Streetcar Named Desire Light

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In “A Streetcar Named Desire”, Tennessee Williams uses the symbol of light as a contrast to Blanche’s shady personality. Throughout the play, Blanche comes across as very untrustworthy and suspicious. Her reaction to light during the story can be interpreted as her trying to hide from the truth and her past in Laurel, as well as hiding from the fact that she is aging and her beauty is fading away. Right away, Blanche is introduced with a comparison to light when Williams says “her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light. There is something about her uncertain manner, as well as her white clothes, that suggests a moth” (1779). If light represents the truth and reality, this passage can be deciphered as her avoiding the truth and would rather …show more content…

Turn that off! I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare” (1781). Her opposition to light is really emphasized by describing the light as “merciless”. Later on, Williams notes that “she (Blanche) takes off the blouse and stands in her pink silk brassiere and white skirt in the light through the portieres. The game has continued in undertones” (1797). While this passage appears to contradict Blache’s dislike of the light, it shows that she is only willing to stand in the light in order to be noticed by others, specifically the men playing poker. This is an expression of her aspiration to still be found sexually appealing like when she was …show more content…

When people are soft-soft people have got to shimmer and glow - they’ve got to put on soft colors, the colors of butterfly sings, and put a - paper lantern over the light…. It isn’t enough to be soft and attractive. And I - I’m fading now! I don’t know how much longer I can turn the trick” (1810-1811). This passage from Blanche during her and Stella’s conversation is followed by Stella going into the room to turn on the light under the paper lantern. Blanche’s statement shows that she is afraid aging and fading beauty. Covering up the light with the paper lantern can be compared to her hiding from that reality. By saying “I’m fading now”, Blanche is being compared to a light, and the fact that her physical appearance, social status, and her influence or ability to “turn the trick” over others is

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