How To Quote a Play

Do not use floating quotations--do not just stick quotes into a paragraph with no setup or lead-in.

How to quote a play in MLA:

Quote a monologue (one character's speech) or one side of a piece of dialogue by simply including a lead-in, enclosing the exact wording in quotation marks and adding a citation. Add a comma before the quotation. Example: To impress the successful Bernard, Willy exaggerates his son Biff's success, "Well, he's been doing very big things in the West. But he decided to establish himself here" (Miller 23).

Quote a long monologue (four or more lines) delivered by a character by setting it off in block format. This means that, instead of enclosing it in quotation marks, you put the quotation on a separate line from the lead-in and indent it 10 spaces. For block quotes, end the lead-in with a colon. Don't forget to cite it. Example: Willy continues his delusional discussion with the nonexistent

BEN. Without a penny to his name, three great universities are begging for him, and from there the sky's the limit, because it's not what you do, Ben. It's who you know and the smile on your face! It's contacts, Ben, contacts! The whole wealth of Alaska passes over the lunch table at the Commodore Hotel, and that's the wonder, the wonder of this country, that a man can end with diamonds here on the basis of being liked! (Miller 22)

Quote sets of dialogue between two or more characters by also using block format and putting the characters' names in all capital letters. Don't forget a lead-in and a citation that includes all speeches being quoted. Example:
Willy's delusions consistently show how much Happy and Bernard idolized Biff, especially when they argue over who will carry his football gear:
BERNARD. Biff, I'm carrying your helmet, ain't I?
HAPPY. No, I'm carrying the helmet.
BERNARD. Oh, Biff, you promised me.
HAPPY. I'm carrying the helmet. (Miller 34)