Light In A Streetcar Named Desire

In A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams develops a story of two estranged sisters. Blanche comes to New Orleans from Mississippi, mourning the loss of her husband, and attempts to connect with Stella after years of separation. Blanche, throughout the novel, has light shone upon her and her story of what really happened to her and the sisters’ family plantation. Light, within the play, serves a crucial role in developing Blanche’s character and, ultimately, the truth of why Blanche really comes to New Orleans. Williams begins the story with Blanche arriving at dusk, looking for her sister. Blanche comes with tragic news of the loss of Belle Reve, their family estate. Blanche gives vague responses when Stella asks about the loss, and she lies about her teaching job. Darkness is reflective of the lies and the bent truths that Blanche provides. Blanche, being compared to a moth, is lost in darkness and goes to Stella, meaning star, as the light she seeks. Blanche, the moth, develops conflict with Stanley, the predator of the animal kingdom, in which hostility

In the scene, the room is filled with the afternoon’s light and the reality of Blanche’s past and Stanley’s innate being is disclosed. Stanley, skeptical of Blanche’s arrival, goes searching for her whereabouts. Stanley returns with rumors of Blanche’s expulsion from the city of Laurel, but Stella refuses to believe them. Additionally, Blanche uses the light to highlight Stanley’s abusive, animalistic character, underscoring his episodes of violence and aggression. Blanche hovers around Stella, her comfort and security, and starts to pester Stella and Stanley with her presence; this further underscores Blanche’s symbolic resemblance to a moth. Blanche values the complacency of her sister and avoids the contentious and bitter reality of her past by remaining hidden from the