SYMBOLISM OF THE STREETCAR
The theme of fate is clearly symbolised within the play’s title, “A Streetcar Named Desire”. The
Streetcar symbolises the idea of fate as it is on rails and cannot veer off from its designated
direction.
BLANCHE STANLEY
Characterisation of Blanche is used to reveal Stanley’s characterisation is also used to
that Blanche’s fate is sealed from the very convey the fact that Blanche’s fate is sealed
beginning of the play. Although, her inability from the beginning of the play. Stanley
to deal with reality and obsession with represents reality, which must triumph over
fantasies could be implying that what the idea of fantasy/illusion, represented in
happened to Blanche was fate, it could also Blanche. Stanley’s triumph over Blanche is
be interpreted as the opposite, that she first made clear when Stella chooses Stanley
brought this on herself. Blanche brought her over Blanche, in Scene Four, when her
insanity on herself; through the choice she Blanche tries to convince her sister to run
made towards her ex-husband – she caused away with her. It is also illustrated throughout
her own downfall. The theme of fate vs free the whole of the play, through the use of the
will is uncertain throughout the play, it is blue piano, a symbol of the ‘New America’
never made clear if Blanche caused her own which is represented in Stanley. Blanche
decent into madness, or if fate always meant represents the ‘Old South’, refusing to
it to be that way. conform to the new ideals presented in the
‘New South’, possibly showing that it was fate
which led Blanche where she went as there
was no place for a ‘Southern Belle’ in New
America. Again, this could also be seen as
SETTING
Setting is also used to illustrate that Blanche’s fate is sealed from the very beginning of the play -
Elysian Fields is made up of a new and cosmopolitan mix. Blanche is alien to this so will therefore
not survive.
The claustrophobic apartment is also used to increase tension. This therefore increases the conflict
between Blanche and Stanley and between the forces of fantasy and reality. Because this is the
real world, reality must win. Linking to the Old and New South, Blanche cannot win.
PLASTIC THEATRE
In addition, plastic theatre is also used to illustrate the fact that Blanche’s fate is sealed from the
very beginning of the play. The use of music - the Blues piano suggests sadness and loss. The fact
that this plays throughout the play when Blanche is around, conveys the fact that her ending won’t
be happy.
The use of the transparent walls in scene 10 convey the brutal realities of life coming into the
apartment. This suggests that the apartment is no safe refuge for Blanche and therefore her fate
is sealed. The lights of
the locomotive landing on Blanche signify reality and truth. This suggests that her world of illusion
DESIRE
Stella’s desire for Stanley means the end of her relationship with Blanche as she is prepared to
ignore Blanche’s story about the rape. Stella’s relationship with Stanley also conveys that she is
prepared to leave the Old World and fit in with the new. Blanche is not prepared to do this;
therefore, her fate is sealed.
The theme of fate is clearly symbolised within the play’s title, “A Streetcar Named Desire”. The
Streetcar symbolises the idea of fate as it is on rails and cannot veer off from its designated
direction.
BLANCHE STANLEY
Characterisation of Blanche is used to reveal Stanley’s characterisation is also used to
that Blanche’s fate is sealed from the very convey the fact that Blanche’s fate is sealed
beginning of the play. Although, her inability from the beginning of the play. Stanley
to deal with reality and obsession with represents reality, which must triumph over
fantasies could be implying that what the idea of fantasy/illusion, represented in
happened to Blanche was fate, it could also Blanche. Stanley’s triumph over Blanche is
be interpreted as the opposite, that she first made clear when Stella chooses Stanley
brought this on herself. Blanche brought her over Blanche, in Scene Four, when her
insanity on herself; through the choice she Blanche tries to convince her sister to run
made towards her ex-husband – she caused away with her. It is also illustrated throughout
her own downfall. The theme of fate vs free the whole of the play, through the use of the
will is uncertain throughout the play, it is blue piano, a symbol of the ‘New America’
never made clear if Blanche caused her own which is represented in Stanley. Blanche
decent into madness, or if fate always meant represents the ‘Old South’, refusing to
it to be that way. conform to the new ideals presented in the
‘New South’, possibly showing that it was fate
which led Blanche where she went as there
was no place for a ‘Southern Belle’ in New
America. Again, this could also be seen as
SETTING
Setting is also used to illustrate that Blanche’s fate is sealed from the very beginning of the play -
Elysian Fields is made up of a new and cosmopolitan mix. Blanche is alien to this so will therefore
not survive.
The claustrophobic apartment is also used to increase tension. This therefore increases the conflict
between Blanche and Stanley and between the forces of fantasy and reality. Because this is the
real world, reality must win. Linking to the Old and New South, Blanche cannot win.
PLASTIC THEATRE
In addition, plastic theatre is also used to illustrate the fact that Blanche’s fate is sealed from the
very beginning of the play. The use of music - the Blues piano suggests sadness and loss. The fact
that this plays throughout the play when Blanche is around, conveys the fact that her ending won’t
be happy.
The use of the transparent walls in scene 10 convey the brutal realities of life coming into the
apartment. This suggests that the apartment is no safe refuge for Blanche and therefore her fate
is sealed. The lights of
the locomotive landing on Blanche signify reality and truth. This suggests that her world of illusion
DESIRE
Stella’s desire for Stanley means the end of her relationship with Blanche as she is prepared to
ignore Blanche’s story about the rape. Stella’s relationship with Stanley also conveys that she is
prepared to leave the Old World and fit in with the new. Blanche is not prepared to do this;
therefore, her fate is sealed.
