Examine Williams' use of imagery and symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire

KAREN BROADBENT 09/05/2007

Examine Williams’ use of imagery and symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire

Williams uses figurative language in his lengthy stage directions to convey to the reader a deeper, more intense picture than a description alone could express. In the opening stage direction Williams illustrates the area around Elysian Fields. He uses personification to describe “the warm breath of the brown river” (P1). I think this creates an atmosphere that is decaying yet at the same time welcoming and affectionate. This is contrasted by Williams’ depiction of the “tender blue” (P1) sky and the “weathered grey” (P1) houses, suggesting a tension hanging over Elysian Fields. Symbolically Elysian Fields, where Stella and Stanley live is the name of the place in Greek mythology where heroes went after death. They were able to return at any time to Earth if they wished but few wished to return and relinquish the pleasure they had found there. I think Williams uses this to reflect Stella’s life in Elysian Fields. Stella lives in her own kind of paradise which Blanche is unable to see and she has no desire to return to her old life.

Williams in the opening stage directions, introduces the music of the “Blue Piano” (P1). He describes the music as “a tinny piano being played with the infatuated fluency of brown fingers” (P1). This metaphor expresses the proficiency of the pianist and his devotion to his music. Williams states that the “Blue Piano expresses the spirit of the life which goes on [in Elysian Fields]” (P1) and uses this symbolically throughout the play. “The music of the ‘blue piano’ grows louder” (P13) as Blanche informs Stella of the loss of Belle Reve. I think this emphasises that life in Elysian Fields is the only option left for Blanche and also “sounds louder” (P29) as Stanley enlightens Blanche about Stella’s pregnancy. The music is symbolic of typical life for the inhabitants of that part of the city and “plays for a brief interval” (P43) following Stanley’s violent attack on Stella, reinforcing to the audience that Stanley’s violence is part of the way of life in Elysian Fields. It also returns at the end of scene ten when Stanley rapes Blanche.

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The symbolism Williams uses in the opening scene of A Streetcar Named Desire gives the reader more insight into the main characters of the play, makes them more vivid and also hints at the outcome for these characters. Stanley as he enters scene one, “carries … a red stained package from a butcher’s” (P20). I think Williams uses this symbol to illustrate Stanley’s character as an aggressive hunter, he “heaves the package at [Stella]” showing his attitude to his wife. Williams uses animal imagery associated with Stanley to emphasise Stanley’s basic, animal like, territorial character. Stanley is “bellowing” (P2) to Stella, which creates an image of a bull and intensifies the picture of an aggressive animal with “animal joy in his being… implicit in all his movements and attitudes” (P16). Williams uses the metaphor of “a richly feathered male bird among hens” (P16) and a “gaudy seed bearer” in his stage directions to describe Stanley as he enters his apartment. I think this presents the image of a peacock, proud and showy strutting around his territory. The animal imagery associated with Stanley I believe, suggests that he is extremely territorial and will do everything he can to protect his territory from an intruder. I think Williams uses this as an indication of Stanley’s future reaction to Blanche.

Williams uses the symbolism of a moth to introduce the character of Blanche in scene one. “Her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light. There is something about her uncertain manner, as well as her white clothes, that suggest a moth.” (P4). In scene five Blanche tells Stella that she “[has had to] be seductive – put on soft colours, the colours of butterfly wings”(P60) highlighting with this metaphor the imagery of a moth. I think Williams uses the symbolism of a moth to demonstrate Blanche’s fragility, her difficulty to settle and indicates her outcome. A moth is attracted to a light bulb, which destroys it, as Blanche is attracted to men, which in the end will destroy her.

Blanche describes her journey to Elysian Fields in scene one. “They told me to take a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks.” (P4). As more is learnt of Blanche’s life the symbolism of sex and death in the names of the streetcars can be understood. In scene four Blanche acknowledges that “[a streetcar named Desire] brought me here…where I’m not wanted and where I’m ashamed to be”(P53). I think Williams uses the streetcar “Desire” as a symbol for the sexual part of Blanche’s life, which has ruined her. This takes her on to one named “Cemeteries”, which will transport Blanche to Elysian Fields and the end of her free life. Symbolically in Laurel, it was “Mr Graves…the high school superintendent” (P9) who forced Blanche to leave and therefore onto her impending end. The streetcar names are also symbolic of the sexual lives of Allan, Blanche’s husband who committed suicide when his homosexuality was discovered and Stella, whose desire for Stanley traps her into the committal of her sister and a life where violence is accepted. I think Williams is expressing a view that to be driven by desire is self-destructive.

