Assess the view that Tennessee Williams use of symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire enhances the audiences understanding of the characters and themes in the play.

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Assess the view that Tennessee Williams’ use of symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire enhances the audiences understanding of the characters and themes in the play.

Tennessee Williams’ uses many literary techniques in A Streetcar Named Desire but the most valuable in constructing the plot and evoking understanding into the audience would be the technique of symbolism. The use of symbolism is effective in the due to the fact that it generates thoughts in the readers mind through a non-verbal narrative. The thoughts produced make it easier for the interpreter to form imagery and relate to the story. Williams use of symbolism help the audience to comprehend the themes and characters.

One way in which symbolism is used is through the medium of light. In the beginning of the play when we learn more about the protagonist, Blanche DeBois, we find that she is not keen on the glare of a “naked light”. Some may interpret this as Blanches’ vain nature present as she fears people will see her faded looks. Her faded looks suggest that she is growing old and maybe the fear is less based on her vanity and in fact that she fears of being forgotten, like her ancestors and Belle Reeve which are both lost. This is further supported by her grasping for attention throughout the play and through conversations, for example when Blanche speaks to Stella she explains that men “…don’t even admit your existence unless they are making love to you.” This also leads to the formation of questions form in the mind of the audience or the reader such as. Is that why Blanche had many encounters with strangers? So she wouldn’t be forgotten? Was it so she felt like somebody, like she wasn’t fading herself? In this aspect light is representative of presence.  

Blanche aims to cover her fading looks by covering the bulb with a paper lantern.  This could be suggestive of trying to cover the truth. Blanche says that she still has a sense of vanity over her looks even though she is aware that her “looks are slipping” suggesting that she’s insecure which would be relatable to the audience. This is significant as Blanche often lies about her age in the play and is portrayed as a compulsive liar. It presents the idea that Blanche lies to achieve the sense of security that she’s missing. But when the audience learn that “the dark is comforting”, this implies the idea of keeping people in the dark so that she may carry on her façade. This all would lead the reader into perhaps forming a conclusion that you would form in façade in a situation where you feel like you don’t comfortable in terms of the way you are, so generally construct a façade to fit in.

However you could argue that Blanche does the opposite and this is demonstrated through the way in which she acts to be superior to others around her. Her acts of superiority are shown through small gestures and when through stage directions the audience become aware that she’s “Fanning herself with a palm leaf” and wearing tiaras. The fact that Blanche has many different attributes makes her conceivably more real in my point of view.

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Through the concept and idea of vanity that Blanche shows could represent every woman, which applies even more in the 21st century where it is clear that vanity and appearance are everyday important issues. Through the way she acts by “Fanning herself with a palm leaf” in that scene indicates that she feels important, which is what everyone initially wants and causes the interpreter to sympathise. When she suggests that she hasn’t put “on one ounce in 10 years” as being a huge accomplishment it evokes the interpreter to reference to magazines articles, especially women’s magazines as they are obsessed ...

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