Light In A Streetcar Named Desire

Words: 769

Pages: 4

Open Document

“You can avoid reality, but you can’t avoid the consequences of avoiding reality” - Ayn Rand. (nice) In the novel A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, light is the symbol of reality which Blanche tries to evade till the very end. She runs and runs away from her reality until it finally gets the best of her. Light is the absence of reality, truth, and self confidence.
To begin with, Blanche refrains from light because of the guilt she feels for her role in the loss of her husband. She blames herself for what happened because of what she had told him before he shot himself. “ It was because on the dance floor unable to stop myself I'd suddenly said "I saw! I know! You disgust me..." (Scene 6, pg.95). The light that vanishes from Blanche’s life when Allan dies represents a …show more content…
The absence of light in this situation was the lack of self confidence that Blanche possessed. She hid her true self from everyone she came across and even her sister who loved her profoundly. She lied, she pretended to be someone she wasn’t, and most of all she refrained from the light that could have salvaged her. Anytime she came across light, she would dim it with paper lanterns to avoid anyone to see her impurity. “ I bought this adorable little colored paper lantern at a Chinese shop on Bourbon. Put it over the light bulb! Will you, please?” (Scene 3, pg.150) Blanche wants to conceal her age and fading beauty from Mitch when she takes this action. She lets her insecurity take over and makes it a habit to cover any light. “ When people are soft--soft people have got to shimmer and glow--they've got to put on soft colors, the colors of butterfly wings, and put a-- paper lantern over the light.... It isn't enough to be soft.” (Scene 5, pg. 79) She goes to extreme measures to hide her true nature and as a result she hurts everyone she encounters with her little white

A Streetcar Named Desire Light Analysis

When thinking about light in a play you are most likely thinking about the physical aspect of the word. In the play “A Street Car Named Desire “it exemplifies both the physical and figurative meanings of the word. As the play progresses light, not only illuminates both the characters’ physical features, light also displays both the mental prowess and deficiencies of the characters throughout the play. Both the physical and mental meanings of the word light, not only add to the creativity and complexity…

Words 745 - Pages 3

Essay on How Does Williams Present the Themes of Illusion and Fantasy in a Streetcar Named Desire?

How does Williams present the themes of illusion and fantasy in A Streetcar Named Desire? The theme of reality vs. fantasy is one that the play centres around. Blanche dwells in illusion; fantasy is her primary means of self-defence, both against outside threats and against her own demons. Throughout the play, Blanche's dependence on illusion is contrasted with Stanley's steadfast realism, and in the end it is Stanley and his worldview that win. To survive, Stella must also resort to a kind of…

Words 895 - Pages 4

Streetcar Hart Crane Essays

study of poems of hart crane and a streetcar named desire ? We are merely confused by the similarities that connect our illusions and realities. Therefore, to understand ones illusion there must be insight to the reality of an individual, and the factors which shape an idealistic illusion. Our concept of reality and illusion existing as interdependent factors is evidently examined and strengthened through the conflicting personas in a streetcar named desire by Tennessee Williams, and through the context of Hart…

Words 1481 - Pages 6

A Streetcar Named Desire Symbolism Essay

A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, is a southern gothic play that was written in 1947. The play follows a middle aged troubled and distraught lady; Blanche. A well-known southern belle born and raised in Mississippi, that soon finds herself in a predicament. Blanche finds herself living in New Orleans with her sister Stella and Stella’s husband Stanley. Feuds and tensions rise in the Kowalski household causing psychotic and mental break downs. As well as forcing the end to many relationships…

Words 745 - Pages 3

The Glass Menagerie Symbolism

Symbolism of Glass and Desire In the book The Scarlet Ibis, by James Hurst, a young, sickly boy named Doodle finds a red bird, a Scarlet Ibis. When the lost, tired, and travel weary Scarlet Ibis dies, lost and far away from home, Doodle buries and mourns him. During a storm, Doodle himself dies with blood dripping onto his shirt. When his older brother finds him, the scene is a juxtaposition to the death of the bird earlier in the story, as Doodle’s brother mourns his fallen “scarlet ibis”.…

Words 967 - Pages 4

A streetcar Essay

A Streetcar Named Desire Symbolism is often used in literature to give a deeper and more profound meaning to seemingly meaningless things in literature. In Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire, symbolism plays an essential role and is used very frequently in this play. The author uses the light to satirize Blanche’s, one of main characters in the play, inability to face the truth in life. She wants hide her real age from bright light, especially when she in front of her…

Words 473 - Pages 2

Illusion and Mendacity Essay

Roof and A Streetcar Named Desire, several characters suffer by lying and by being unaware of reality. Both plays demonstrate and signify the themes of illusion vs. reality and mendacity through past trauma, alcohol abuse, and through strained family and marital relationships. In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Brick is an example to all of these factors through his past with his friend skipper, his abuse of alcohol, and the lack of love he shows for his wife, while in A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche encounters…

Words 1674 - Pages 7

Discussion Of The Quilts In Alice Walker's 'Everyday Use'

Part 1: Answer the below question. 1. How has American literature changed over its history and how has it remained the same? Support your response. American literature has changed over its history as well as stayed the say from its writers to its styles of writing. From 1865-1914 and even 1914-1945 there wasn’t much of a mix on writers of race. Much American literature was written by white men and women until blacks were starting to get more rights. Langston Hughes wrote poems about the struggle…

Words 925 - Pages 4

Blanche Vs Dubois

James and “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams are both renowned works in their respective genres. “The Turn of the Screw” is a gothic novella that explores the mental instability of a Governess who begins to see ghostly apparitions looming around the estate, posing a danger to the children she has been entrusted with. There are several factors in this novella that make the story ambiguous, leading to multiple possible interpretations of the story. “A Streetcar Named Desire” is a dramatic…

Words 1245 - Pages 5

Essay on The past

com/teachers/article/james-howe-interview-transcript The Symbolisms of the Name, Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire In the first few scenes of "A Streetcar Named Desire", Tennessee Williams shows us a complex woman, named Blanche Dubois. This paper will explore the symbolisms of her name. The name Blanche is French and means white or fair. Her last name DuBois is of French origin as well and translates…

Words 758 - Pages 4