Analytical Essay
Academic Year 2020-2021
A Streetcar Named Desire
Author: Williams Tennessee
Factors that contribute to Blanche’s decline and ultimate downfall
Sorawit Chalermnai Mark
Grade 12 Section 1206
Student ID : 6161024
English Teacher: Mr. Daniel Montefusco
In the play, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, by Tennessee Williams, The writer's use of
direct and indirect characterization of Blanche DuBois reveals a classic modern tragic
protagonist who lives in her own idealized version of reality, ideals that simply cannot be
sustained and are destined to end tragically in the face of her actual circumstances. The two main
factors contributing to Blanche’s ultimate downfall are her own idealism and the loss of her
loved ones.
One of the determinants that influences Blanche to face mental health decline is her
idealistic world. In the opening scene, the author first introduces the story of Blanche, a young
schoolteacher who loses her ancestral home, Belle Reve, and is currently forced to leave her job
after mixing up with a male student. At this point, Blanche literally has nowhere to go; her sister
Stella is the only one whom she can rely on. When Blanche first moves to live with Stella at
Elysian Fields, she characterizes herself as an upper class woman who is superior to those in
Kowalski’s apartment. “I thought you would never come back to this horrible place! … Out there
I suppose is the ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir!” (Blanche, pp.8-9) This quotation
demonstrates how Blanche thinks that Stella and she are still in the wealthy family who do not
belong to live in such a tiny, antique apartment. However, this thought is just an idealism she
creates to hide the reality because the fact that she has lost her home is so hard to accept.
Besides, Blanche also creates the illusion about her former suitor, Shep Huntleigh, who is a
millionaire. “I received a telegram from an old admirer of mine … An invitation … to A cruise
of the Caribbean on a yacht!” (Blanche, pp.133) From this, it indicates that Blanche is overly
idealistic about her perfect life: being rich and having a good man by her side. Soon later, when
all of this fancy world of hers is over, Blanche immediately faces difficulty in her mental illness
because the imagination she draws does not come true as she expects. It is just an illusion that
helps make her feel less lonely and less painful about her loss. These two idealism Blanche
creates, mainly about her superiority, are key elements that lead to her decline and ultimate
downfall.
Another principal factor that contributes to Blanche’s mental collapse is Mitch’s
rejection. At the beginning of the play, Williams depicts Blanche as a character who seeks love
and attention due to the fact that she has already lost her loved ones, not only her parents but also
her homosexual husband. When she first meets Mitch, she is really into him and views him as
someone whom she has been looking for. At one point, both of them think that they do really
belong to one another and up until the point where Blanche thinks that Mitch will marry her.
Nonetheless, her dream wedding is ruined after Stanley found out about her past and told his best
friend. “I don’t think I want to marry you anymore … You’re not clean enough to bring in the
house with my mother.” (Mitch, pp.131) This quote reveals the changes of Mitch’s perspective
towards Blanche; he no longer thinks that Blanche will meet his mother’s expectation after
knowing about the facade she puts on to cover her past. According to the play, Blanche has
mentioned earlier that Mitch actually is her last hope; plus, she is pretty sure that he will
definitely marry her. In short, the idea of getting married is already embedded in her mind; the
reality, however, is the other round. Thus, by being rejected by her loved one, Blanche’s mental
health soon deteriorates.
To conclude, William’s use of direct and indirect characterization (depicting Blanche as a
character of weakness and illustrating how Blanche responds to Mitch’s marriage refusal) reveals
a tragic protagonist Blanche who is overwhelmed by the illusion of her fantasy world and soon
has to face her own tragic downfall due to her idealism and the rejection of her loved one.
