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A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee William
Character sketch and Relationship analysis of the main characters
BLANCHE She appears in the first scene dressed in white, the symbol of purity and innocence. Always concerned about her looks and tries to maintain an air of refinement. She is delicate, refined, and sensitive. But, she doesn't want realism; she prefers magic. "I don't want realism. I want magic... I don't tell the truth, I tell what ought to be the truth." Blanche is haunted by traumatic events from her past. She struggles to accept her past and often tries to escape it. Early in her life, Blanche married a young boy who committed suicide. Earlier, her love had been like a "blinding light," and since that night Blanche has never had any light stronger than a dim candle. She felt also that she was cruel to him in a way that Stanley was mean to her. Blanche's entire life has been affected by this early tragic event. Immediately following this event, Blanche was subjected to a series of deaths in her family and the ultimate loss of the ancestral home. To escape from these brutalities and to escape from the lonely void created by her young husband's death, Blanche turned to alcohol and sexual promiscuity. The alcohol helped her to forget. By sleeping with others, she tried to fill the void "Intimacies with strangers was all I seemed able to fill my empty heart with." She refuses to see herself as she is but instead creates the illusion of what ought to be. She even tries to captivate Stanley by flirting with him and using all of her womanly charms. and also tries to draw Mitch's attention by undressing in the light so that he can see the outline of her body. Later one night Stanley rapes Blanche, assuming that she has slept with so many men in the past one more would not matter. The rape is Blanche's destruction as an individual. In all previous sexual encounters, Blanche had freely given of herself. But to be taken so cruelly and so brutally by a man who represents all qualities which Blanche found obnoxious caused her entire world to collapse. As she leaves, she says "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." Thus, Blanche's life ends in the hands of the strange doctor. Her illusions had no place in the Kowalski world and when the illusions were destroyed, Blanche was also destroyed.
Overall, Blanche DuBois is a complex character and central figure in "A Streetcar Named Desire" who uses deception and fantasy to cope with a traumatic past. "A Streetcar Named Desire." Stanley Stanley Kowalski is fascinating and one of the major characters. He lives in a basic, fundamental world which allows no refinements. He can understand no relationship between a man and woman except a sexual one where he sees the man's role as giving and taking pleasure from this relationship. He is seen as common, crude, and vulgar. To the over-sensitive person, such as Blanche, Stanley represents a holdover from the Stone Age. He is brutal and determined to destroy that which is not his. He is like the Stone Age savage bringing home the meat from the kill. He is animal-like and his actions are such. He eats like an animal and grunts his approval or disapproval. When aroused to anger, he strikes back by throwing things, like the radio. Or he breaks dishes or strikes his wife. He is a man of physical action. Even the symbols connected with Stanley support his brutal, animal-like approach to life. In the first scene, he is seen bringing home the raw meat. His language is rough and crude. He is a, ''the gaudy seed-bearer," who takes pleasure in his masculinity. "Animal joy in his being is implicit," and he enjoys mainly those things that are his wife, his apartment, his liquor, "his car, his radio, everything that is his, that bears his emblem of the gaudy seed-bearer." With the appearance of Blanche, Stanley feels an uncomfortable threat to those things that are his. Blanche becomes a threat to his way of life; she is a foreign element, a hostile force, a superior being whom he can't understand. He feels most strongly that she is a threat to his marriage. Thus when the basic man, such as Stanley, feels threatened, he must strike back. Stanley first feels the threat when he finds out that Belle Reve has been lost. He does not care for Belle Reve as a bit of ancestral property, but instead, he feels that a part of it is his. He has lost property, something that belonged to him. Throughout Blanche's stay at his house, he feels that she has drunk his liquor, eaten his food, and used his house, but still has belittled him and opposed him. She has never conceded to him his right to be the "king" in his own house.