Blanche throughout the play is constantly bathing which becomes another source of irritation for Stanley. Her bathing makes her “feel so good and cool and – rested” (P86) but has to be repeated often. Symbolically Williams uses her bathing as a way for Blanche to cleanse herself of her past and her guilt of Allan’s suicide, but as she cannot rid herself of her past her bathing is never over. The coke that is spilled “right onto [her] pretty white skirt” (P62) in scene five is also symbolic of Blanche’s blemished past. She “gives a piercing cry”(P62) which I think symbolises her intense need to appear unblemished.

Williams uses symbolism also in his choice of names for the DuBois women and their family home. Blanche DuBois ironically means white of the woods, which contrasts with her lost purity but supports the illusion she tries to create of her respectability. “Stella, Stella for Star!” (P30) is the star from the woods. The symbolism Williams is using I think means that Stella is the star who has come out of the woods from her old life into a new one in a new America. Symbolically the family home of Belle Reve meaning beautiful dream has been lost, as have Blanche’s dreams and is no longer the reality.

The blue piano is used by Williams to represent the life in Elysian Fields but he contrasts this with polka music that represents death, the suicide of Allan. Only Blanche and the audience are aware of the polka, which gives the audience an insight into the complex mind of Blanche unlike the other characters in the play. The polka is heard at times when Blanche remembers the suicide of her husband and at times of looming danger for Blanche. “The Varsouviana music steals in softly and continues playing” (P92) as Stanley gives Blanche a Greyhound ticket. I think Williams uses this music to emphasise the terror in Blanche’s mind. It also plays in scene nine as Mitch arrives to confront her about her past. “The music is in her mind; she is drinking to escape it and the sense of disaster closing in on her.” (P95)

Williams uses music again in scene seven to symbolise the conflict between Blanche’s philosophy of living an illusion and Stanley’s desire for truth. As Stanley reveals to Stella the past he has discovered about Blanche, Williams increases the tension is by Blanche’s singing of, “it wouldn’t be make believe if you believed in me” (P80) and Stella is forced to hear the two confronting ideals.

Light is used metaphorically by Williams to represent truth in A Streetcar Named Desire. Blanche demands that Stella should “turn that over-light off…I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare!” (P7) Blanche has much to hide and does not want it illuminating. Blanche says that she has to “put a paper lantern over the light” (P61) a metaphor Williams uses for camouflaging reality. This also relates to Williams’ symbolic use of a moth to represent Blanche, as the truth will damage Blanche as a light can damage a moth. As Mitch ends his relationship with Blanche “he tears the paper lantern off the light” (P99) illuminating Blanche. She tells Mitch that she doesn’t “want realism” (P99), symbolically the paper lantern expressed Blanche’s need for illusion not reality.

Williams also uses the characters in A Streetcar Named Desire themselves as symbols. I think he uses Blanche to represent the old days in America of plantation culture entrenched in slavery. She represents a life that is disappearing, as have Blanches dreams, illusions and the family home. In comparison Stanley is symbolic of the new emerging America where immigrants are part of a vibrant, “raffish”(P1) multi cultural community. Stella is able to survive and become part of the future along with her baby. She gave up the old world to be with Stanley who represents the new America.

The game of poker figures significantly throughout A Streetcar Named Desire and is symbolic of the relationships within the play. Blanche is operating a good bluff up to scene five as Mitch “thinks [she is] sort of – prim and proper” (P63). I think that Williams uses the game of poker to represent the bluffing and tensions, which occur between Stanley and Blanche. Stanley warns Blanche “to interest [him] a woman would have to - lay…her cards on the table” (P25). At the end of the play as Blanche leaves Elysian Fields “Eunice descends to Stella and places the child in her arms” (P124) and Steve declares, “This game is seven-card stud”. Williams uses the poker game to show that Stanley has finished the game with the best hand and won the pot. Stanley has his wife, child, home and friends and Blanche leaves with nothing.