Stella: I never listen to you when you're being morbid.
Blanche: Is there something wrong with me?
Blanche: Please don't get up.

Stanley: Nobody's going to get up, so don't get worried.
Stella: You think you're going bowling now?

Stanley: That's right.

Stella: If you're not going bowling, why'd you do this to her?

Stanley: Let go of my shirt.

Stella: I want to know why. Tell me why?

Stanley: Hey, cool it! Listen, baby, when we first met, you and me, you thought I was common. Well, how right you was. I was common as dirt. You showed me a snapshot of a place with columns and I pulled you down off them columns and you loved it. Having them colored lights going. And wasn't we happy together? Wasn't it all okay till she showed here? Huh? Wasn't we happy together? Wasn't it all okay till she showed here? Hoity-toity, describing me like a ape.
Blanche: Deliberate cruelty is unforgivable, and the one thing of which I have never,ever been guilty of.
Blanche: But some things are not forgivable. Deliberate cruelty is not forgivable! It is the one unforgivable thing, in my opinion, and the one thing of which I have never, never been guilty.
Blanche: [telephone rings and she rises out of seat] That's for me, I'm sure.

Stanley: [pushes her back down roughly] Just keep your seat, I'm not so sure.
Stanley: [to Blanche] Will you shut up!

[Resumes talking on the phone]

Stanley: No, we got a noisy woman in the place.
Blanche: This old maid, she had a parrot that cursed a blue streak and knew more vulgar expressions than Mr. Kowalski.
Stanley: Some canary bird...
Stanley: Hey, toots! Canary bird, will you get out of the bathroom!

[pounds on the door]
Blanche: Young, young man. Did anyone ever tell you you look like a young prince out of the 'Arabian Nights'?
Blanche: Oh, Stanley! What sign were you born under?

Stanley: What sign?

Blanche: Astrological sign. I'll bet you were born under Aries. Aries people are forceful, dynamic, they dote on noise. They love to bang things around.

Stella: Stanley was born just five minutes after Christmas.

Blanche: Capricorn - the goat!

[long silence follows as Stanley stares at Blanche]
Stella: He smashed all the lightbulbs with the heel of my slipper.

Blanche: And you let him? Didn't run, didn't scream?

Stella: Actually, I was sorta thrilled by it.
Mitch: I like you to be exactly the way that you are, because in all my experience, I have never known anyone like you.

[Blanche laughs suddenly]
Blanche: Oh look, we have created enchantment.
Blanche: I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action.

Mitch: I guess we must strike you as being a pretty rough bunch.

Blanche: I'm very adaptable to circumstances.
Blanche: Tarantula was the name of it. I stayed at a hotel called the Tarantula Arms.

Mitch: Tarantula Arms?

Blanche: Yes, a big spider. That's where I brought my victims. Yes, I've had many meetings with strangers.
Stanley: I never met a dame yet that didn't know if she was good-looking or not without being told, and there's some of them that give themselves credit for more than they've got.
Blanche: Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.
Blanche: I know I fib a good deal. After all, a woman's charm is 50% illusion.
Blanche: I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic. I try to give that to people. I do misrepresent things. I don't tell truths. I tell what ought to be truth.
Stanley: Hey, STELLA!
Mitch: Poker should not be played in a house with women.
Stanley: How about cutting the re-bop?
Blanche: I said I was sorry three times!
Stanley: Be comfortable. That's my motto up where I come from. You gonna shack up here? Well, I guess I'm gonna strike you as being the unrefined type, huh?
Stanley: Now will you just open your eyes to this stuff here. Now I mean, what - has she got this stuff out of teacher's pay?... Will you look at these fine feathers and furs that she comes to bring herself in here. What is this article? That's a solid gold dress, I believe.

Stella: Oh, honest.

Stanley: This one here. What is this, Fox piece?

Stella: Stanley!

Stanley: A genuine fur fox a half a mile long... Where are your fox pieces? This is bushy snow-white ones, no less. Where are your white fox furs?

Stella: Those are inexpensive summer furs that Blanche has had a long time.

Stanley: Listen, I have an acquaintance who deals in this sort of merchandise and he's coming to make an appraisal.

Stella: Oh, don't be such an idiot, Stanley.

Stanley: Listen, Listen, I'm gonna bet you there's a thousand dollars invested in this stuff. Well, now, what is that? That's the treasure chest of a pirate?

Stella: Oh, Stanley! Would you...?

