Moreover, the “animalistic” nature of Stanley and Stella’s relationship is apparent in scene three. Blanche believes that he “acts like an animal” and “has animal’s habits”. Stanley’s sexuality is based upon the belief that males are superior to their female counterparts, he insists on male dominance and behaves as though the apartment is his and his alone. He is the alpha male seeking to not only dominate women but men as well. I personally believe that Stanley derives as much pleasure from being both psychically and mentally in control as he would during his favorite pass times (having sex or playing poker).This has consequently lead me to believe that Stanley feels his quest for total and authority over Stella is threatened by Blanche as it is her presence that causes the dissension between him and his wife. This a very clever use of characterization that Tennessee Williams uses and is very effective as we see how the characters and their different personalities (especially Blanche) and how it leads to her eventual downfall.
In today’s society a man beating his wife is greatly looked down upon (especially since she’s pregnant) Blanche is equally out raged by Stanley’s sudden act of violence and the audience would expect Stella to be to. However, nothing can prepare the audience for Stella’s reaction. After being beaten by her Stanley they are described as staring at each other and then coming ‘together with low, animal moans’. Something about Stanley being at his most beastlike arouses her. Notably, their reconciliation is completely wordless. Stanley doesn’t discuss his feeling, his emotions are exposed in his sudden bursts of anger which he deals with by throwing things and hitting people this creates tension as eventually he is going to explode and someone will get seriously hurt. He doesn’t vow to change his behavior. They make up through a passionate embrace. This use of stage directions indicates that words play as secondary role to their relationship. The bond they share is merely physical and not intellectual. However, Williams makes it clear that does not detract from the love they have for one and other. In a sense Stanley is a megalomaniac who represents a new heterogeneous America that Blanche doesn't belong to.
On the other hand, Blanche’s character is very different from Stanley; loneliness and desire are integral to her being and for a very long time she has used darkness to preserve the illusion of youth and beauty. Blanche has endured many hardships in her life from nursing her family members as they dies to losing the family estate. Sex has often been a coping mechanism for Blanche and her desire leads to her downfall. “A Street Car Named Desire” is didactic as the message Tennessee Williams (a devout Christian) is trying to convey is that sexuality is very dangerous and can sometimes be fatal, which is brilliantly presented though the use of the different characters. The biblical references suggest that god is punishing the fallen woman for her promiscuous ways.
Blanche is very fake much like the contents of her trunk such as: the fake fur, the costume jewelry and the “rhinestones next door to glass” not only show how she uses fantasy to make life more bearable but also highlights how she is desperately trying to cling on to her aristocratic roots. In addition, the props used through out the play have great significance as they give the audience real insight into Blanches “real” character.
Illusion have held Blanche salvage her sanity. She insists that Mitch cover up the naked light bulb with brightly coloured lantern. Her dressing up the light bulb helps the audience envision how Blanche elaborately decorates the truth to try and make it seem better than it is and how she deals with her problems by making belief. “I don't want realism. I want magic” she states, Blanche dismisses anything that could bring her back to reality and instead live shadows were she is shielded from reality. In my opinion lighting is the most important device used in the play as it is through the use of lighting that the audience become aware of Blanche’s deteriorating sanity and just how fragile she is inspite of the façade she puts on.
Blanche is very flirtatious and on the surface appears to be very confident. In reality she is not. Ms.DuBouis is very insecure; she doesn’t like to be seen under the harshness of the light bulb because the light bulb represents the naked truth that she is trying to shun. Her sexual endeavors take place under the protection and solitude of the night and during the day that protection is removed and reality of her actions dawn on her. In the darkness she is free to fabricate what can not be seen and give of the illusion that she is younger than she is and that everything is alright. Blanche recognizes desire but tries to pretend she can not as she can not experience desire separately form shame. Desire has lost her livelihood, her home and has had her chased out of laurel.
