Theme Of Delusion In A Streetcar Named Desire

In the play “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams, Blanche DuBois revolves around fantasy and shuts out any form of realism. A heavy theme that is throughout the play is the focus on Blanche’s incompetence to distinguish fantasy from reality. Blanche often uses her imagination as a defense mechanism from her pain from loss and from dangers. This imagination is so vivid that Blanche is able to create a reality where almost anything can happen. Blanche’s addiction to alcohol is common throughout the play and serves as a key factor to her delusions.
Blanche Dubois experiences tremendous pain through her experience with losing countless people in her life through death. Through the loss of family members and her husband, the reader can

In scene six the reader is exposed to just how severe Blanche’s delusions during her date with Mitch when she states, “We are going to be very Bohemian. We are going to pretend that we are sitting in a little artists’ cafe on the Left Bank in Paris!” (pg.88) from first glance, it may not seem delusional, however she immediately puts herself into the situation by speaking in French as if she were genuinely in France “Voutez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?” (pg.88) this scene is a key factor in showing just how simple it is for Blanche to put herself in a fantasy world. Notably, Blanche uses these delusions to create an image of herself such as making herself appear to be younger than she legitimately is. Blanche achieves this by wearing white to appear innocent and makes sure to never show herself in the light. In scene nine Mitch break her world of fantasy by stating, “Mitch “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in the light [Blanche laughs breathlessly] That’s a fact!” (pg. 116) Blanche quickly tries to protect herself by saying “Who’s fault is that?” this attempt to blame Mitch is a symbol of her want to keep people in the dark and her denial of reality. Blanche blatantly expresses her desire of ignoring the truth in scene nine by saying, “I don’t want realism. I want magic!” (pg.117) it goes far beyond her fear of her age is shown. This proves that she rejects world for what it truly

Through alcohol, Blanche can effortlessly put herself into a delusional state. In scene one, Stanley asks Blanche if she had a shot and she responds she “rarely touches the stuff” Stanley sees right through her and reciprocates with “Some people barely touch it, but it touches them often.” (pg. 30) simply showing that Stanley isn’t going to fall for her tricks. In scene five after Stanley called Blanche out for her actions in Laurel she uses alcohol to calm her nerves telling Stella, “A shot never does a coke any harm!” (pg. 92) proving that she feels calmer and more collected with her thoughts after having a shot of whiskey in her coke. Throughout the play, the reader has an understanding of Blanche’s problem however it isn’t until scene ten when the reader exposed to Blanche’s broken mental state that they see the true effects of her alcoholism. As proven in the stage directions [As the drinking and packing went on, a mood of hysterical exhilaration came into her and she has decked herself out in a somewhat soiled and crumpled white satin evening gown and a pair of scuffed silver slippers with brilliants set in their heels.] (pg. 122) after the losing Mitch’s trust Blanche completely succumbs to alcohol and is dissolve in a total delusional