All 7 Uses of
hysteria
in
A Streetcar Named Desire
- Blanche [with faintly hysterical humour]: They told me to take a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at — Elysian Fields!†
Scene 3.1hysterical = exceedingly funny (resulting in uncontrollable laughter); or exhibiting excessive, uncontrollable emotion
- Stella: Stop this hysterical outburst and tell me what's happened?†
Scene 3.1
- [Blanche utters a moaning cry and runs into the bedroom, throwing herself down beside Stella in a rush of hysterical tenderness†
Scene 3.4
- [Her throat is tightening with hysteria†
Scene 3.9 *
- As the drinking and packing went on, a mood of hysterical exhilaration came into her and she has decked herself out in a somewhat soiled and crumpled white satin evening gown and a pair of scuffed silver slippers with brilliants set in their heels.†
Scene 3.10hysterical = exceedingly funny (resulting in uncontrollable laughter); or exhibiting excessive, uncontrollable emotion
- Blanche [with faintly hysterical vivacity]: I have just washed my hair.†
Scene 3.11
- Blanche finally speaks with sudden hysteria.†
Scene 3.11
Definition:
a state of excessive, uncontrollable emotion
In addition to being the adjective form of hysteria, the form hysterical can also indicate that something is exceedingly funny (leading to uncontrollable laughter)