Stanley Kowalski lives in a world without refinements and is the antagonist to Blanches world of illusions. Blanches dislike of reality explains her love for literature. “Never arithmetic sir; never arithmetic.” This distinguishes a link between the character and the author. Blanche is a highly literate character, which shows in her use of archaic language, usually found only in literature. “I ran out – all did!” Blanche views the world as a fairytale and is often lost between reality and the 19th century books she reads. This gives Blanche a distorted view of reality; she views things how they should be, and not how they are. However her neurotic and genteel pretensions are no match for Stanley’s harsh realities, leading finally to her destruction.
Blanches imagery of light opposes the dark, and her speech of the enlightenment project defines herself as the past and Stanley as the dangerous, yet inevitable, future. “In this dark march toward whatever it is we’re approaching.” This creates a strong conflict between romanticism and rationalism. Blanche is a romantic and leads a contrasting lifestyle to that of Stanley and Stella. Stanley tolerates nothing but the unblemished truth and through his crude and vulgar attitude causes mental and moral disintegration. “I don’t want realism, I want magic.”
Blanche refers to Darwin’s theory of evolution to explain Stanley’s motives. Stanley views women in a limited capacity and is only content when he has his basic needs fulfilled. Blanche suggests evolution is taking place due to culture, and that only ‘the fittest will survive.’ It is the light of civilisation vs. the darkness of the ages.
Blanche is explicitly related to the Virgin Mary. “The blue of the robe in the old Madonna pictures.” Symbolism has been implicit throughout the play, yet here Williams makes it explicit, marking his point significantly. The Virgin Mary was looked down on for having a child before marriage, as Blanche is looked down on because of her nymphomania, and Allan killed due to his homosexuality – despite all three being innocent. This comparison to Mary elevates Blanche as a universal character. Stanley rapes Blanche and gets away with it because society is unjust.
Blanches introspective account of Allan’s death is told in chronological order, until the climax. “It was because – on the dance floor.” This is in retrospect because it is the turning point in Blanches life and clarifies her reason for madness.
Blanche is purified by her experiences; her constant washing is a sign of her guilt. She feels morally unclean for causing Allan’s death and sees herself as having ‘Allan’s blood on her hands.’ “That unwashed grape has transported her soul to Heaven.” Blanche is consumed by guilt; something Stanley’s animalism prevents him from feeling. Blanche and Stanley are polar opposites. Blanche is a humanist and believes in human goodness. “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” Blanche is too trusting for her own good. Williams is making the point that after traits such as the Holocaust and Hiroshima you really are mad to believe in the help of strangers. Blanche is naïve to think like this and in this sense she truly is mad.
Blanche is seen as a threat to Stanley and Stella’s marriage. It is socially and economically necessary for Stella to carry on with Stanley. “I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley.” This links to Marxism; it is essential for Stella and Stanley to stay together for the future of the family, even though Blanche is Stella’s flesh and blood. Stella knows deep down that Stanley raped Blanche but is unwilling to accept it, as it would break up her stable life.
Blanche undergoes and element of transformation, as If she were becoming an iconic sculpture. “Following the sculptural lines of her body.” This representation of Blanche being reduced to a mere statue of her former self makes her a work of art. Blanche is finally disappearing completely from reality in herself. This shows her romanticism.
Blanche Dubois is classed as mental because her actions differ to the social expectations. Her promiscuity is socially frowned upon as well as her relationship to a homosexual. Blanche has been scarred by the emotional events in her life that she is unstable and dead on the inside, but yet not insane. Society has put her in an asylum because it is unjust. “There wasn’t no other place for her to go.”
The fight between Stanley and Blanche is over before it even began. Blanche could never prevail over society and its views. Tennessee Williams was driven by moral vision and proves that old civilities are in decline. Stanley’s animalism is the future. Humanism is beaten down by sexual desire, the origin of all men.