Fantasy and Reality in A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire is a classic tragedy written by
Tennessee Williams, which earned him the Pulitzer Prize as well as many other
awards. This brilliant play explores many important themes and issues. The main
recurring theme Williams explores to the readers is the conflict between
fantasy and reality. However, sexuality, violence, and social differences also
shape the action of the plot, in which they contribute to the effect of the
characters of the play. The three main characters, Blanche Dubois, Stella
Kowalski, and Stanley Kowalski, have different ways of dealing with the said
conflicts in their harsh surroundings in which they live in, as they all face
different crisis.
Blanche, who suffers from emotional and inner conflict, is caught between two worlds and tries to escape reality and the truth as much as she possibly can with her imagination. Stella on the other hand, is a naïve and sensitive character, and she is considered to be the protagonist of the play. Stella tries to ignore what truth is going on around her, and as harsh as they may be, she accepts them. Stanley, who is an aggressive, dominant, and a sexual character, uses violence to receive his desire, no matter the cost. Throughout this play, Blanche, Stella, and Stanley try to survive and deal with reality in different ways in order to satisfy their desire, and each paying a price.
Blanche Dubois is the most interesting character in A Streetcar Named Desire. One reason is that she has an amazing ability of making her fantasy seem like reality. From the beginning of the play, Blanche is already represented as an unstable woman. She has lost her fortune and residence due to creditors, and has turned to her younger sister for nurture. As the play develops, Blanche’s tragic and surprising past is revealed to the readers. When Blanche was a teenager, she had fallen in love and married a young boy named Allan Grey. She later discovers Allan’s homosexuality and when she confronts him about it, he commits suicide. Blanche has been haunted with the guilt of her husband’s death ever since. This perhaps has motivated a lot of her actions.
Allan’s death marked the end of Blanche’s sexual innocence as she is constantly in search of comfort and kindness, which she receives while “meeting with strangers”. She has also lost her job as a schoolteacher when her affair with a student was exposed to the school and the people of Laurel and led to her exile. This shows that Blanche is a social outcast due to her continuous sexual behaviour. As the play develops, the reader can comprehend that Blanche is less proper and superior as she portrays herself to be. Her sexual desire and disgraceful past makes Blanche ashamed of her life and true identity. She is also realising that she is aging very quickly and fears of losing her beauty. Her insecurities and weaknesses lead her to find comfort in a world of illusion which she creates herself, as she refuses to face reality. By creating her own world, Blanche is able to close her eyes on reality and expand her imagination to build the mental self-esteem she needs to survive. She admitted herself when she said “I do not want realism, I want magic!” (Scene 9) that she would rather live in her made-believe world than in the harsh reality surrounding her. Her fantasies force her to lie about her true self to protect her fragile ego. She covers her true image by wearing expensive-looking clothes and perfumes; however they turn out to be cheap evening gowns that she has had for many years. She doesn’t expose herself to the light, because she feels that light is harsh and critical, and that the light exposes the truth she is desperately trying to escape.
As the play progresses, Blanche eventually start believing her own lies. When she plans to telegram the rich Shep Hintleigh, it appears as though her illusions are going a bit too far. This hints that something is amiss with Blanche and that she is mentally unstable. Stanley quickly apprehends Blanche’s abnormal acts and desires to seek about her past. When he uncovers her past, he reveals his findings to Stella, Blanche’s sister, and Mitch, Blanche’s last chance of happiness. Mitch, after being aware of Blanche’s past, no longer wishes to marry such impure woman. This leaves Blanche with no practical happiness. Stanley takes the final strike at her, destroying her psychological and sexual esteem by raping her while Stella is giving birth to her child. Consequently, Blanche is committed to a mental hospital as she is now delirious. In the end, she carelessly leaves their home with a kind doctor, disregarding Stella’s cries. This final image is the sad culmination of Blanche’s vanity and total dependence upon men for happiness.
Blanche, who suffers from emotional and inner conflict, is caught between two worlds and tries to escape reality and the truth as much as she possibly can with her imagination. Stella on the other hand, is a naïve and sensitive character, and she is considered to be the protagonist of the play. Stella tries to ignore what truth is going on around her, and as harsh as they may be, she accepts them. Stanley, who is an aggressive, dominant, and a sexual character, uses violence to receive his desire, no matter the cost. Throughout this play, Blanche, Stella, and Stanley try to survive and deal with reality in different ways in order to satisfy their desire, and each paying a price.
Blanche Dubois is the most interesting character in A Streetcar Named Desire. One reason is that she has an amazing ability of making her fantasy seem like reality. From the beginning of the play, Blanche is already represented as an unstable woman. She has lost her fortune and residence due to creditors, and has turned to her younger sister for nurture. As the play develops, Blanche’s tragic and surprising past is revealed to the readers. When Blanche was a teenager, she had fallen in love and married a young boy named Allan Grey. She later discovers Allan’s homosexuality and when she confronts him about it, he commits suicide. Blanche has been haunted with the guilt of her husband’s death ever since. This perhaps has motivated a lot of her actions.
Allan’s death marked the end of Blanche’s sexual innocence as she is constantly in search of comfort and kindness, which she receives while “meeting with strangers”. She has also lost her job as a schoolteacher when her affair with a student was exposed to the school and the people of Laurel and led to her exile. This shows that Blanche is a social outcast due to her continuous sexual behaviour. As the play develops, the reader can comprehend that Blanche is less proper and superior as she portrays herself to be. Her sexual desire and disgraceful past makes Blanche ashamed of her life and true identity. She is also realising that she is aging very quickly and fears of losing her beauty. Her insecurities and weaknesses lead her to find comfort in a world of illusion which she creates herself, as she refuses to face reality. By creating her own world, Blanche is able to close her eyes on reality and expand her imagination to build the mental self-esteem she needs to survive. She admitted herself when she said “I do not want realism, I want magic!” (Scene 9) that she would rather live in her made-believe world than in the harsh reality surrounding her. Her fantasies force her to lie about her true self to protect her fragile ego. She covers her true image by wearing expensive-looking clothes and perfumes; however they turn out to be cheap evening gowns that she has had for many years. She doesn’t expose herself to the light, because she feels that light is harsh and critical, and that the light exposes the truth she is desperately trying to escape.
As the play progresses, Blanche eventually start believing her own lies. When she plans to telegram the rich Shep Hintleigh, it appears as though her illusions are going a bit too far. This hints that something is amiss with Blanche and that she is mentally unstable. Stanley quickly apprehends Blanche’s abnormal acts and desires to seek about her past. When he uncovers her past, he reveals his findings to Stella, Blanche’s sister, and Mitch, Blanche’s last chance of happiness. Mitch, after being aware of Blanche’s past, no longer wishes to marry such impure woman. This leaves Blanche with no practical happiness. Stanley takes the final strike at her, destroying her psychological and sexual esteem by raping her while Stella is giving birth to her child. Consequently, Blanche is committed to a mental hospital as she is now delirious. In the end, she carelessly leaves their home with a kind doctor, disregarding Stella’s cries. This final image is the sad culmination of Blanche’s vanity and total dependence upon men for happiness.
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