A Streetcar Named Desire Imagery Essay

In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams uses the elements of symbolism and imagery to create an eerie mood that allows the reader to convey a more descriptive picture of the scene and understand the characters thoroughly. The actions and music involved in the play represent a much more intense meaning and contain symbolism with the use of music, liquor, and light which help the reader to identify the personality and emotions each character is experiencing throughout the play. With the visiting of Stella’s sister, Blanche, Williams uses certain actions taken by Blanche and music to show how she is now haunted from the death of her husband. In the beginning of the novel, the symbolism Williams uses in the opening scene gives the reader more knowledge and foreshadows the actions of the character. Williams displayed

Using symbolism of shadows on the walls, odd noises, and jungle cries symbolizes Blanche’s reality turning into madness. All of these effects combine to dramatize Blanche’s final breakdown and departure from reality in the face of Stanley’s physical threat. When she loses her sanity in her final struggle against Stanley, Blanche retreats entirely into her own world. Whereas she originally colors her perception of reality according to her wishes, at this point in the play she ignores reality altogether. In the academic article by Irina-Ana Drobot, the article states that “characters inner reality is shaped by fictions, fantasies, specific personality traits, or just wishes. Blanche tries to shape other inner reality as she makes use of role-playing, trying to give them a perceptions on herself, which is based on illusions” (Drobot). Blanche can not accept reality and makes the attempt to convince others when only it allows others to see psychological disturbance from the death of her husband haunting her with