Streetcar Themes
- Isolation
Williams explores how one’s past and internal struggles can lead to the character’s isolation and
neglection despite being in the busy city of New Orleans. Psychological loneliness is seen to be a
consequence of trauma and the process of becoming isolated and physical isolation is portrayed
as the inevitable result of death. Both forms of seclusion are presented by Williams to alert the
audience of the tragedy and effects that being ostracised can have.
1. Isolation from reality
‘I want to be – left alone – please!’ -
‘the lurid reflections fade from the wall’
‘The Varsouviana filters into weird distortion’
the blind Mexican Woman is utilised, crying ‘flores para los muertos’ (flowers for the dead) in order
to mirror Blanche’s “emotional death” as the peripeteia (reversal of fortune) comes into action. The
use of Spanish within this scene also underscores the diversity of New Orleans, known as the
“melting pot” of culture, twenty-seven percent of its population is Mexican.
2. Isolation is a consequence of death
‘’pretty [cigarette] case’ – object correlative for his gentle and fearful demeanour
‘I loved someone, too, and the person I loved I lost’ -
‘you need somebody. And I need somebody, too’
‘never… since has there been any light that’s stronger than this – kitchen – candle…’
3. Isolation within relationships – Stanley and Stella
‘when he’s away for a week I nearly go wild’
‘they come together with low animal moans’
‘her eyes go blind with tenderness’
4. isolation due to social class and background
‘polak’
‘the Kowalskis and the Dubois have different notions’
‘a different species’
Blanche is ‘incongruous to the setting’ – ‘daintily dressed in a white suit’ vs ‘coloured shirts’ – blue
piano
, - Desire
The theme of desire permeates the play predominantly through its pairing with death; sex and death
are intricately and fatally linked. Desire is the driving force behind all of the characters’ action and it
is indulging in this desire that leads to the unwanted, tragic downfalls. Williams presents desire as an
uncontrollable force which leads the characters, particularly Blanche, in peril directions that will
inevitably end with tragedy. Giving in to desire is the symbol of defeat against societal expectations
1. Desire to remain in the past
‘age is a subject that you’d prefer to – ignore!’
‘I stayed and struggled’
'the Kowalski's and the DuBois have different notions' - difference between traditional aristocratic
families and immigrants coming to make a new life in America - American dream
'all the burden descended on my shoulders' it was all 'burned like rubbish'
Stanley is 'a different species' - compared to the Southern Belle that Blanche is trying to be
Fall of the deep south due to the civil war - the souths agriculture could not compete with
industrialisation // the abolition of slavery caused decline in plantations
Contrast to ‘the blue piano’
2. Desire leading to death
Sex and death are intricately and fatally linked in Blanche’s experience.
'streetcar named desire' 'transfer to one called Cemeteries'
Blanche’s fate is preordained, this is not only stressed in the streetcar image but several key
moments in the play indicate that there cannot be a happy conclusion to Blanche’s story.
The death of her ancestors was attributed to 'epic fornications' which foreshadows the fact
desire leads to disaster
The message is that indulging one’s desire in the form of unrestrained promiscuity leads to
forced departures and unwanted ends.
If Stanley rapes Blanche, 'some awful thing will happen!' even though they had 'had this date
with each other from the beginning'
'scarlet satin robe' is worn at the end when Blanche is taken away
the blind Mexican Woman is utilised, crying ‘flores para los muertos’ (flowers for the dead) in order
to mirror Blanche’s “emotional death” as the peripeteia (reversal of fortune) comes into action. The
use of Spanish within this scene also underscores the diversity of New Orleans, known as the
“melting pot” of culture, twenty-seven percent of its population is Mexican.
3. Strong desire to cover up reality
‘moth’
‘she carefully replaces the bottle’
‘temporary magic’
, ‘it wouldn’t be make believe if you believed in me’
‘her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light’
‘daintily dressed in a white suit’ vs ‘crumpled white satin evening gown’
Mirror slams and the ‘glass cracks’
‘I can’t stand a naked light-bulb’
‘sprinkle the place with powder and spray perfume and cover the light-bulb with a paper lantern’
‘virgo is the virgin’
- Fantasy vs reality
The act of ignoring reality is utilised in the play as an attempt, by the characters, to ignore and
overcome the struggles that stand in the way of allowing them to follow their desires. Williams
presents the clash between realism and expressionism to mirror the internal battle Blanche faces
that prevents her from both living in the moment and living in the past; this constant struggle is
what eventually causes her tragic downfall.
1. Blanches façade
‘temporary magic’
‘it wouldn’t be make believe if you believed in me’
‘her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light’
‘daintily dressed in a white suit’ vs ‘crumpled white satin evening gown’
Mirror slams and the ‘glass cracks’
‘I can’t stand a naked light-bulb’
‘sprinkle the place with powder and spray perfume and cover the light-bulb with a paper lantern’
‘virgo is the virgin’
‘you look like a young prince out of the Arabian nights’
2. Loss of reality
‘money just goes – it goes places’
‘I’m fading now!’
‘she is drinking to escape it’
‘I don’t want realism’ // I want ‘Magic!’
