A Streetcar Named Desire is a play by Tennessee Williams that was first performed in 1947. The play 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 in Mississippi after her husband’s death. Blanche arrives in New Orleans to stay with her sister Stella and brother-in-law Stanley.
Blanche is immediately attracted to Stanley, but he is repelled by her. Stanley soon begins to suspect that Blanche is hiding something and starts to question her closely. Blanche eventually reveals that she has lost her job and all of her money, but Stanley doesn’t believe her. Things come to a head when Blanche accuses Stella of being unfaithful to Stanley. Stanley angrily rapes Blanche, and she is later found dead.
One of the most important aspects of A Streetcar Named Desire is the symbolism that Williams uses. Some of the most notable symbols include:
– the streetcar itself, which is named Desire
– Blanche Dubois, who represents desire and temptation
– Stanley Kowalski, who represents pure physicality and aggression
– the poker game, which represents the battle between Blanche and Stanley
– Stella Kowalski, who represents innocence and purity.
“Symbols are nothing more than the natural language of drama. ” Tennessee Williams certainly employed symbolism and color in A Streetcar Named Desire, his sensitive tale about fading Southern belle Blanche DuBois and her descent into madness. A streetcar named desire is a moving narrative about declining Southern Belle Blanche DuBois and her slide into insanity, which contains a lot of symbolism as well as creative use of color.
One of the most notable symbols in A Streetcar Named Desire’ is the streetcar itself. The name of the streetcar, Desire, is significant as it embodies Blanche’s desires and also the desires of all the other characters in the play. This is most evident in Stanley Kowalski, who is often characterised as representing raw, primal desire. The streetcar also represents change and progress, which are both threatening to Blanche as she clings to the past.
Another symbol that recurs throughout A Streetcar Named Desire’ is that of light and darkness. Blanche is frequently associated with light, both literally and metaphorically, as she is a very flamboyant and outgoing character. In comparison, Stanley is often characterised as being in the dark, both literally and figuratively. This is most evident when Blanche refers to Stanley as a “animal” with “red eyes”. A Streetcar Named Desire’ can be seen as a struggle between light and darkness, with Blanche trying to hold on to the light while Stanley tries to drag her into the darkness.
Colour is also used symbolically in A Streetcar Named Desire’. For example, red is often associated with passion and violence, both of which are key themes in the play. This can be seen in the scene where Stanley rapes Blanche, which is marked by his shirt being covered in blood from her mouth.
Scene Three is a critical scene in the play. This can be seen when we consider Williams’ decision to call the third version The Poker Party. The action begins with extremely detailed stage directions, and it’s clear that Williams wants the stage to be brightly colored — to reflect the crudeness and forthrightness of the poker players and their surroundings.
The men in this scene are a far cry from the refined gentlemen Blanche DuBois encounters in Scene Two. Williams uses symbolism throughout A Streetcar Named Desire to create layers of meaning and to explore the characters’ motivations. In Scene Three, for example, he uses clothing as a symbol to represent the different worlds that Blanche and the poker players inhabit. The men are dressed in loud, gaudy colours, while Blanche is wearing white – a colour traditionally associated with purity and innocence. This serves to emphasise her vulnerability in the face of the crude and brutal poker players.
Similarly, Williams uses lighting as a symbol to create atmosphere and mood. He often has stark contrasts between light and dark areas on stage, which can be seen as a metaphor for the differences between Blanche and the poker players. Blanche is often surrounded by darkness, which represents her inner turmoil and her descent into madness. In contrast, the poker players are brightly lit, representing their coarseness and lack of refinement.
The yellow linoleum, the bright green glass shade, the blue red and green of the men’s dress shirts – all are vibrant and contrasting, indicating that they are resistant to subtlety and ambiguity, two of Blanche’s key characteristics. She is generally seen in whites and pinks, which makes her seem very delicate and feminine. This will clash strikingly with the color and brightness around her on stage. Williams employs this approach of color to symbolize Blanche’s inability to blend in with her environment.
For example, when she is talking to Mitch, she is in white, the colour of purity. When she is being seductive, she wears red, the colour of passion. Williams also uses light and dark to create symbolism. Blanche is usually in the light, signifying her as being more truthful and honest than the other characters. The darkness usually surrounds the other characters, most notably Stanley. This can be seen in Scene One when Blanche arrives at Elysian Fields. She is bathed in light while Stanley is lurking in the shadows. This emphasises how he is untrustworthy and sinister.
The most famous use of symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire comes from the title itself. A streetcar named Desire refers to Blanche’s wish for a life of passion and love. However, this Desire is not something that she can easily attain, as is represented by the streetcar itself. It is difficult to control and often goes where it wants, just like Blanche’s desire for love. The streetcar also represents the city, with all its temptations and distractions. Blanche is unable to stay in one place for very long, and the same can be said for her desire for love. It continually pulls her in different directions.