How Meaning Is Created in the Play “a Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams

How meaning is created in the play “A Streetcar named Desire” by Tennessee Williams

Author Tennessee Williams creates meaning in the play “A Streetcar named Desire” in a number of ways. It is his use of symbolism and interesting in-depth characters that bring meaning to the play.

The characteristics that the characters possess create meaning within the play. Williams is in fact critiquing the traditional gender roles in society and through the characters of Blanche and Stanley, he manages to get his view across. Stanley represents everything, which is seen as masculine, rough, honest and passionate while Blanche appears to be very feminine, innocent, gentle and refined. These two characters appear to be opposites abut actually both are very passionate and sexual people. Blanche just pretends to be all that a woman is supposed to be. The constant inner conflict, which Blanche experiences between whom she really is, and who she pretends to be is what in the end ultimately leads to her fall. Through this manner of putting Blanche in a different context, of putting her in the town of Belle Rêve, Williams reveals Blanches true character.

Blanche is representative of a lot of symbolism in the play, for example her bathing rituals. She tries to convince herself and others that she is clean yet actually, her past and present desires rob her of the innocence she tries so hard to acquire. She is also seen constantly dressing in her white suit again to try show her innocence and hiding her carnal desires. At times, however this desire comes through and reveals some of her true character such as when she kisses the milk boy. The street where Blanche and Stanley live, Elysian Fields, represents the place where worthy souls go once they die which suggests that Blanche has come to Belle Rêve to live her new worthy life. It is also no coincidence that she takes the streetcar named Cemeteries to get there. This all suggests that Blanche left her old life behind and came...