Stanley: That's pearls, Stella. Ropes of them. What is this sister of yours, a deep-sea diver? Bracelets, solid gold. Where are your pearls and gold bracelets?

Stella: Be still, Stanley.

Stanley: And here you are, Diamonds. A crown for an empress.

Stella: A rhinestone tiara, she wore to a costume ball.

Stanley: What is rhinestone?

Stella: Next to glass.

Stanley: Yeah.
Blanche DuBois: My, but you have an impressive, judicial air.

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. You know what.
Blanche: You're married to a madman.

Stella: I wish you'd stop taking it for granted that I'm in something I want to get out of.

Blanche: What you are talking about is desire - just brutal Desire. The name of that rattle-trap streetcar that bangs through the Quarter, up one old narrow street and down another.

Stella: Haven't you ever ridden on that streetcar?

Blanche: It brought me here. Where I'm not wanted and where I'm ashamed to be.

Stella: Don't you think your superior attitude is a little out of place?

Blanche: May I speak plainly?... If you'll forgive me, he's common... He's like an animal. He has an animal's habits. There's even something subhuman about him. Thousands of years have passed him right by, and there he is. Stanley Kowalski, survivor of the Stone Age, bearing the raw meat home from the kill in the jungle. And you - you here waiting for him. Maybe he'll strike you or maybe grunt and kiss you, that's if kisses have been discovered yet. His poker night you call it. This party of apes.
Stanley: You're gonna kill who, you dumb jerk? You don't even know when you get wised up. Come on.

Mitch: You don't have to wise me up.
Stanley: She is as famous in Laurel as if she was the President of the United States, only she is not respected by any party.
Stanley: She moved to the hotel called Flamingo which is a second class hotel that has the advantages of not interfering with the private and social life of the personalities there. Now the Flamingo is used to all kinds of goings-on. But even the management of the Flamingo was impressed by Dame Blanche. And in fact, they were so impressed that they requested her to turn in her room-key for permanently. And this, this happened a couple of weeks before she showed here... The trouble with Dame Blanche was that she couldn't put on her act any more in Oriel because they got wised up. And after two or three dates, they quit and then she goes on to another one, the same old line, the same old act, and the same old hooey. And as time went by, she became the town character, regarded not just as different but downright loco and nuts. She didn't re. sign temporarily because of her nerves. She was kicked out before the spring term ended. And I hate to tell you the reason that step was taken. 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. And there was practically a town ordinance passed against her.
Stella: Mr. Kowalski is too busy making a pig of himself... Your face and your fingers are disgustingly greasy.
Stanley: Now that's how I'm gonna clear the table. Don't you ever talk that way to me. 'Pig,' 'Pollack,' 'disgusting,' 'vulgar,' 'greasy.' Those kind of words have been on your tongue and your sister's tongue just too much around here. What do you think you are? A pair of queens? 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.
Stanley: I am not a Pollack. People from Poland are Poles. They are not Pollacks. But what I am is one hundred percent American. I'm born and raised in the greatest country on this earth and I'm proud of it. And don't you ever call me a Pollack.
Stanley: Listen, baby, when we first met - you and me - you thought I was common. Well, how right you was. I was common as dirt. 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'. And wasn't we happy together? Wasn't it all okay till she showed here? And wasn't we happy together? Wasn't it all OK? Till she showed here. Hoity-toity, describin' me like a ape.
Mitch: Oh I don't mind you being older than what I thought. But all the rest of it. That pitch about your ideals being so old-fashioned and all the malarkey that you've been dishin' out all summer. Oh, I knew you weren't sixteen anymore. But I was fool enough to believe you was straight."
Blanche: Straight? What's 'straight'? A line can be straight, or a street. But the heart of a human being?
Blanche: Marry me, Mitch.

Mitch: No, I don't think I want to marry you anymore... No, you're not clean enough to bring into the house with my mother.
Stanley: How about a few more details on that subject... Let's cop a gander at the bill of sale... What do you mean? She didn't show you no papers, no deed of sale or nothin' like that?... Well then, what was it then? Given away to charity?... Oh I don't care if she hears me. Now let's see the papers... Now listen. Did you ever hear of the Napoleonic code, Stella?... Now just let me enlighten you on a point or two... Now we got here in the state of Louisiana what's known as the Napoleonic code. You see, now according to that, what belongs to the wife belongs to the husband also, and vice versa... It looks to me like you've been swindled baby. And when you get swindled under Napoleonic code, I get swindled too and I don't like to get swindled... Where's the money if the place was sold?
Stanley: Take a look at yourself here in a worn-out Mardi Gras outfit, rented for 50 cents from some rag-picker. And with a crazy crown on. Now what kind of a queen do you think you are? Do you know that I've been on to you from the start, and not once did you pull the wool over this boy's eyes? 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. And do you know what I say? Ha ha! Do you hear me? Ha ha ha!
Stanley: You think I'm gonna interfere with you?... You know, maybe you wouldn't be bad to interfere with.
[as Stanley's friends gather to play poker]