Mitch
In Tennessee Williams' classic drama "A Streetcar Named Desire," Mitch is a complex character who plays a significant role in the story. He is one of Stanley Kowalski's poker buddies and becomes a potential love interest for Blanche DuBois, the play's protagonist. Mitch is a central character who undergoes a notable transformation as the play progresses. Mitch is initially portrayed as a kind, gentle, and sensitive man. He stands out from the other poker players in Stanley's circle due to his considerate nature. He gets easily manipulated by Blanche's fabricated stories and illusions. He is genuinely attracted to her and believes in her idealized version of herself. His vulnerability and desire for love make him an ideal target for Blanche's attempts to escape her troubled past. Mitch struggles with his growing feelings for Blanche as he learns more about her past. When he discovers the truth about her promiscuous history and her marriage, he faces a moral dilemma. He is torn between his feelings for Blanche and his sense of right and wrong. As the play progresses, Mitch undergoes a transformation. He confronts Blanche about her deceptions and ultimately rejects her. This transformation symbolizes the loss of innocence and idealism in the face of harsh reality. Mitch's decision to break ties with Blanche is a pivotal moment in the play. Mitch can also be seen as a symbol of the reality that Blanche desperately wants to escape. His rejection marks the end of her illusions and her descent into madness. Mitch represents the crushing force of truth and reality in the play.
- Tragic Figure: Like the other characters in the play, Mitch can be considered a tragic figure. He is unable to find love and happiness, and his disillusionment with Blanche adds to the overall sense of tragedy that permeates the story. In "A Streetcar Named Desire," Mitch serves as a foil to the other characters, particularly Blanche. His moral struggle and eventual rejection of her play a significant role in the unfolding of the story's tragic elements.
The relationship between Mitch and Blanche
In Tennessee Williams' iconic play "A Streetcar Named Desire," the relationship between Mitch and Blanche is a complex and pivotal one. Mitch is one of Stanley Kowalski's poker-playing buddies and represents a more sensitive and gentle side compared to the aggressive and brutish nature of the other men in the play. Blanche, on the other hand, is a fading Southern belle who comes to stay with her sister Stella and Stanley in New Orleans. At first, Mitch and Blanche seem to have a genuine connection. They are both lonely individuals in their own ways. Blanche is desperate for emotional support and security, while Mitch is looking for a meaningful and lasting relationship. They are drawn to each other as they both share a sense of vulnerability and a desire for love and connection. However, their relationship becomes strained as Mitch discovers more about Blanche's troubled past, including her promiscuity and her lies. This leads to a growing sense of disillusionment in Mitch, and he ultimately rejects Blanche when he learns the truth about her past. This rejection is a significant turning point in the play and contributes to Blanche's descent into madness. The relationship between Mitch and Blanche highlights the themes of illusion and reality in the play. Blanche creates an illusion of purity and refinement to shield herself from the harsh realities of her life, and Mitch initially buys into this illusion. When the truth is revealed, it shatters the illusion and exposes the harsh reality, leading to the tragic outcome for Blanche. Overall, the relationship between Mitch and Blanche is one of hope and disappointment. Mitch represents a potential escape from Blanche's troubled past, but ultimately, their relationship is doomed because it cannot withstand the weight of Blanche's illusions and lies, making it a crucial element in the overall tragedy of "A Streetcar Named Desire."
The relationship between Stella and Stanley Kowalski
The relationship between Stella and Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire" is marked by intense passion, conflict, and dependency. At the beginning of the play, it is evident that Stella and Stanley share a passionate and physical connection. Their chemistry and attraction to each other are undeniable, and their relationship is fueled by their sexual desire. However, this passion often leads to volatile arguments and physical fights, with Stanley's aggressive and domineering nature causing tension between them. Stella seems to be deeply attached to Stanley, despite his violent outbursts and controlling behaviour. She frequently forgives him and returns to him after their arguments, which suggests a level of dependency on him. Stella's willingness to overlook Stanley's flaws can be seen as a reflection of her desire to maintain the security and familiarity of their relationship, as well as her fear of being alone. Stanley, on the other hand, represents the brutish and primal aspect of desire. He is possessive and controlling, which creates a power dynamic in their relationship. Stanley's actions, particularly his treatment of Stella's sister Blanche, ultimately lead to a dramatic and tragic climax in the play. Overall, the relationship between Stella and Stanley in "A Streetcar Named Desire" is a complex portrayal of desire, dependency, and the destructive forces that can be unleashed in a passionate and tumultuous relationship. Their relationship is a central element of the play, and it serves as a powerful commentary on the human condition and the way desire can both bring people together and tear them apart.
