Tennessee Williams, born Thomas Lanier Williams, is not only known for being a “talented, perceptive and influential American playwright” (Day 1987, vii), but also for his frequent use of symbols. “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1947), the work which will be dealt with in this paper, is a good example for of usage, since it contains a lot of different kinds of symbolism, for example concerning colours, names, music and many more.
Numerous works will be found, if anyone searches for essays about symbolism in Williams’ works. Moreover, it is common knowledge that Streetcar is a play which deals not only superficially with a woman going insane, but a play which “bring[s] into violent contrast a neurotic woman’s dream world and the animalistic realism of her brother-in-law” (back of the book in the Diesterweg edition). But since there does not seem to be any work which deals with the question of how exactly Williams drew this contrast by use of symbolism, it will be my aim in this paper to analyse this question. Consequently, I will try to point out the main symbols with which Williams underlined the contrast between realism and illusion, especially considering names, colours, clothes, light, music and certain rituals of the main characters.
In the second part of this paper, I will deal with the question to what degree the main characters Stanley and Blanche are strictly opposed to each other or may have something in common. I will also deal with the meaning of the ending concerning realism and illusion. Therefore, what will be discussed are the most striking antinomies and similes in the main characters’ attitudes. A general conclusion about the topic of symbolism in Tennessee Williams’ Streetcar will be given in the end.
To introduce the reader to the topic and also to justify my choice of symbols, a definition of the notion of symbolism will be given right at the beginning of this paper. This will be done by including different approaches, so that a broader definition can be given. Furthermore, for this paper is based on symbolism in Streetcar by Tennessee Williams, it may also be very interesting for the reader to have a look at Williams’ attitude towards symbols which will be done at the end of the second chapter.
One last point to mention in this introduction is that due to space restrictions not all symbols concerning the topic of illusion and realism can be discussed in this paper. Nevertheless, it is my aim to present the most striking ones.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Symbolism in Literature
3 Symbols of Illusion and Realism in Streetcar
3.1 The Symbolism of Names
3.2 The Symbolism of Colours and Clothes
3.3 Symbolism of Music
3.4 Symbolism of Light
3.5 Symbolism of Rituals
4 Antinomies and Similarities of Stanley and Blanche
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper aims to analyze how Tennessee Williams employs various forms of symbolism to establish the contrast between realism and illusion in the play "A Streetcar Named Desire". Furthermore, it explores the complex relationship between the protagonists, Stanley and Blanche, by examining their conflicting characters, attitudes, and eventual fates.
- Analysis of recurrent symbols including names, colors, clothing, and music.
- Examination of the dichotomy between Blanche's illusory world and Stanley's animalistic realism.
- Evaluation of the character dynamics and the struggle for dominance.
- Discussion on the meaning of the play's conclusion regarding truth and reality.
Excerpt from the Book
The Symbolism of Names
Starting with the name of the female protagonist, we see that in the course of the play she herself gives an interpretation for it. Blanche DuBois, being French by extraction, tells Mitch that her last name “means wood and Blanche means white, so the two together mean white woods” (Williams 1975, 36). She even goes on and compares it to an orchard in the spring. But although her translation may be correct, her interpretation of her own name is actually the first symbol of illusion. Blanche likes the idea of her name having a romantic meaning, but as the real Blanche is already “past her spring” (Cohn 1971, 60), so is a forest whose colour is white, which suggests more likely decay or even death. The fact that the colour white is not only a translation of her name, but remains an important symbol throughout the whole play will be discussed in the next subsection.
In contrast to Blanche, Stanley’s name bears the meaning of a stone clearing (Campbell 2009). This meaning obviously stands in opposition to her last name, meaning wood and is symbolic for him being stronger than Blanche. In general, Stanley is not a “soft character” as Blanche describes herself, but a person who likes to be in power. As stones are very hard and cold objects, Stanley’s character is alike, which can be proven by the fact that he shows no mercy towards Blanche, but even seems to enjoy destroying her illusions one by one. It is also striking, as Cohn explains in her essay, that “the hard consonants of Stanley Kowalski contrast with the open vowels of Blanche DuBois” (Cohn 1971, 62). Even this unobtrusive phonological difference shows how diverse these two characters are.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of Tennessee Williams' use of symbolism and defines the research scope regarding the contrast between realism and illusion in the play.
2 Symbolism in Literature: This section establishes a theoretical foundation for the study of symbols by referencing various literary critics and defining the term within the context of drama.
3 Symbols of Illusion and Realism in Streetcar: This core chapter categorizes and analyzes specific symbolic elements including character names, visual markers like color and clothing, auditory symbols such as music, and the thematic use of light and personal rituals.
3.1 The Symbolism of Names: Analyzes the etymological meanings of the characters' names and place names to reveal underlying ironies and personality traits.
3.2 The Symbolism of Colours and Clothes: Discusses how the characters' wardrobe choices, particularly white and red, reflect their inner states and attempts to project specific images.
3.3 Symbolism of Music: Explores how background sounds and songs like the "Varsouviana" serve as markers of trauma, insanity, and unfulfilled desires.
3.4 Symbolism of Light: Examines light as a mechanism of exposure and truth, highlighting Blanche’s desperate attempts to obscure reality.
3.5 Symbolism of Rituals: Interprets the characters' recurring behaviors, specifically Blanche’s bathing and Stanley’s poker games, as manifestations of their worldviews.
4 Antinomies and Similarities of Stanley and Blanche: Investigates the extent to which the two protagonists are truly binary opposites or if they share common human frailties and victimization.
5 Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming that while the play pits realism against illusion, the characters are ultimately portrayed as mutual victims of their own desires and limitations.
Keywords
Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire, Symbolism, Realism, Illusion, Blanche DuBois, Stanley Kowalski, Drama, Literature, Identity, Psychology, Conflict, Narrative Symbols, Modern Theatre, Character Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the pervasive use of symbolism in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" to illustrate the conflicting forces of illusion and reality.
Which central thematic areas are explored?
The themes include the juxtaposition of a neurotic woman's dream world against the animalistic realism of her brother-in-law, analyzed through visual, aural, and ritualistic symbols.
What is the central research question?
The author aims to investigate how exactly Williams uses symbolic elements to create a violent contrast between Blanche's illusions and Stanley's realism.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The research is based on a close reading and literary analysis of the play, incorporating secondary critical literature to support the interpretation of symbols.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main part covers the symbolism of names, colors, clothing, music, light, and character rituals, followed by a comparative analysis of Stanley and Blanche.
How would you describe the key terms of the work?
Key terms include symbolism, illusion, realism, character antagonism, and psychological vulnerability.
What role does the "Varsouviana" polka play?
The polka serves as an aural symbol of Blanche's guilt over her husband's suicide and represents the intrusion of a painful past that eventually leads to her mental decline.
How is the "paper lantern" interpreted in the text?
The lantern is seen as a symbol of Blanche's protection against reality; its removal by Stanley represents the triumph of harsh truth over her fragile illusions.
Does the author conclude that Stanley is the clear "winner"?
No, the paper argues that both Stanley and Blanche end up as "mutual victims of desire," suggesting that their conflicting worldviews have left both characters deeply scarred.
- Citation du texte
- Ilona Sontag (Auteur), 2009, Reality and Illusion in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/146515
