BLANCHE DUBOIS
Key Character Development Points
White stands for purity, innocence and virtue, the symbolism of Blanche‘s first name reveals these qualities, which stand in contrast to her actual character traits. The name suggests th
image which she tries to create for herself suggests these traits. In order to maintain her apparent social status among her new neighbours and friends, she builds this intertwined net o
this imaginary world, and as soon as there is the slightest sign of its destruction, she seems to be lost, and her nervous condition worsens. All she cares about is to keep that image alive
opposite of Blanche’s true nature and character.
Her last name is in contrast to her first name. ‘Made of wood’ suggests something solid, the exact opposite of her fragile nature and nervous condition. However, wood can also be asso
becomes clear. Her former life was more like a jungle or a forest, as it was hard to see through all this and detect the real Blanche. As in a jungle, Blanche could not find a way out of thi
ten, when Stanley is about to rape Blanche, “the inhuman jungle voices rise up” (Williams 215). The jungle can be associated with wildness, brutality and inhuman behaviour. ‘Du’ deno
contradiction in these two terms which can be explained with the nature of her character. The way Blanche tries to create an aristocratic and sophisticated image of herself, but is in fac
she seems pure and innocent, but is really tough and calculating when concerning her image and her search for a husband.
When Blanche appears, however, she is described in detail, not only her clothes but also the impression she gives of delicacy and vulnerability. As we read on, her appearance becomes
figure, a face of delicate fading beauty is described in the stage directions and the readers also gather further information about her from the other characters’ comments. Her complex
we become aware of her class snobbery. We also learn that she is a heavy drinker. The reasons for her craving for alcohol are implied as we learn about her guilt for her husband’s suici
Key Words Key Quotes
Tragic Heroine “They told me to take a streetcar named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off at—Elysian Fields!”
Vulnerable “I called him a little boy and laughed and flirted. Yes, I was flirting with your husband!"
Delicate “…intimacies with strangers was all I seemed able to fill my empty heart with”
Conceited “After all, a woman's charm is fifty percent illusion”
Narcissistic [Blanche moves back into the streak of light. She raises her arms and stretches, as she moves indolently back to the chair.]
Lustful I can’t stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action.
Ingénue “Why! I’ve been half crazy, Stella! When I found out you’d been insane enough to come back in here after what happened – I started to rush in after you!”
Unchaste [Stella pours the coke into the glass. It foams over and spills. Blanche gives a piercing cry.]
Deluded “I hereby endow you with them! Take them, peruse them – commit them to memory, even! I think its wonderfully fitting that Belle Reve should finally be th
Critical Responses Key Themes
Benjamin Nelson – Blanche’s tragedy manifests itself in Light - The first time that Blanche’s aversion to light The Southern Belle is shown as the product of the white, agrar
the diegetic of the play, making it a universal tragedy (the becomes obvious is in scene one: “And turn that dependent on males as a docile figure.
Blind Mexican Woman is a pertinent example of this) over-light off! I won’t be looked at in this merciless Blanche’s ideals about herself are also completely false, but sh
Bert Cardullo – Blanche’s courting of Mitch mirrors Mary glare.” Women in the Old South had a social and symbolic role, were
Magdalene’s courting of Jesus and her eventual Blanche hides a façade than accept reality. what she needed (see scene 5) and so she tried to marry into t
redemption through it; this is twisted by Mitch’s rejection The lantern can be destroyed, like Blanche’s deceit behind the façade.
of Blanche illusions. Her reaction to light can be regarded as an Tensions and resentments were emerging between Americans
J M McGlinn - Blanche is not the only DuBois who lives in attempt to hide her true nature as well as her the floods of immigrants who wanted to share in the country’s
illusions: Stella is in an illusion too, that she is happy and vanishing beauty and youth. dwindled in importance. Great cotton plantations in the South
free in her life with Stanley Williams prohibits Blanche from the realm of tragic memories of the slavery that had supported them. In A Streetc
Key Character Development Points
White stands for purity, innocence and virtue, the symbolism of Blanche‘s first name reveals these qualities, which stand in contrast to her actual character traits. The name suggests th
image which she tries to create for herself suggests these traits. In order to maintain her apparent social status among her new neighbours and friends, she builds this intertwined net o
this imaginary world, and as soon as there is the slightest sign of its destruction, she seems to be lost, and her nervous condition worsens. All she cares about is to keep that image alive
opposite of Blanche’s true nature and character.
