Essay On Blanche Dubois In Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire

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Arguably one of Tennessee Williams’ most famous and successful works, A Streetcar Named Desire, illustrates the psychological deterioration of Blanche DuBois. Throughout the play, she proves to be a fraud from the start, weaving an illusionistic image of her reality. The theme of desire is pivotal to the play’s progression, as her internal conflicts of the past and upholding of the Southern tradition serve as catalysts to her deluded and fragile personality. As a result, Blanche’s hope lies in her fantasy world, aiming to salvage her old life in a world of brutality and outside threats. This is further accentuated by the personality of her sister Stella’s husband, Stanley Kowalski, a foil to her delicate femininity. Therefore, her illusions shield against the external threat of reality, allowing her to run away from fears of the future. Hence her use of delusion is likened to that of a coping strategy, not only leaving Blanche broken, but also affecting those around her, with desire being the key to Blanche’s ironic undoing set as she steps off the streetcar named desire. …show more content…

Translating its name from French as a ‘sweet/ beautiful dream’ is indicative of a transformation leading to the demise of the traditional Old Southern society. Her forced to leave for her sister Stella signals this arrival of a new era. In addition, the presence of Stanley serves as a wrench in her plans for reinvention as a lady of the Old South with tenets of respect, innocence and stature is truly a ‘beautiful dream.’ It is Mr. Kowalski’s character that represents the New South, determined to expose Blanche for the fraud she chooses to play with a fragile

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