Blanche links sexuality with youth and tries to reclaim her lost youth by sleeping with younger men. The audience can sympathize with Blanche as ‘deliberate cruelty is not forgivable’ and is the one thing that sets Blanche and Stanley apart. She may be deluded and have many flaws but she is adamant on this point; she may lie, cheat and steal but never to hurt anyone. Unlike Stanley’s character her intentions are not to hurt anyone she merely wishes to preserve an illusion. Stanley however, is loyal to his friends and passionate to his wife but much like a wild animal he will destroy anything indiscriminately if it threatens his authority. Stanley domineering personality is very off putting for audience members which could lead them to feel guilty for their initial perceptions of Blanche character as for the most part she is unaware of the negative effects her actions have on others.
Symbolism is frequently used in the play to support the underlying themes and messages that are present within the play. A lot of symbolism is used in conjunction with blanches character. When we first encounter Blanche she is dressed in white (a symbol of purity and virginity).Even her name-Blanche when translated into French means white. The prominence of the color white demonstrates Blanche’s quest to reclaim her youth and her virginal status. She wears white and lies about her old fashioned values because she wants to go back to a time when she was young and unshaved by the harsh reality of life.
Her star sign is ironic Blanche is A Virgo (the virgin) she does not only want to reclaim her virginity spiritually but emotionally. Maybe her being a Virgo could mean that she was destined to be pure and sweet?
Could life be blamed for Blanche’s promiscuous ways?
Blanche’s desire is fueled by a yearning for companionship as she is very lonely. Her advances at young men and commenting on how they make her “mouth water”, demonstrates the sheer magnitude of her loneliness and how she desperately seeks quick remedies to appease her loneliness.
Additionally, the soda foaming and spilling out of the bottle is a metaphoric representation of Blanche-the soda stains her white, much like her purity has been stained. She attempts to dab the stain but much like the stain on her shirt she no matter the times she washes it the damage would have already been done. There is no reclaiming her virginity. The spilling of the soda in scene 5 represents her emotions spilling over. It also highlights how she is now out of control and how in the end despite her attempts to suppress it the truth will come out.
Blanche has a habit of bathing; when she appears from the bath, she always announces that she feels like a new person. Her baths are a cleansing ritual she is desperately trying to rid her self of her shame but her sense of refreshment is never long lasting and reality quickly dawns on her. The baths could also be a religious symbolism and could represent baptism. Dirt can quickly be wiped away but her sins have tarnished her soul. Her announcing that she feels like a new person could be her way of stating that she feels like the person that she was meant to be. Her obsession with cleanliness is perhaps fueled by her pursuit of becoming pure, maybe because she feels guilty.
Stage directions are used to present sexuality in a number of ways. In scene one stage directions are used to reaffirm Staley’s dominance and confidence in front of women. His arrogance and bravado is depicted when he tells Blanche that his “clothes’re stickin” to him I she minds if he takes his shirt off. His asking is a mere practicality, he does not even wait for a reply and “he starts to remove his shirt”. This shows that he is very confident even with people who he doesn’t know too well. Stanley is secure with his sexuality and removes his shirt even though he is sweaty. When compare to his friend Mitch we see that there are major differences. Mitch is uncomfortable when removing his jacket and does not bestow the level of confidence that Stanley has.
Tennessee Williams shows how sexuality can cause the demise of a person’s mental capacity if it is not controlled. The story has a tragic ending as Blanche is carried away to the lunatic asylum and Stanley and Stella are left to salvage the remnants of their relationship, ironically their relationship will now be founded on the same principles that lead to Blanche’s mental deterioration- Illusions. I believe that a Street Car Named Desire is still relevant today especially with regards to relationships as some people still struggle to accept when they their partner leaves them for someone of the same sex .it also deal with a controlling figure in relationships which is still as present now as it was when the play was written, in many relationships people find themselves submitting to the more dominant character (like Stella and Stanley).However, attitudes towards divorce have softened and relationships such as these tend to end in divorces.
