Stella states that Blanche’s life has been heavily affected by the death of her husband, Allan. Blanche’s marriage “killed her illusions” which can be interpreted literally. Blanche states that she fell in love “all at once and much, much too completely,” however, her love was unrequited since instead of returning the love Blanche needed, Allan’s homosexuality caused him to seek the comfort of another man, which then led to his suicide when Blanche confronted him. Blanche has been so affected by this experience because of both the depth of her love and because she blames herself. Blanche knows that Allan shot himself because of her words to him, which reveals death to be a major theme in ‘A Streetcar…’ because Blanche is unable to think about his death without with an immense sense of guilt and sorrow.
Williams also uses these deaths to serve the purpose of leading Blanche into what becomes her bleak and dangerous past. Blanche’s explanation of her actions shows how psychologically scarred she is as a result of a life burdened with death. She tells Mitch she lived in a house where “dying old women remembered their dead men” and of how after Allan’s death she sought protection “in unlikely places.” She then reminisces to herself about the bloodstained pillowcases and how the family had become too poor to afford a servant to look after the dying for them. Blanche remembers how she and her mother sat at opposite ends of the room while death was so close and yet they pretended it wasn’t there, acted as if they had never seen or heard of it, which reveals how Blanche’s life revolved around trying to escape from the death and the dying.
Later in the play Blanche significantly talks in detail about her own death to Stella and Eunice whilst waiting for Shep Huntleigh. This speech summarises Blanche’s character as Williams makes use of imagery to show how she will die as a result of eating an unwashed grape. Blanche’s statement shows that she knows that the simplest of things can lead to complicated tragedies and reflects how her own life has been made up of a series of tragic experiences that have gradually built up, resulting in the emotional, melodramatic person Blanche has become. Much of Blanche’s illusions and ideals are mirrored as she discussed her burial. The significance of her wish to be buried at sea shows how she wants to be forgotten so her morbid past can never be dragged up again, for there is no tombstone for those buried at sea. The “clean, white sack” symbolises Blanche’s desire to be considered pure; throughout the play she tries to delude others, such as Stanley and Mitch, into thinking she is untainted and pure of reputation and virtue. Blanche also once again reveals the impact of Allan’s death on her when she claims she wants be dropped into “an ocean as blue as [her] first lover’s eyes”. This simile represents how even at her death she will still be linked with that of Allan’s and how his death had so severely affected her won.
Williams also uses death to explain the actions of Mitch, which are mostly influenced by his desire to please his dying mother. Mitch tells Blanche his mother wants to see him “settled down” before she dies and that Blanche is ideal for him because they both need someone. Mitch’s whole relationship with Blanche is determined on how Mitch believes his mother would feel which he clarifies in the scene where he confronts Blanche about past when he tells her she “isn’t fit” to bring into his mother’s house. Mitch refuses to marry Blanche because he believes his mother wouldn’t approve, although he is equally wounded by the fact that she lied to him.
Mitch also has been affected by death in his life. The first example of this is revealed when he explains to Blanche why his cigarette lighter has on it the inscription, “and if God choose, I shall but love thee better- after death.” He tells her it was given to him by his sweetheart, who knew she was dying when she gave it to him and who he describes as “a strange girl, very sweet”. Blanche then states “the little there is belongs to people who have experienced some sorrow,” which Mitch agrees with, thus revealing that he has been affected by the loss of this girl. This statement also emphasises much of Blanche’s own views on sorrow and explains how it has affected her life since she has made the comment from personal experience.
To conclude, Tennessee Williams’ dramatic use of death and dying is an overarching theme in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ from which everything about Blanche’s character has formed from. Without the death of Allan, Blanche would not have resorted to prostitution and the brief affairs with strangers, also the deaths of her family have driven Blanche to Stella’s where she is “not wanted” and “ashamed to be”. Therefore these dramatic deaths have lead to the past which comes back to haunt Blanche meaning that she can never find happiness until she dies and is forgotten.
