A Streetcar Named Desire Appearances Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Scene.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue.

Quote #1

BLANCHE
And turn that over-light off! Turn that off! I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare! (1.75)

As you can read in "Symbols, Imagery, Allegory," light comes to mean a lot of different things in A Streetcar Named Desire. This first instance is the most important, and reveals Blanche’s fear of showing her age.

Quote #2

BLANCHE
…You know I haven’t put on one ounce in ten years, Stella? I weigh what I weighed the summer you left Belle Reve. The summer Dad died and you left us… (1.123)

For Blanche, looking good is all about maintaining her youth and the illusion that nothing has changed.

Quote #3

STELLA
And admire her dress and tell her she’s looking wonderful That’s important with Blanche. Her little weakness! (2.22)

Blanche isn’t fooling anybody, least of all her sister. Those around her propagate her self-delusion.