Depend on the Kindness of Strangers
This expression rings with a mixture of hope, helplessness, and perhaps a touch of tragic naiveté, originating from Tennessee Williams’s famous play, A Streetcar Named Desire (1947). One worn suitcase, a fragile state of mind, and Blanche DuBois laments with a hint of resignation: “Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”
🧐 What Does It Mean?
In essence, to “depend on the kindness of strangers” means to rely on the goodwill and benevolence of people one does not know. Often, it implies a hint of vulnerability, desperation, or over-reliance on unpredictable sources of kindness.
📚 Literarily Speaking:
This phrase has transcended its original narrative confines to paint broader strokes on the canvas of human experiences. While Williams’s depiction of Blanche carries tragic undertones, others can infuse it with hopeful hues. Sue Miller, in her novel The Lake Shore Limited (2010), twists the phrase into modern realities by echoing that dependability on strangers doesn’t end on friendly terms.
🤦♂️ Since Kindness of Strangers May Vary:
Similar Idioms & Phrases:
- Out of the frying pan, into the fire: Decisive steps are needed sometimes, don’t put your odds with just anyone.
- At the mercy of events: Reflects another facet of being uncontrolled and hoping for good outcomes.
Antonyms:
- Self-reliance: Douglas Adams called it “the richest asset” in his sci-fi universe, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
- Independence: As philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre would advocate, carry your own existential weight.
Proverbial Insights:
“Fine feathers make fine birds.” This could pinpoint how outward appearances sway kindness but promises nothing substantial.
🎬 Pop Culture Moments:
- A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) Movie: Watch Vivien Leigh embody Waspy fragility.
- Disney’s Cinderella (1950): A more optimistic spin watching how transient help leads to a glass slipper and more.
📚 Recommended Reads:
- A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams: Where it all started.
- The Lake Shore Limited by Sue Miller: For the more modern hitches on strangers’ dependability.
🎧 Enjoy Tunes That Echo the Sentiment:
- Lean on Me by Bill Withers
- Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
✍️ Fun Parlances to Know:
- To bark up the wrong tree: Depending on solutions nowhere near the mark.
- Last-hope limo: Humorously refer to when all dependable sources have gone, awaiting an infant chance.
In the tapestry of language and literature, idioms like “depend on the kindness of strangers” enrich our perspectives. They remind us poignantly of shared humanity and the fluctuations between reliance and self-dependence.
Farewell, dear reader, as you wander through an intricate linguistic landscape where vulnerability and humanity intersect, cherish the kindness of those around—but never lose sight of your own strength!
— L. Trueheart Tidbit October 2023
