A Streetcar Named Desire Symbolism Essay - 1233 Words

Tennessee Williams was a well-recognized writer who wrote dramatic plays such as, The Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and A Streetcar Named Desire, which resembled his own personal life and experiences. In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche is an unstable and desperate woman who travels to New Orleans in search of a new life and to live with her sister Stella and abusive husband Stanley Kowalski. The story follows her journey over a year as she navigates through the unsophisticated streets of New Orleans living in her own delusions covering the real truth. Tennessee Williams uses symbolism and imagery in A Streetcar Named Desire to convey the idea that appearances can be deceiving, hiding what really lies below the surface†¦show more content†¦As the play progresses, Blanche’s act starts to crack and her past is uncovered through the symbolism of cleansing and music. Blanche’s habits start to become more noticeable including bathing for extende d periods of time. She believes â€Å"A hot bath and a long, cold drink always give [her] a brand new outlook on life!† (Williams 128). Williams uses bathing as a representation of baptism, attempting to convey Blanche’s need to wash away her sins. She constantly tries to rid herself of her objectionable past-sexual encounters with previous men and her husband’s suicide, but it is impossible, therefore she’ll never finish her bath. During her bath time, she always seems to be singing the lyrics, â€Å"It’s only a paper moon, just as phony as it can be-But it wouldn’t be make-believe If you believed in me!† (Williams 121). The lyrics of â€Å"It’s Only a Paper Moon† represent a person imagining in a fantasy world. At this point, Blanche is losing a concrete reality to hold onto, she truly believes that the fabrication of lies lead to a better life. Throughout the play, Blanche is reminded of what happened to her husband Allan, during intense and violent situations where Blanche is greatly devastated. One of the most memorable scenes is when Stanley abuses and rapes her. When this occurs, the Varsouviana polka music starts to play in the background. â€Å" The ‘Varsouviana’! The polka tune they were playing when Allan- Wait! [ A distant revolver shot isShow MoreRelatedA Streetcar Named Desire Symbolism Essay1637 Words   |  7 PagesIn Tennessee Williams’, A Streetcar Named Desire he uses a variety of symbols to add depth to his work. It makes the readers become skeptical of the character’s real intentions, either in a positive or negative way. Without the symbols the play would not have the same effect that it does. The usage of the symbols, also adds to the play’s overall themes and the understanding of the characters, like Blanche DuBois. Blanche DuBois is one of the characters that has many layers and many secrets that sheRead More Symbolism in A Streetcar Nam ed Desire by Tennessee Williams Essay example3841 Words   |  16 PagesDuring the late nineteen-forties, it was common for playwrights such as Tennessee Williams to use symbolism as an approach to convey personal thoughts, through the attitudes of the characters and the setting. Williams actors have used symbolism to disguise the actuality of their thoughts and to accommodate the needs of their conservative audience. A Streetcar Named Desire has a few complicated character traits and themes. Therefore, they have to be symbolised using figures or images Read More Symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Essay810 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams In Tennessee Williams’ play, A Streetcar Named Desire, the character of Blanche Dubois is a vivid example of the use of symbolism throughout the play. Blanche wants to view things in an unrealistic way. â€Å"I don’t want realism. I want magic†¦I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don’t tell truth, I tell what ought to be truth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Blanche p.117). She doesn’t want reality; instead she wishes to view a rose-coloredRead MoreEssay about Symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams1270 Words   |  6 Pages Symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams â€Å"Symbols are nothing but the natural speech of drama†¦the purest language of plays.† Once, quoted as having said this, Tennessee Williams has certainly used symbolism and colour extremely effectively in his play, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. A moving story about fading Southern belle Blanche DuBois and her lapse into insanity, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ contains much symbolism and clever use of colour. This helps the audience to link certainRead More The Raw Power of A Streetcar Named Desire Essay example2254 Words   |  10 PagesThe Raw Power of A Streetcar Named Desire      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tennessee Williamss play A Streetcar Named Desire contains more within its characters, situations, and story than appears on its surface. As in many of Williamss plays, there is much use of symbolism and interesting characters in order to draw in and involve the audience.   The plot of A Streetcar Named Desire alone does not captivate the audience.   It is Williamss brilliant and intriguing characters that make the reader Read Morestreetcar named desire and macbeth critical lens essay1184 Words   |  5 PagesRabiha Sabir November 14, 2013 Critical Lens Essay There are many situations in life which are related to reality and they can be illusional because of your own perspective. a quote that supports this is â€Å" Reality is that which, when you stop believing it, doesn’t go away†. This quote explains that reality is something that even if you don’t believe in it or if you don’t think its true it still doesn’t go away. You can’ deny theRead MoreRomantic Essay, The Streetcar Named Desire: The Catcher In The Juliet1899 Words   |  8 Pageschosen to be apart of my portfolio are the Catcher in the Rye essay, the American rebels powerpoint, the Streetcar Named Desire essay and the Catcher In The Rye fishbowl. I chose to include the Catcher in the Rye essay because it showcased my ability to explain in detail quotes from the book and expand on one idea. I also chose this essay because I got an 82% which I believe is a good grade for a hard essay topic such as the symbolism of the ducks. In addition, I chose the Catcher In The Rye fishbowlRead MoreStreet Car Named Desire Essay2447 Words   |  10 PagesPRACTICE ESSAY truth is a mutating, subjective figure in streetcar with each of the principals having different relationship with the idea of truth How does Tennessee Williams express these relationships and what role do they have on the narrative? †¢ Make sure you think carefully about the play, details, allusions, themes of the play that you can incorporate †¢ Undermining the academics of the play †¢ Have insights from the play that leak into your own ideas and narrative Read MoreReality and Illusion in Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire1691 Words   |  7 PagesA Streetcar Named Desire, first published in 1947, is considered a landmark play for the 20th century American drama, bringing author Tennessee Williams a Pulitzer Prize. One of its most important themes deals with the contrast between reality and illusion. The aim of this essay is to examine how this contrast is reflected in the way the main character constructs her identity. As Ruby Cohn calls it in his essay â€Å"The Garrulous Grotesque of Tennessee Williams†, A Streetcar Named Desire is â€Å"a poignantRead MorePsychoanalytical Study of A Streetcar Named Desire Essays2039 Words   |  9 Pagesuma introdu#231;#227;o by Terry Eagleton (1994), there is a chapter dedicated to psychoanalysis and I think that some of the topics referred to in that chapter need to be mentioned here before the most important symbols found in the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams are discussed. One of the ideas discussed by Eagleton is that if after coming across psychoanalysis for the first time you happen to like it, it will probably become a useful tool to help you understand literature