How do any of the quotes below relate to the play A Street Car Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
A good reputation is more valuable than money.
Publilius Syrus (~100 BC), Maxims
For all their strength, men were sometimes like little children.
Lawana Blackwell, The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark, 1999
Man's best possession is a sympathetic wife.
Euripides (484 BC - 406 BC), Antigone
Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Bible, John 8:32
A lie told often enough becomes the truth.
Lenin (1870 - 1924)
Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)
To understand how these quotes relate to the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, it's important to consider the themes and characters in the play.
1. "A good reputation is more valuable than money" - This quote emphasizes the significance of reputation and how it can impact one's life. In A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche DuBois, one of the main characters, carefully upholds her reputation and tries to hide her troubled past. She believes that through maintaining a good reputation, she can secure her place in society.
2. "For all their strength, men were sometimes like little children" - This quote suggests that men, despite their physical strength, can still exhibit vulnerability or emotional immaturity. The character of Stanley Kowalski in the play embodies this idea. Although he is portrayed as a strong and aggressive male, he also demonstrates moments of emotional instability and volatile behavior.
3. "Man's best possession is a sympathetic wife" - This quote highlights the importance of a supportive and understanding partner. In A Streetcar Named Desire, Stella, Stanley's wife, provides emotional support to him throughout the play, often mediating between him and Blanche. Their relationship is portrayed as complex, with Stella trying to reconcile her loyalty toward her sister and her husband.
4. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" - This biblical quote speaks to the idea of seeking and facing the truth, which can lead to liberation. In the play, Blanche struggles with confronting her own truth and avoids facing the realities of her past. Her desperation to maintain the illusion of her idealized self eventually leads to her downfall.
5. "A lie told often enough becomes the truth" - This quote from Lenin suggests that repetition of a lie can eventually make it widely believed. In the play, Blanche is skilled at constructing elaborate lies and fabrications to disguise her past and maintain her desired image. However, the consequences of these lies catch up to her, leading to her mental breakdown.
6. "Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies" - This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson explores the idea that truth and lies can both possess their own kind of beauty. In A Streetcar Named Desire, the characters often grapple with their conflicting desires for truth and the seductive allure of illusion. Blanche, in particular, is captivated by the allure of creating an enchanting facade.
By examining these quotes, we can see how they relate to various themes and characters within A Streetcar Named Desire, shedding light on the complex dynamics and struggles presented in the play.