Paper #1

Mehmet Antapli

Professor Brady

English 102

March 22, 2023

The Desire for illusions

            In today’s world illusion could be found everywhere. Illusions are a simple way for one to create something that they wish. We can even see these through literary pieces an example that demonstrates this idea of allusion is a Streetcar named Desire. The play, a streetcar named Desire written by William Tennessee is a play that sold it based upon the idea of allusion. The place is about our main character Blanche, which creates a fake personality and ends up visiting her sister Stella and her husband, Stanley, however, once you arrive, Stanley happens to not be a fan and starts digging deeper into Blanche’s life, The play demonstrates this throughout multiple uses of symbolism and motives. such examples would be the author's use of light, and the importance of physical appearance. And the constant abuse of alcohol.

 

Throughout a streetcar named Desire written by William Tennessee we can see that Blanche is an alcoholic nymphomaniac (Britannica Academic) who has a terrible past which is the reality she must face however, Blanche refuses to accept the reality she’s in. Because of this, she has the desire to create an allusion, using as many things as she can to portray a reality that she desires to be in. Throughout the play, we can see multiple ways that William Tennessee shows blanches desire for an allusion, and all the things that she does to make that illusion become a reality. However, as the play progresses, and no matter how hard she tries to keep that reality she desires eventually, it begins to fall apart as those around her start to realize the way she portrays herself in the way she acts is all part of an illusion.

Such an example of this would be William Tennessee’s use of alcohol throughout the entire play. We can see this from the very beginning when Blanche shows up at her sister, Stella‘s house, unannounced, and from the moment they begin to chat she starts drinking. Blanche states “Well now you talk. Open your pretty mouth and talk while I look around for some liquor!“(Blanche, 19) To continue we can see throughout the play that Blanche consistently drinks And even at one point becomes extremely drunk. “ oh, yes — liquor! We’ve had so much excitement around here this evening, that I am boxed out of my mind!” (Blanche, 115) The excessive use and abuse of alcohol throughout the play is a symbolism, put to show Blanche’s desire to escape reality and create an illusion of the reality that she portrays to live in. She uses alcohol as alcohol is known to have effects, which would cause one to feel much better along with making one forget about all the things that would cause them pain.

Another example of symbolism that Tennessee Williams uses is Blanche’s constant attention to her appearance. this is a constantly reoccurring symbolism, which shows blanches attention to the way she would like to present herself in the way others should know the way she is rather than who she really is. We can even see this with Stella tells Stanley “When she comes in be sure to say something nice about her appearance” (Stella, 88) this just goes to show that Blanche emphasizes her appearance, and requires validation from others. She also wants to make sure that the way she is portraying our self is the way she would like to be portrayed in her own illusion. Another example of her her attention to her appearance is when Blanche and Stella are talking Blanche tells Stella “You know I haven’t put on 1 ounce in 10 years, Stella? I wait what I weighed this summer you left Belle Reve…” (Blanche, 22). this just goes to prove that Blanche has been paying attention to her appearance and that the way she appears is the way she would like to be portrayed by all those around her.

Another way Tennessee Williams adds to blanches illusions is by using light as another symbol. we can see the concept of light being used throughout the play, one of which, is when Mitch goes to talk to Blanche and the evening of her birthday dinner, and while they are in the bedroom, Mitch states “ I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in light.” (Mitch 116). Mitch also proceeds to say that “… you never want to out till after six and then it’s always someplace that’s not lighted much.” (Mitch 116) This just goes to show that the meaning of the light is Blanche’s true self and that Blanche does everything and anything she can possibly do to avoid the light or in other words, her true nature be seen by those around her. Also, the fact that Blanche refuses to be seen in light is her way of coping with the fact that she is getting old and her youth will not last forever. If she were to be seen by the light her true nature would be revealed. This goes to show that just like everything else Blanche is doing she ensures that she does everything to maintain the illusion that she has created and escape the reality that she chooses not to accept.

To conclude William Tennessee, the author of a streetcar named Desire, utilizes many symbolisms and motives throughout the play. Some of which was the use of light, branches attention, and the excessive use of alcohol. All of these contribute to Blanche's illusion she creates, which is her desire to escape her past and reality and create a new reality in which she’s in control. Although there are many more symbolism throughout the play, William Tennessee, these three are the best to portray Blanche’s desire of illusion.

           

 

Works Cited

"Blanche DuBois." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 7 Jan. 2016. academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/Blanche-DuBois/484648. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.

Williams, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire. Signet Book, 1947.