Stella: The blind are leading the blind!
Stanley: You know what luck is? Luck is believing you're lucky, that's all... To hold a front position in this rat-race, you've got to believe you are lucky
Stanley: Tiger, tiger. Drop that bottle top. Drop it.
Stanley: Hey, you hens! Cut out that cackling in there.

Stella: You can't hear us...

Stanley: Well you can hear me, I told you to hush up!
[first lines]

A Sailor: Can I help you, ma'am?

Blanche: Why, they told me to take a streetcar named Desire and then transfer to one called Cemetery and ride six blocks and get off at Elysian Fields.
[last lines]

Stanley: Stella! Come on, Stella!

Stella: No, I'm not. I'm not going back in there again, not this time, never going back, never.

Stanley: Hey, Stella! Hey, Stellaaa!
[Blance enters into the spare bedroom and closes the curtain. She looks at her suitcase which is in complete disaray then she starts to undress and talks to Stanley who is sitting in the kitchen]

Blanche: I understand there's to be a little card party here tonight to which we ladies are cordially not invited.

Stanley: That's right.

Blanche: Where is Stella?

Stanley: She's out there on the porch.

[Blanche walks over to the window and looks out. Across the street Stella is talking to someone. Blanche starts walking back to the curtain]

Blanche: I'm going to ask a favor of you in a moment.

Stanley: Well, what's that going to be, I wonder?

Blanche: Well, some buttons in back.

[She opens the curtain]

Blanche: You may enter.

[Stanley stands up and walks into the bedroom]

Blanche: How do I look?

Stanley: You look okay.

Blanche: Many thanks. Now the buttons.

[He puts the buttons on Stella's back]

Stanley: [fumbles with them for a moment] I can't do no more with them.

Blanche: You mean with your big clumsy fingers. May I have a drag of your cig?

Stanley: Yeah, have one yourself.

[hands her a cigarette]

Blanche: Why thank you. It... It looks like my trunk has exploded.

Stanley: Me and Stella was helping you unpack.

Stanley: You certainly did a fast and thorough job of it.

Stanley: Well, It certainly looks like you raided some stylish shops of Paris, Blanche.

Blanche: Clothes are my passion.

Stanley: How much does it cost for a string of furs like that?

Blanche: Why, those were a tribute from an admirer of mine.

Stanley: He must have had a lot of admiration.

Blanche: Oh, in my youth I excited some admiration. But, look at me now. Would you think it possible that I was once considered to be attractive?

Stanley: Your looks are okay.

Blanche: I was fishing for a compliment, Stanley.

Stanley: I don't go in for that stuff.

Blanche: What stuff?

Stanley: Compliments to women about their looks. 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. I once went out with a dame who told me, "I'm the glamorous type," she says, "I am the glamorous type." I say, "So what?"

Blanche: And what did she say then?

Stanley: She didn't say nothing. That shut her up like a clam.

Blanche: Did it end the romance?

Stanley: Well, It ended the conversation, that was all. You know that some men are taken in by all this Hollywood glamour and some men just aren't.

Blanche: I'm sure you belong in the second category.

Stanley: That's right.

Blanche: I cannot imagine any witch of a woman casting a spell over you.

Stanley: That's right.

Blanche: You're simple, straightforward and honest, a little bit on the primitive side, I should think. To interest you a woman would have to...

Stanley: Have to lay her cards out on the table.

Blanche: Well I never did care for wishy-washy people. That was why when you walked in last night, I said to myself, "my sister has married a man". Of course that was all I could hope to...

Stanley: [yells] How about cutting the re-bop!
Stella: [Entering the room] Stanley! Stanley, you come on outside with me and left Blanche finish dressing!

Blanche: I've finished dressing honey.

Stella: Well you come out then.

Stanley: Your sister and I are having a little talk.

Blanche: Honey, do me a favor. Run to the drug store and get me a lemon coke with chipped ice. Will you do that for me, sweetie, please.

Stella: All right.