Her last name is in contrast to her first name. ‘Made of wood’ suggests something solid, the exact opposite of her fragile nature and nervous condition. However, wood can also be asso
becomes clear. Her former life was more like a jungle or a forest, as it was hard to see through all this and detect the real Blanche. As in a jungle, Blanche could not find a way out of thi
ten, when Stanley is about to rape Blanche, “the inhuman jungle voices rise up” (Williams 215). The jungle can be associated with wildness, brutality and inhuman behaviour. ‘Du’ deno
contradiction in these two terms which can be explained with the nature of her character. The way Blanche tries to create an aristocratic and sophisticated image of herself, but is in fac
she seems pure and innocent, but is really tough and calculating when concerning her image and her search for a husband.
When Blanche appears, however, she is described in detail, not only her clothes but also the impression she gives of delicacy and vulnerability. As we read on, her appearance becomes
figure, a face of delicate fading beauty is described in the stage directions and the readers also gather further information about her from the other characters’ comments. Her complex
we become aware of her class snobbery. We also learn that she is a heavy drinker. The reasons for her craving for alcohol are implied as we learn about her guilt for her husband’s suici
Key Words Key Quotes
Tragic Heroine “They told me to take a streetcar named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off at—Elysian Fields!”
Vulnerable “I called him a little boy and laughed and flirted. Yes, I was flirting with your husband!"
Delicate “…intimacies with strangers was all I seemed able to fill my empty heart with”
Conceited “After all, a woman's charm is fifty percent illusion”
Narcissistic [Blanche moves back into the streak of light. She raises her arms and stretches, as she moves indolently back to the chair.]
Lustful I can’t stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action.
Ingénue “Why! I’ve been half crazy, Stella! When I found out you’d been insane enough to come back in here after what happened – I started to rush in after you!”
Unchaste [Stella pours the coke into the glass. It foams over and spills. Blanche gives a piercing cry.]
Deluded “I hereby endow you with them! Take them, peruse them – commit them to memory, even! I think its wonderfully fitting that Belle Reve should finally be th
Critical Responses Key Themes
Benjamin Nelson – Blanche’s tragedy manifests itself in Light - The first time that Blanche’s aversion to light The Southern Belle is shown as the product of the white, agrar
the diegetic of the play, making it a universal tragedy (the becomes obvious is in scene one: “And turn that dependent on males as a docile figure.
Blind Mexican Woman is a pertinent example of this) over-light off! I won’t be looked at in this merciless Blanche’s ideals about herself are also completely false, but sh
Bert Cardullo – Blanche’s courting of Mitch mirrors Mary glare.” Women in the Old South had a social and symbolic role, were
Magdalene’s courting of Jesus and her eventual Blanche hides a façade than accept reality. what she needed (see scene 5) and so she tried to marry into t
redemption through it; this is twisted by Mitch’s rejection The lantern can be destroyed, like Blanche’s deceit behind the façade.
of Blanche illusions. Her reaction to light can be regarded as an Tensions and resentments were emerging between Americans
J M McGlinn - Blanche is not the only DuBois who lives in attempt to hide her true nature as well as her the floods of immigrants who wanted to share in the country’s
illusions: Stella is in an illusion too, that she is happy and vanishing beauty and youth. dwindled in importance. Great cotton plantations in the South
free in her life with Stanley Williams prohibits Blanche from the realm of tragic memories of the slavery that had supported them. In A Streetc
