Essay on the character of Blanche Dubois in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'
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Course
Unit 1 - Drama
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
An essay on presentation of the protagonist Blanche Dubois in Tennessee William's 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Written by a current university student that achieved an A* in English Literature A level by memorising these essays which are structured in an easily accessible, colour-coded, bulleted for...
Essay Plan: How far do you feel sympathy for the character of Blanche in ‘A Streetcar Named
Desire’? [1000-1250 words]
Introduction:
Williams’ domestic tragedy ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ opens with the protagonist, Blanche
Dubois, arriving at her sister’s apartment in Elysian Fields for a protracted stay. It transpires
that her reason for doing so is because she has been living beyond her financial means as an
English teacher and subsequently “lost” her ancestral home and former slave plantation of
Belle Reve. Williams portrays Blanche as a fundamentally flawed character, but still
deserving of some degree of sympathy for the unfortunate events that proceed in the play.
Point 1:
It is possible for the audience on the outset of the play to feel sympathy for Blanche
when she is initially introduced.
This is due to William’s stage directions that employs the light motif to convey
Blanche’s vulnerability by characterising her as a “moth” that must “avoid a strong
light” as moths are immolated by direct light.
This comparison foreshadows Blanche’s future to be as tragic as a moth being burnt
alive by light and has a double meaning: Blanche’s “delicate beauty must avoid a
strong light” to avoid bringing attention to her fading looks, and she must “avoid”
the symbolic “light” the truth of her past may shine and ruin her prospects of a fresh
start. Suggests Blanche is the tragic heroine of the play.
Williams utilises this extended metaphor to emphasise Blanche’s vulnerable and
fragile nature which evokes sympathy in the reader, e.g. Mitch aggressively “tears
the paper lantern off” Blanche’s light to expose her true age before trying to sexually
assault her.
In addition, Williams notable describes Blanche as “incongruous to the setting”
which relates to the permeating theme of social class and division in the play.
Context: Blanche represents old America as she is accustomed to her affluent
upbringing as part of the aristocracy and struggles to adjust to the meritocratic New
America centring around the ‘American Dream’ that you reap what you sow, which
Stanley embodies and Stella, in contrast to her sister Blanche, manages to adapt to.
Members of the audience at the time may have identified with this issue of moving
with the times as things got more progressive.
Point 2:
However, upon entering her sister’s apartment, Blanche can be seen as a character
who is presented by Williams in ambivalent terms, since her character faults begin to
emerge. This is shown in the first scene in her troubled relationship with alcohol-
that she may rely on it as a source of solace and it also highlights Blanche’s
mendacious quality as she is inclined to help herself to a drink and later put on false
naivety regarding it.
She disingenuously remarks “you must have some liquor on the place! Where could
it be I wonder?” and “No, one’s my limit,” after consuming more than one drink-
showing her duplicitous nature.
Also suggests alcohol is a source of solace to Blanche which hints towards a dark past
she is trying to escape.
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