Inability to Overcome Reality-

"I don't want realism. I want Magic" (page 145). One of the many quotes from Blanche DuBois, a main character in the play. As we continue deeper and deeper into the play we begin to discover more and more secrets about each character. We are also able to discover some themes of the play. The inability to overcome reality is a very good example of a theme that I believe is shown throughout. "I can smell the sea air. The rest of my time I'm going to spend on the sea. And when I die, I'm going to die on the sea..." (page 179). When the going gets tough people enjoy letting their minds run wild and imagining what kind of life they one day could have, and how they would feel if they had that type of lifestyle. Blanche takes it one step further in the play by imagining her life the way she feels it should be, and then lying to everyone around her by telling them that she lives that sort of way. However fancy clothes, baths galore, light covers, alcohol, and lying will never make up for the fact that the way she wants to live is not realistic. All of the other characters, especially Stanley are able to see that. Everyone except for Blanche that is, and when you can't see that; that definitely means that there is an underlying problem.

Wild Nature Vs. Civilized

Everyone needs some wildness in their lifetime. I'm pretty sure we all have that one friend that's so crazy, and that we always go to; to get ourselves out of a funk because the person makes you laugh so hard. In the play Stella turns to Stanley because of the fact that she's had such a boring life. She loves the wildness about him. "Why on our wedding night – soon as we came in here – he snatched off one of my slippers and rushed about the place smashing the light-bulbs with it." The reason why Stella loved this so much is because she has never experienced anything like this. In my opinion I think this is crazy. Who would go around smashing light bulbs. Blanche also agrees with me that this is crazy. "And you – you let him? Didn’t run, didn’t scream?" To Blanche she thinks that Stella would be crazy to stay with this man, because of the fact that Blanche likes a civilized man. Someone that is nice 24/7, supplies for her, while caring for her. Stanley definitely supplies for Stella, however you can tell he puts himself over her a lot of the time.

Men- the restriction on a woman's life.

In a Streetcar Named Desire, the author definitely shows how big of a role men play in a women life. As a matter of fact, the play is basically saying that women can't do anything without having a man by their hip. Stella is a good example of this because of the fact that Stanley treats her horribly, however, she still stays with him. Stella so wants to escape the boring life that she used to live, dating boring rich men, being a good little girl that she will do just about anything even if it includes marrying a monster, which is just what Stanley is. However, has it ever crossed Stella's mind that perhaps she doesn't need a man to escape the boring life that she used to live? In fact I'm pretty sure that she would be better off without one at this point. Although Blanche isn't actually with anyone while in the play, Blanche is able to portray this also. She shows this by stating the fact that she wants to marry Mitch not because she's in love with him, but because she knows that he can supply her with her needs. Why tie yourself down to a man just because you think you can't make it on your own! That is not the way to live. Just like men I believe that women can be independent as well. I truly believe that the play shows just how ridiculous women used to be.

Cruelty

One thing that you can tell Blanche can not stand is cruelty. All throughout the play Stanley is deliberately cruel to Stella and Blanche. When Stanley does not get his way is usually when the cruelty comes into play. "Stanley walks fiercely through the potteries into the bedroom. He crosses to the small white radio and snatches it off the table. With a shouted oath, he tosses the instrument out the window." (page 62). He then continues on to hit Stella. In my opinion this is very cruel. What person hits his wife because of the fact that she turned on the radio? That is just not right. Blanche is also very cruel. However, unlike Stanley her cruelty is not deliberate. Blanche just does not realize how cruel she can sometimes be. An example of Blanche's cruelty is how she did not mention to Mitch about her past, and all the dark secrets in it. Stanley on the other hand shows how deliberate he can be with his cruelty because of the fact that he told Mitch about all of Blanche's deep dark secrets. To add of to that he told Stella also so that she would be upset about it. Doing this did not help anyone in the end but rather made everyone more and more upset.

Blanche-

"Hypocrisy is not a way of getting back to the moral high ground. Pretending you're moral, saying your moral is not the same as acting morally."~ Alan Dershowitz. Although this is not a quote from the play I do believe that this is the perfect representation of Blanche. While living in Kowalski household Blanche pretends to be someone that she truly isn't. “I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don't tell the truth, I tell what ought to be the truth. And if that's sinful, then let me be damned for it!” If I hadn't read this play I would've thought those were the words of a little kid. Blanche Dubois mind is clearly not in the right place.  Going around talking about the admirers she has, all of the clothes she has received from gentlemen, and acting like she is better then others is not the way to live. Especially if it's not true. Blanche came to Stanley and Stella as her last hope. For her to run out of options in life, including the fact that eventually her sister and Stanley kick her out must mean that Blanche is the true issue. Not everyone else. 

Stella-

In my opinion Stella is the middle man between Blanche and Stanley. The woman who always keeps her calm, while Stanley and Blanche try to win over her affection. Personally I believe that she is so weak that she sways back and forth with the wind. Although I believe that deep down she knows that her sister is troubled, she has no nerve to say anything because she cares too much about Blanche's feelings. Stanley, although extremely inappropriate and immature is also her voice of reason in a way. Stella is too forgiving, too sweet, and too caring. Although these are good traits they can only take someone so far in life. If Stella stood up for herself sometimes I feel that her life would be so much easier.

Stella: He smashed all the light bulbs with the heel of my slipper. 

Blanche DuBois: And you let him? Didn't run, didn't scream? 

Stella: Actually, I was sorta thrilled by it. 

