctor), Scene 11? ~
It is Williams' intention here to appeal, on Blanche's behalf, to the audience to understand and pity her. It is telling that she opens up to Mitch about herself and this weakness fairly early on in their relationship - perhaps this bout of honesty was brought about by the sudden violence of the poker party?
"They told me to get a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at - Elysisan Fields!"
~ Blanche (to Eunice), Scene 1 ~
When Stella asks Blanche if she's ever ridden on the 'rattle-trap streetcar', Blanche replies that "it brought [her] here". Aside from the obvious denotation of a journey from the train station to her sister's house, this reply provides the connotation that Blanche's sexual desire (her affair with a student and later prostitution) ruined her life and led her to New Orleans where she now lives on her sister's charity. The metaphor of the "Cemeteries" car leading to Stella's house foreshadows the death of her mental stability although "Elysian Fields" suggests a blissful life which could be referring to the haze of imagination she irreversibly slips into after Stanley rapes her!
In Greek Mythology the Elysian Fields are the equivalent of paradise. This is an ironic choice for a run-down street, yet the Elysian Fields were the dwelling-place of the dead and Blanche is obsessed with death!
"I can't stand a naked light-bulb"
~ Blanche (to Mitch), Scene 3 ~
'He tears the paper lantern off the light-bulb.'
~ Stage Directions (on Mitch), Scene 9 ~
'He... seizes the paper lantern, tearing it off the light-bulb'
~ Stage Directions (on Stanley), Scene 11 ~
Clearly Blanche dislikes being exposed which links to her earlier likening to a "moth" - one that is drawn to light but the light will kill her. The metaphor of the "paper lantern" shows the flimsy but effective veil she places around her personality in order to disguise her fragility and vulnerability to those around her. She often dresses in soft colours, giving the impression of a butterfly, and constantly worries about how she looks and fears growing older (she is only 30 but extremely conscious of every flaw - leaving her consistently fishing for compliments throughout the play: Mitch and Stella play up to this but Stanley refuses to acknowledge her need for reassurance). The paper lantern is seen either as a pretty addition to a room or as the reality which is a covering for a glaring truth. Stanley takes the realist approach to Blanche's disguise of her metaphorical paper lantern which is how he manages to destroy her illusion by revealing truths to Mitch in Scene 9, raping her in Scene 10, and continuing to taunt her with his power in Scene 11 when he rips off the paper lantern and "she cries out as if the lantern were herself".
"Sometimes - there's God - so quickly!"
~ Blanche (on Mitch), Scene 6 ~
Sudden outpours of emotion from Blanche are not uncommon throughout the playu, in fact several of the scenes end with similar dramatic lines. Here there is a moment of pathos and hope where the audience can see that Blanche is being rewarded with sympathy from Mitch whom she has just confided in.
"God" is not a truth of Blanche's as she seems more open to taking comfort in men than religion. However, in this moment it seems that her prayer / plea for companionship and understanding has been answered - perhaps this can relate back to the significance of 'Elysian Fields' and how this place has the potential for paradise?
"We've had this date with each other from the beginning!"
The highest percentage of character tension within this play is between Blanche and Stanley. They play off each other's weaknesses and battle for dominance, echoing the contemporary conflict between the 'aristocratic' and 'new' South.
DISCLAIMER: I am planning to add more quotes to this but I know some people may benefit from / may have different interpretations to add to these important ones I've already analysed so I'm going to post these and add to it as I go back through the play!
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