quotes

• Blanche's 'appearance is incongruous' with Elysian fields.
• Blanche's 'delicate beauty must avoid a strong light', linking to the theme of fantasy v reality.
• Stella and the audience see Blanche's obsession with her appearance in Scene One. 'don't you look at me [...] not 'til I've bathed [...] turn that over light off'.
• Blanche reveals she's on the 'verge of lunacy' and when Belle Reve was lost, she 'stayed and struggled' and 'bled for it'.
• As tensions grow in Scene One with the revelation of Belle Reve's loss, 'the music of the blue piano grows louder'.
• The men arrive in and are described in stage directions as having 'animal joy' and 'rough humour' and enjoying 'crude images'.
• Stanley is told by Stella about the loss of Belle Reve when 'Blanche is bathing' and Stanley is infuriated and demands to 'see the papers'.
• Stanley's anger over assuming Stella has been 'swindled' led to his outburst where he 'stalks', 'hurls' and 'kicks' in the stage directions.
• Blanche leaves the bathroom 'all freshly bathed and scented' but is forced to 'answer all questions' from Stanley's 'judicial air'.
• Stanley takes 'the poems a dead boy wrote' to Blanche, perhaps hinting to the audience about her unsavory past, creating pathos in her clear anger and upset.
• Blanche finds out about the 'baby' and 'the blue piano sounds louder', emphasising the growing tension and the realisation that there is not enough room for Blanche in their new life and family.
• The men play poker and Stanley tells Mitch to 'get off the table', with Mitch challenging him by addressing his 'high horse', establishing himself as different to Steve and Stanley.
• The theme of male domination is introduced through the 'loud whack of his hand on her thigh', foreshadowing later violence towards the sisters.
• Blanche meets Mitch and jokes around with Stella but accidently starts 'standing in the light!' which scares her.
• Blanche and Mitch converse about death and how 'sorrow makes for sincerity' which contradicts Blanche as she lies to him about only ever having 'one drink' despite the audience witnessing her excessive drinking.
• Stanley's described as a 'drunk-animal thing' which is revealed completely when the audience hear the shocking 'sound of a blow'.
• Stanley begs for Stella back, somewhat challenging dominant male stereotypes. Like Blanche, he bathes and then becomes repentant, calling 'Stella! Stella, Sweetheart!'
• The toxic relationship sees Stanley and Stella reunite and 'come together with low animal moans', suggesting Stella is animalistic too in her compliance with Stanley's actions and violence.