Was Blanche really thrilled by it? Or was she actually scared by it and went with it because she wanted to make sure that Stanley was happy. Sometimes when you want to be with someone so badly you try to change yourself and act like someone that you truly aren't. As I mentioned before Stella is someone that blows with the wind, letting the wind guide her to where it wants to take her. 

Stanley-

Unlike Stella, Stanley knows what he wants, and when he wants it. Also unlike Stella Stanley is a big bully that likes to step on people that don't know what they want in life. In my opinion that is why I believe that Stanley and Stella are such a perfect match. Stanley says what he wants and stellar usually goes with it. Part of the reason why I think Stanley hates Blanche so much is because of the fact that Blanche helps Stella to find her voice. Once Blanche gets there Stella begins to call Stanley a Pollack and a pig, and disobeys his orders. Although Stanley has anger issues, and is rude, knowing what you want can be a good thing, however there is definitely a fine line. Stanley crosses that line on so many levels. "Stell, it's gonna be alright after she goes and after you've had the baby. It's gonna be alright between you and me the way that it was?..." (page 133). From this quote you can see that Stanley wants to make it work with Stella, but it has to be on his terms which means that Blanche staying is clearly out of the question.

Mitch-

Whats different about Mitch from every other single man in this story? He actually has a sensitive bone in his body! Or so we think... When I first read about Mitch in the play I knew he was different. While every other man was swearing, and getting drunk around the poker table Mitch was the guy telling them to calm down, and talking about how he had to leave soon because he had to go home and take care of his dying mother. I'm pretty sure if Stella went into labor while Stanley was playing poker, Stanley would just continue on playing poker. Mitch is clearly the complete opposite. He realizes that his way is not the only way. He is willing to change for people, and he cares about others and not just himself. However, like everyone else there is a line. At one point in the play that line is crossed. Stanley being Stanley just can't mind his own business and decides that he should get involved in Mitch and Blanche's relationship. He begins to stir trouble and tell all of the rumors that he has heard about Blanche. Although these did end up being true I do believe that Mitch should've heard all of this from Blanche rather Stanley.

Blanche: "What do you want?

Mitch: "What I've been missing all summer."

If you haven't read the play then you probably won't understand what this means, but this basically shows how things that you hear about people can change the way you act towards them. Although Blanche did lie I do believe that Blanche loved Mitch, and that Mitch also loved Blanche right back, rumors and all. He was so upset about it he jumped the gun and ruined the relationship completely. The big picture of this is don't let things you hear from others change how you feel about the person you love.

Happiness and having money are two different things.

The characters of this play definitely portray different views on life. While Blanche worries nonstop about whether or not she'll have a man soon enough that will supply for her. On the other hand Stella worries about being sure that her life is nothing like it was when she was growing up. In my opinion both ways are not a way to live. Blanche is always worrying about her future, never living in the moment. Sometimes when you don't live in the moment, you can't see that the solution is right in front of you. This is clearly the issue in Blanche's case because of the fact that Mitch is looking to settle down with her but because of all the lies she has told she ends up ruining that. Stella on the other hand does not worry about whether or not she has money but rather if she is happy. She was so bored of her old life that she changed it completely. Some things that she changed in my opinion were good, while some were very bad. Marrying Stanley I believe was a bad call. Stanley does care about Stella to the best of his capability however because of the way that Stella was raised I believe that she is too sensitive to be with a man like Stanley kowalski. Stella needs a man who can be as wild as Stanley, but also have a sensitive side. Stella needs someone that will feel the way she does. Although Stella may think that she is happy, I truly believe that she is not. In fact I believe that her life is very stressful. To think Blanche is unhappy and doesn't have a man that supplies for, and Stella isn't happy but does have a man that supplies for her. I do believe that there is some type of pattern there.


This scene took place in the play right after Stanley decided to lay his hands on Stella because of the fact that she decided to turn on the radio against his will. I believe that it shows all of the reasons why Stella should leave Stanley. However for some reason she still ends up coming back to him. 

Is it okay to lie if it does not it hurt anyone?

Everyone lies at least some point in their lives. Sometimes those lies are small, sometimes those lies are big. Sometimes the lies hurt people, sometimes they don't. In the play I believe that lying is shown throughout. An example includes that fact that Blanche lies about her age, what she's done in her past, why she left her teaching job in the middle of the school year, and so on and so forth. At first these were all little lies that we, as readers probably didn't think we're very important. However, as the play went on I think that we all began to realize how more and more important it was getting that Blanche hadn't told the truth. She finds someone who loves her, her and her sister have a good relationship, what more can a person ask for. However, because of the lying Blanche soon begins to lose all of that. You see the thing is that when you lie, eventually someone finds out. In the case of Blanche when people found out that's when they began to get hurt, and Blanche played it like it was no big deal which I believe did not help the situation. Lying can make you feel better for a little while, but telling the truth seems like a more permanent solution to being happy.

What's death got to do with it?

Sex and death- You may think they are two completely different themes, however in the play they seem to relate. In the play Blanche seems to never tell anyone her true age. To add on to that she is always playing dress up, walking around telling the men what they want to hear. Blanche is so afraid that one day she is going to have no one that she basically takes anyone that she can get. She's so afraid of getting older that she sticks herself in this world where she tries to act younger than she truly is, by going after younger men, working as a prostitute, and lying about her age. She uses this as covers to face the reality of what is truly happening. Her husband is dead. That topic is very tough for Blanche, especially considering the fact that she had something to do with the death. On the other hand life moves on. She has someone that is basically in love with her, and would basically do anything for her. She is clearly too blind to see that because of the fact that she over worries about being alone. Sometimes the solution is right in front of you without you even knowing. Blanche sets a very good example of that scenario.