The Destination In A Streetcar Named Desire

A common saying in our society is “It’s not about the destination, but the journey,” but for many, it’s only about the destination. Commonly, that destination tends to be happiness, content of one’s mind and joy. With this in mind, can we live in a constant state of happiness? Is it possible to achieve happiness without compromising certain aspect of our lives? In the modern play, A Streetcar Named Desire, written by Tennessee Williams, Blanche Dubois is a schoolteacher from Belle Reve, who moves to New Orleans to live with her sister, Stella Kowalski, and brutish brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski. After suffering traumatic events and a troublesome reputation, Blanche is on the pursuit of happiness. Being one of insecurity, she commonly covers herself in illusions to compose a

better reality for herself and to achieve her heart’s content: peace of mind. Ironically, the opposite happens, this characteristic leads her to her downfall and deterioration of her mental health.

Tennessee Williams develops the idea of how an individual would take drastic measures to ensure happiness which can lead them to their downfall; endangering too much of one’s self in order to pursue long term happiness caused severe consequences to unfold and ultimately compromising their happiness in the end.

Blanche Dubois has suffered many losses in her life, such as the downfall of Belle Reve. Translated from French, Belle Reve stands for “a beautiful dream,” symbolizing Ms.Dubois sanctuary. Typically, during a dream, people are joyful and at ease. As a result, when Belle Reve was destroyed, her happiness was eradicated. Furthermore, when she was 16, Blanche was married to Allan Gray, which left a hefty strain on her identity. She had made the mistake of being dazzled by his entry into her life, describing her love as a “blinding light on something that has always been in the shadow.” During their affair, a crude secret emerges from blazing light which had blinded her; Allan Gray had married her as a way to hide his homosexuality. Forever instilled into her subconscious mind,

Blanche made a cruel remark about Gray’s homosexuality that ended with his imminent suicide. Consequently, she suffers the aftermath of this decision, constantly imagining the sound of the gunshot that had killed her beloved, and experiencing hallucinations, such as the one that ensued her horrible reputation; in a way to relive her husband and hunt for serenity, she has a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student,which leads to her exilement from Laurel. These atrocious events lead her to a life of a alcoholism in a way to achieve well-being. Alcohol is a common therapy for numerous others, drinking to fill the void inside and to achieve a facade of happiness. Additionally, by marrying Blanche hopes to escape poverty and the bad reputation that haunts her; achieving this dream, she hopes, will grant her happiness. When she arrives in New Orleans, she is described as “a delicate beauty that must avoid a strong light,” and her outer appearance “suggests a moth.” Blanche attempts to align her image with a pure, virginal women. The description suggests her desire to shun the light; just as a moth dies when it gets too close to the flame, Blanche will die when she is brought out into the light. Since light is symbolic of the truth, it will destroy the illusions she carries with her. DuBois has been shielding herself from the real world ever since, believing her fantasy will lead her to a life of happiness. On the other hand, Stanley Kowalski is already content with his life, before Blanche made an appearance at his home, who ruins his male dominant environment. This destroys his happiness, making his ultimate goal to destroy his sister-in-law’s happiness.