[she leaves to the drug store]
Stanley: Man, liquor goes fast in the hot weather. You want a shot?

Blanche: No, I rarely touch it.

Stanley: Well, there's some people that really touch it, but it touches them often.
Stanley: Man, liquor goes fast in the hot weather. You want a shot?

Blanche: No, I rarely touch it.

Stanley: Well, there's some people that rarely touch it, but it touches them often.
Stanley: Hey, Stella!

Eunice: You quit that howling down there and go to bed!

Stanley: Eunice, I want my girl down here!

Eunice: You shut up! You're gonna get the law on you!

Stanley: Hey, Stella!

Eunice: You can't beat on a woman and then call her back, Because she ain't gonna come! And her going to have a baby.

Stanley: Listen, Eunice...

Eunice: I hope they haul you in and turn the fire hose on you like they did last time!

Stanley: Eunice, I want my girl down here!

Eunice: You stinker!
Stanley: [sarcastically: picking up Blanche's tiara] Well what is that? A crown for an empress?

Stella: A rhinestone tiara she wore to a costume ball!

Stanley: [serious] What is rhinestone?

Stella: Next door to glass.
Stanley: Hey, you hens! Cut out the cackling in there!

Stella: You can't hear us.

Stanley: Well you can hear me, and I told you to hush up.
Stanley: [yells out] Hey, Mitch!

Mitch: [turns to Stanley, yells] Coming!

Blanche: Gracious! What lung power!
Blanche: [Meeting with Stella, shortly after she's arrived in New Orleans] I bought some nice clothes to meet all your lovely friends in. Well... I'm afraid you won't think they're lovely. Well, anyway, I bought nice clothes and I'll wear them. I guess you're hoping I'll say I'll put up at a hotel. I'm not going to put up at a hotel. I've got to be near you, Stella. I've got to be with people. I can't be alone because... Because as you must have noticed, I... I'm not very well.
Stella: [talking about her husband, Stanley] He's on the road a good deal... I can hardly stand it when he's away for a night.

Blanche: Oh, Stella.

Stella: When he's away for a week, I nearly go wild.

Blanche: Gracious.

Stella: When he comes back... I cry in his lap like a baby. I guess that's what's meant by being in love.
Blanche: I - I - I took the blows... on my face and my body. All of those deaths, the long parade to the graveyard. Father, Mother, Margaret, that dreadful way... You just came home in time for funerals, Stella. And funerals are pretty compared to deaths. How do you think all that sickness and dying was paid for? Death is expensive, Miss Stella. And I, with my pitiful salary at the school... Yes, accuse me. Stand there and stare at me, thinking I let the place go. I let the place go? Where were you? In there with your Polack.

Stella: Blanche, be still. That's enough.
Stanley: Hello... Yeah, Mac... What?

Blanche: Take your hands off me, Stella. What's the matter with you?

Stanley: [turns to Blanche] Will you shut up!

[turns back to the phone]

Stanley: No, we got a noisy woman in place... Look, I told you I don't want to bowl at Riley's. I had a little trouble with Riley last week. I'm the team captain, ain't I? All right. Then we're not gonna bowl at Riley's. We're gonna bowl at the West Side or at the Gate, and I'll see you.

[hangs up the phone]
[Blanche turns on the radio and the music begins. She dances]

Steve: What do you say, Mitch?

[Mitch turns to Blanche]

Stanley: Come on, Mitch, are you in?

Mitch: What? No, I'm out!

Stanley: [to Blanche] Who turned that on in there?

Blanche: I did. Do you mind?

Stanley: Well, turn it off!

Steve: Come on, will you? Let the girls have their music?

[Stanley goes to their room, angrily and turns off the radio]

Blanche: Stanley!

[He turns to Blanche and goes back to Steve and Pablo at the Poker]

Stanley: There you are. I didn't hear your name it!

A Streetcar Named Desire Quotes

Extended Reading

A Streetcar Named Desire short comments

Rosella 2021-12-08 08:01:38

How does society force people who are sensitive but don’t want to follow the rules to destruction
Meagan 2021-12-08 08:01:38

Blanche has "the limitations of the age and class" in all senses. She must always maintain her youth and beauty, and then practice the lady's virtues of reserved and balanced sentiment, so as to capture the respect and love of men, and it will be complete... …Otherwise she would have nothing. This attitude towards life has been the machine for female tragedies in ancient and modern times, and at home and abroad, the younger sister lived to understand that her appearance and family background would change.