Illusion Vs. Reality In A Streetcar Named Desire

Unexpected flashback. The Varsouviana polka plays at a distance, the atmosphere is cherishable and lighthearted. Suddenly, an ear-splitting bang is heard. Strangers frantically run in all directions around the street. The four stages of grief become an unanticipated obligation, but that realization has not yet been reached. Sudden flash forward. Back to reality, standing in the apartment with Mitch. This chaotic cycle is not uncommon for Blanche. Her traumatic past influences nearly every aspect of her life. It is inescapable. In A Streetcar Named Desire, playwright Tennessee Williams gradually reveals Blanche’s intense disillusionment with the aid of stylistic elements. Although her situation significantly contrasts the extent to which Stella and Stanley view reality, all three share an underlying similarity of attempting to avoid it. Williams uses the recurring theme of illusion versus reality in order to further portray the imperfection of his play’s characters.

Blanche’s world is an illusion when she repeatedly attempts to escape the harsh circumstances around her, her past, and the lack of true confidence in herself. When Blanche moves into Stanley and Stella’s apartment, she immediately feels out of place and unwelcomed. The opening scene of the play reinforces this notion; she is shocked at how …show more content…
The three main characters in the play face similar struggles as they all try to avoid the world as it naturally exists. Williams uses a foundation of past, motives, and beliefs in order to further amplify the weaknesses of each character, and even the human nature itself in general. Flashbacks and the inevitability of facing the past are not controllable. However, to measure the integrity of a characters, one must consider how they handle being forced to return to the