‘I didn’t lie in my heart’
- Isolation
Williams explores how one’s past and internal struggles can lead to the character’s isolation and
neglection despite being in the busy city of New Orleans. Psychological loneliness is seen to be a
consequence of trauma and the process of becoming isolated and physical isolation is portrayed
as the inevitable result of death. Both forms of seclusion are presented by Williams to alert the
audience of the tragedy and effects that being ostracised can have.
1. Isolation from reality
‘I want to be – left alone – please!’ -
‘the lurid reflections fade from the wall’
‘The Varsouviana filters into weird distortion’
the blind Mexican Woman is utilised, crying ‘flores para los muertos’ (flowers for the dead) in order
to mirror Blanche’s “emotional death” as the peripeteia (reversal of fortune) comes into action. The
use of Spanish within this scene also underscores the diversity of New Orleans, known as the
“melting pot” of culture, twenty-seven percent of its population is Mexican.
2. Isolation is a consequence of death
‘’pretty [cigarette] case’ – object correlative for his gentle and fearful demeanour
‘I loved someone, too, and the person I loved I lost’ -
‘you need somebody. And I need somebody, too’
‘never… since has there been any light that’s stronger than this – kitchen – candle…’
3. Isolation within relationships – Stanley and Stella
‘when he’s away for a week I nearly go wild’
‘they come together with low animal moans’
‘her eyes go blind with tenderness’
4. isolation due to social class and background
‘polak’
‘the Kowalskis and the Dubois have different notions’
‘a different species’
Blanche is ‘incongruous to the setting’ – ‘daintily dressed in a white suit’ vs ‘coloured shirts’ – blue
piano
, - Desire
The theme of desire permeates the play predominantly through its pairing with death; sex and death
are intricately and fatally linked. Desire is the driving force behind all of the characters’ action and it
is indulging in this desire that leads to the unwanted, tragic downfalls. Williams presents desire as an
uncontrollable force which leads the characters, particularly Blanche, in peril directions that will
inevitably end with tragedy. Giving in to desire is the symbol of defeat against societal expectations
1. Desire to remain in the past
‘age is a subject that you’d prefer to – ignore!’
‘I stayed and struggled’
'the Kowalski's and the DuBois have different notions' - difference between traditional aristocratic
families and immigrants coming to make a new life in America - American dream
'all the burden descended on my shoulders' it was all 'burned like rubbish'
Stanley is 'a different species' - compared to the Southern Belle that Blanche is trying to be
Fall of the deep south due to the civil war - the souths agriculture could not compete with
industrialisation // the abolition of slavery caused decline in plantations
Contrast to ‘the blue piano’
2. Desire leading to death
Sex and death are intricately and fatally linked in Blanche’s experience.
'streetcar named desire' 'transfer to one called Cemeteries'
Blanche’s fate is preordained, this is not only stressed in the streetcar image but several key
moments in the play indicate that there cannot be a happy conclusion to Blanche’s story.
The death of her ancestors was attributed to 'epic fornications' which foreshadows the fact
desire leads to disaster
The message is that indulging one’s desire in the form of unrestrained promiscuity leads to
forced departures and unwanted ends.
If Stanley rapes Blanche, 'some awful thing will happen!' even though they had 'had this date
with each other from the beginning'
'scarlet satin robe' is worn at the end when Blanche is taken away
the blind Mexican Woman is utilised, crying ‘flores para los muertos’ (flowers for the dead) in order
to mirror Blanche’s “emotional death” as the peripeteia (reversal of fortune) comes into action. The
use of Spanish within this scene also underscores the diversity of New Orleans, known as the
“melting pot” of culture, twenty-seven percent of its population is Mexican.
3. Strong desire to cover up reality
‘moth’
‘she carefully replaces the bottle’
‘temporary magic’
, ‘it wouldn’t be make believe if you believed in me’
‘her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light’
‘daintily dressed in a white suit’ vs ‘crumpled white satin evening gown’
Mirror slams and the ‘glass cracks’
‘I can’t stand a naked light-bulb’
‘sprinkle the place with powder and spray perfume and cover the light-bulb with a paper lantern’
‘virgo is the virgin’
- Fantasy vs reality
The act of ignoring reality is utilised in the play as an attempt, by the characters, to ignore and
overcome the struggles that stand in the way of allowing them to follow their desires. Williams
presents the clash between realism and expressionism to mirror the internal battle Blanche faces
that prevents her from both living in the moment and living in the past; this constant struggle is
what eventually causes her tragic downfall.
1. Blanches façade
‘temporary magic’
‘it wouldn’t be make believe if you believed in me’
‘her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light’
‘daintily dressed in a white suit’ vs ‘crumpled white satin evening gown’
Mirror slams and the ‘glass cracks’
‘I can’t stand a naked light-bulb’
‘sprinkle the place with powder and spray perfume and cover the light-bulb with a paper lantern’
‘virgo is the virgin’
‘you look like a young prince out of the Arabian nights’
2. Loss of reality
‘money just goes – it goes places’
‘I’m fading now!’
‘she is drinking to escape it’
‘I don’t want realism’ // I want ‘Magic!’
‘I didn’t lie in my heart’
