Tennessee Williams' Use of Imagery and Symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire

Tennessee Williams' Use of Imagery and Symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire

Throughout the play symbolism is used to capture attention and to

appeal to viewers' emotions. It is expressed through music, colour and

imagery all of which help to heighten tension and reflect the

atmosphere created by an impending force.

The actions involved in the development of imagery and symbolism in

the characters are, for example, Blanche's sitting, her whisky

drinking, her jumping, etc, actions which show her nervous personality

of a stressed woman. "Blanche sits in a chair very stiffly with her

shoulders slightly hunched and her legs pressed together…as if she

were quite cold…" (page 6). Then her falling or slumping may show,

apart from her stress, her insecurity and unpredictability. Then

Stanley's throwing of the meat to Stella shows the male dominance of

those times, the little respect towards women. Playing poker gives

reference to gambling and therefore risk, maybe the risk of Stanley

losing Stella due to his treatment towards her, the risk of Blanche

being discovered about her lies, or the risk of Blanche ending up

having sex with Mitch or Stanley. When Stanley undresses in front of

Blanche, Williams suggests sexual intentions and the same happens when

Blanche asks Stanley to help her dressing up. This is imagery intended

to make the viewers see that there is more behind these simple tasks

and actions, and that in fact there is almost always more to read into

a Scene (in William's plays) that what is obvious.

A very dominant symbol used throughout the play is music. It portrays

Blanche's headlong descent into disaster, which is inevit...

... middle of paper ...

...nd

throughout the play is highly metaphorical as it illustrates the

dominant Stanley who eventually succeeds in his conquest over the more

submissive Blanche.

The distorted shapes on the walls and the jungle cries, symbolise

human cruelty while the menacing lurid shadows and reflections

increase as Blanche becomes more panicked. It is evidence of her

hysteria and insanity and an indication of the effect that the terrors

of the night Allan died are still with her.

Stanley is the human symbol for the relentless fate that gradually

breaks her down. William's uses imagery and symbolism to great

dramatic effect throughout the whole play, in dialogue and largely in

stage directions, this gives the play a complex story, and when many

hidden symbols and metaphors are discovered, opens many new aspects of

the story.