Section B: A Streetcar Named Desire
Question: Explore the presentation of vulnerability in A Streetcar Named Desire. You must relate your
discussion to relevant contextual factors.
Introduction A Streetcar Named Desire essentially shows the vulnerability of human beings, whether
that be through Blanche’s inability to face reality, or Stella’s vulnerability to the
domination of Stanley, blinded by her sexual desires and attraction. Ultimately, Williams’
alludes to the concept of vulnerability within a patriarchal society, highlighting how the
women in the play are weak under the influence of their male counterparts.
Point 1 Blanche is ultimately conveyed to be the most vulnerable and fragile character in the play-
a Southern Belle exposed to the harsh reality of the world. Her many addictions she
possesses may be a device Williams used in order examine her vulnerability.
Williams’ instantly presents the ‘incongrous’ character of Blanche as out of place
and vulnerable to the New American world. Dressed in ‘white’- this innocence will
be tainted as the play progresses, and perhaps in a sense society itself darkens
Blanche’s perception of herself. Like a ‘moth’ she will be drawn to danger, led by
attraction. As play progresses, Williams’ explores why she is so vulnerable to male
attention in the play.
Dramatic irony to open play, which hints she will be unable to sustain her façade,
and survive in the world of New Orleans- ‘a streetcar named desire then transfer
to one called cemeteries’- literal and allegorical journey. Her sexual attraction us
ultimately what makes her so vulnerable, and this will lead to her ultimate ‘death’.
Her name translates to ‘white woods’- innocence that will be tainted, and woods
perhaps implying she has a tendency to get lost.
Her fragility and inability to handle aspects of realty made apparent in scene 2-
Blanche’s bathing. This develops as a motif that symbolises her vulnerability, as
she must bathe to ‘calm her nerves’ and ultimately find safety and escapism away
from Stanley and the claustrophobic nature of Elysian Fields and the flat. Later,
audience learn Blanche’s past is what has created this vulnerability, and bathing
also symbolises her ritual to cleanse the guilt after her husbands’ suicide- linking to
religious baptism (cleansing of sin), and this is a device used in Shakespeare’s
Macbeth also.
It is evident that Blanche’s tragic flaw is her addictive personality- this flaw is
where her vulnerable state is at its peak. Alcohol serves as a symbol of Blanche’s
attempt to escape reality- Mitch says she’s been “lapping it up all summer like a
wild cat”. The verb “lapping” comments on the pace of which she drinks it, fast
and with speed, and the reference to “wild” conveys her position as an outcast
due to her animalistic features and because of her addictive personality.
Scene 7- Blanche is again bathing herself, ‘as if a child were frolicking in the tub’-
child like, vulnerable. She is ‘contrapuntally’ singing about a ‘paper moon’ at the
same time Stanley is exposing her truth. Paper symbolises image of fragility, and
moon shows her longing for the feminine magic of the moon, and for escape. The
lyrics she sings are also significant- ‘without your love, it’s a honky tonky parade’-
high value of love, and how without Mitch and attention of men she is weakened,
no value.
Also use of expressionism in play to exemplify and remind audience of Blanche’s
Question: Explore the presentation of vulnerability in A Streetcar Named Desire. You must relate your
discussion to relevant contextual factors.
Introduction A Streetcar Named Desire essentially shows the vulnerability of human beings, whether
that be through Blanche’s inability to face reality, or Stella’s vulnerability to the
domination of Stanley, blinded by her sexual desires and attraction. Ultimately, Williams’
alludes to the concept of vulnerability within a patriarchal society, highlighting how the
women in the play are weak under the influence of their male counterparts.
Point 1 Blanche is ultimately conveyed to be the most vulnerable and fragile character in the play-
a Southern Belle exposed to the harsh reality of the world. Her many addictions she
possesses may be a device Williams used in order examine her vulnerability.
Williams’ instantly presents the ‘incongrous’ character of Blanche as out of place
and vulnerable to the New American world. Dressed in ‘white’- this innocence will
be tainted as the play progresses, and perhaps in a sense society itself darkens
Blanche’s perception of herself. Like a ‘moth’ she will be drawn to danger, led by
attraction. As play progresses, Williams’ explores why she is so vulnerable to male
attention in the play.
Dramatic irony to open play, which hints she will be unable to sustain her façade,
and survive in the world of New Orleans- ‘a streetcar named desire then transfer
to one called cemeteries’- literal and allegorical journey. Her sexual attraction us
ultimately what makes her so vulnerable, and this will lead to her ultimate ‘death’.
Her name translates to ‘white woods’- innocence that will be tainted, and woods
perhaps implying she has a tendency to get lost.
Her fragility and inability to handle aspects of realty made apparent in scene 2-
Blanche’s bathing. This develops as a motif that symbolises her vulnerability, as
she must bathe to ‘calm her nerves’ and ultimately find safety and escapism away
from Stanley and the claustrophobic nature of Elysian Fields and the flat. Later,
audience learn Blanche’s past is what has created this vulnerability, and bathing
also symbolises her ritual to cleanse the guilt after her husbands’ suicide- linking to
religious baptism (cleansing of sin), and this is a device used in Shakespeare’s
Macbeth also.
It is evident that Blanche’s tragic flaw is her addictive personality- this flaw is
where her vulnerable state is at its peak. Alcohol serves as a symbol of Blanche’s
attempt to escape reality- Mitch says she’s been “lapping it up all summer like a
wild cat”. The verb “lapping” comments on the pace of which she drinks it, fast
and with speed, and the reference to “wild” conveys her position as an outcast
due to her animalistic features and because of her addictive personality.
Scene 7- Blanche is again bathing herself, ‘as if a child were frolicking in the tub’-
child like, vulnerable. She is ‘contrapuntally’ singing about a ‘paper moon’ at the
same time Stanley is exposing her truth. Paper symbolises image of fragility, and
moon shows her longing for the feminine magic of the moon, and for escape. The
lyrics she sings are also significant- ‘without your love, it’s a honky tonky parade’-
high value of love, and how without Mitch and attention of men she is weakened,
no value.
Also use of expressionism in play to exemplify and remind audience of Blanche’s
