A Streetcar Named Desire is a play written by Tennessee Williams in 1947. The story is set in the French Quarter of New Orleans and tells the story of Blanche DuBois, a woman who has been forced to leave her home after she loses her job and her husband. Blanche moves in with her sister Stella and her brother-in-law Stanley. Blanche is quickly overwhelmed by Stanley’s brutishness and soon finds herself on the brink of losing everything.
One of the most important symbols in A Streetcar Named Desire is the streetcar itself. The streetcar is named Desire because it represents the desire that everyone has for something or someone. For Blanche, the streetcar represents her desire for love and attention. She is attracted to the idea of the streetcar and the possibilities it represents. The streetcar also represents the dangers of desire, as it can quickly take Blanche away from what is safe and stable in her life.
Another important symbol in A Streetcar Named Desire is Stanley’s poker game. Stanley hosts a poker game every week at his house, and it quickly becomes a place where Blanche is uncomfortable. The poker game is a symbol of the danger that Stanley poses to Blanche. It is a place where she can be easily manipulated and where her vulnerability is on display. The poker game also represents the power that Stanley has over Blanche.
“Symbols are nothing but the natural language of drama…the purest language of plays,” Tennessee Williams once stated (Adler 30). This is clearly seen in A Streetcar Named Desire, one of Williams’ many dramas. It’s critical to use both the literal text and the symbols of the narrative to get a full and accurate picture of Blanche DuBois, the protagonist.
One such symbol is the title of the play itself. A Streetcar Named Desire can be interpreted in multiple ways. On one hand, it could refer to Blanche’s actual streetcar ride from her old home to Elysian Fields, the new home of her sister Stella and brother-in-law Stanley.
It could also represent Blanche’s yearning for a life she can only imagine, one that is more genteel and refined than the reality she faces. The name of the streetcar itself is also significant; Blanche is literally riding on a vehicle that represents desire. Finally, the title could be interpreted as a reference to all of the characters in the play, each of whom are driven by their own desires.
Another important symbol in A Streetcar Named Desire is Blanche’s last name, DuBois. This is significant because it hints at her duality as a character. On the one hand, she is white and represents Southern aristocracy. On the other hand, she is of mixed race due to her mother’s indiscretion and therefore her connection to the lower classes. Her name signifies that she is always torn between these two worlds and can never really belong to either.
One of the most blatant symbols in A Streetcar Named Desire is alcohol. Blanche drinks an excessive amount throughout the play, often using it as a way to escape her problems. It is clear that alcohol has a strong hold over her and that she relies on it heavily for both physical and emotional relief. In particular, Blanche’s drinking is a way to numb her pain and to avoid dealing with the realities of her life.
Finally, one of the most important symbols in A Streetcar Named Desire is Blanche’s sexuality. She is a very sensual woman and she clearly enjoys sex. However, she is also deeply ashamed of her sexual appetite and does everything she can to hide it from others. She is afraid that if people know the true extent of her desires, they will see her as a dirty, sinful woman. Consequently, her sexuality becomes a source of great conflict for her.
Before one can comprehend Blanche’s personality, it is important to know why she leaves her home in Alabama and moves to New Orleans with her sister, Stella, and brother-in-law, Stanley. By looking at the symbolism in the first scene, you may figure out why Blanche moved. A moth appears in the opening sequence “to indicate a moth” (Williams 96). The soul of a person may be represented by a moth. As a result, her entire trip might be seen as an exploration of her spirit (Quirino 63).
When Blanche arrives, she is carrying all her belongings with her. “She wore a flimsy, filmy dress through which the sunlight shone and it was as though she had nothing on underneath” (Williams 97). This can be interpreted as Williams showing how transparent Blanche is. She is not hiding anything from the world.
She is also very delicate, just like a moth. When Stanley questions her about why she’s in New Orleans, she tells him a story which may or may not be true. “I came down here to forget my troubles” (Williams 98). It’s possible that Blanche is running away from something, but it’s also possible that she’s just looking for a new start.
In the second scene, Blanche is talking to Stella about her past. Blanche reveals that she was married once, but it didn’t last long. “We were too much alike. We drank too much and quarreled all the time” (Williams 103). A possible interpretation of this is that Blanche is a very passionate person and when she gets upset, she drinks and argues a lot.
Later in the scene, Stanley comes home and starts making advances towards Blanche. She rejects him at first, but he doesn’t back down. “I’m not accustomed to being refused” (Williams 108). Eventually, Stanley rapes Blanche. This event has a huge impact on her psyche.
Blanche’s description of her trip, later in the same scene, is as follows: “They instructed me to take a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and travel six blocks before disembarking at Elysian Fields” (Quirino 63). This does not appear to contribute much to the tale if taken literally. If you look into Blanche’s background, you may truly comprehend what this quotation means. Because Blanche’s existence was a misery in her former home, she left it in order to join her sister.
Blanche is a victim of her own desires and, as a result, her life spiraled out of control. The streetcar journey that Blanche takes can be seen, then, as a symbol of her descent into madness. The name of the streetcar, Desire, represents what led to Blanche’s downfall, while Cemeteries and Elysian Fields represent the places where she will end up as a result of her reckless behavior.
Williams utilizes symbolism throughout A Streetcar Named Desire to add depth to the story and help readers better understand the characters’ motivations. By exploring the meanings behind these symbols, readers are able to gain a more in-depth understanding of A Streetcar Named Desire and the complex characters that populate it.
