A Streetcar Named Desire & Symbolism

Brandon Miszke

Professor Brady

English 102

28, February 2012

           

People place meaning on objects, which creates symbols of hope, love, anger, desire and grief, sometimes without even realizing. Authors use symbols and motifs constantly to highlight hidden concepts and ideas for the reader to find. In A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams there is a use of everyday activities and objects to conceal the suppressed feeling that people experience. Williams uses such symbols and motifs to allow readers to enter the minds of his characters and feel what they are going through. 

There are many symbols used to express underlining ideas in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. Williams uses things that we encounter everyday and gives them a deeper meaning. One symbol in the play is the package of meat that Stanley heaves at Stella. The stage directions say, “He heaves the package at her. She cries out in protest but manages to catch it. Then laughs breathlessly” (Williams, 1166).  The meat is symbolic of Stanley and Stella’s physical relationship. At first she is reluctant at first to catch the raw meat but gives in and laughs about it. Stella catching the meat represents how she yearns to be with Stanley in a physical way. This scenario expresses that he is the dominate male figure in his house hold. Stella and Stanley have this pure physical relationship. Stanly in fact just treats Stella like a piece of meat all through the play. He slaps her around and then they get the colored lights going which refers to them having a pure physical relationship. Blanche sees this and tries to get her sister out of this abusive relationship. Unfortunately Stella is blinded by her attraction and can’t leave him. This is even after he hits her as she is pregnant. Williams uses this symbol and others to portray Stanly and Stellas relationship.

Williams often uses music as a symbol. Blanche constantly hears this music in her head and she can’t escape it. Varsouviana Polka is the music that taunts her whenever she has her dead husband Allan on her mind. The polka music represents tragedy in Blanche’s life. The music started the night of her husband’s death and constantly plays when there is a tragedy in her life. It all started after she comforted Allan and said, “I saw! I know! You disgust me…” (Blanche, 1212). These seven words pushed Allan to his breaking point causing him to run outside and take a revolver to his head. With that shot that ended her marriage, the music always stops. There is also the music from the blue piano that plays when Blanche feels all alone. This represents Blanche’s desperation to not be alone. It’s heard when she talks about the loss of her family and home. The music also plays when she kisses the young paper boy out of desperation to be with someone. As Blanche calls the young man back to the door, the “the Blue Piano” is heard. It continues through the rest of this scene and the opening of the next.” (Williams, 1204). Williams uses all of this music as a portal into Blanche’s thoughts to help you understand why she does what she does.  Symbols aren’t the only thing that Williams uses to conceal ideas from the readers, he also uses motifs as an outlet for ideas.

Motifs play a major part in Williams writing. They allow the reader to discover key concepts that he is trying to get across about the characters without actually stating them. One motif used is Blanche constantly bathing all day. She takes theses baths to calm her nerves but also to help her wash away her past and escape all the torment that she is going through. She is constantly fighting her past and trying to move past it. Coming to live with Stella and Stanley is her way of leaving it all behind to start over fresh. When taking these baths it’s as almost as if it washes the pain she feels down the drain. She yearns for that new clean feeling you get after a shower when everything feels all brand new and clean. Mitch is this new fresh start that she has been waiting for. Mitch is just what Blanche needs to have a happy life once again. But in order to have this new life she must keep her past hidden and not let Mitch find out that she really wasn’t always the respectful lady she is now. This relates Blanche’s inability to accept the truth so she tries to wash it all away like it never happened .But after Mitch finds out the truth and Stanley viciously rapes her, she turns to bathing to once again make her pure. Williams says at the start of scene 11, “It is some weeks later. Stella is packing Blanche’s things. Sounds of water can be heard running in the bathroom.” (Williams, 1231). Blanche is taking a bath to cleanse her body and make it pure after Stanley violated her. The bath water makes her pure in her mind.

Another Motif is the bare light bulb that hangs in Stanley and Stella’s room. This light bulb when exposed reveals the truth. Blanche hides her true self from Mitch by lying about her age and hides from light so he doesn’t get a real good look at her.  She even goes as far as to buy a paper lantern to cove the exposed light bulb. This shade almost represents her because she is covering up the truth and trying to start new. The second she meets Mitch she says, “I brought this adorable little colored paper lantern at a Chinese shop on Bourbon. Put it over the light bulb! Will you, please?”(Blanche, 1189). She has Mitch put the light shade on because she knows he would never accept the real her. This concept supports the prominent theme of Fantasy vs. reality. This light helps her create this illusion that she is younger because the rooms so dim he can’t really get a good look at her. This light bulb and shade helps her create this magical illusion and allows her to escape from the truth. But this is only temporary because when Mitch finds out she has lied about everything he says she isn’t clean enough to take home to his mother.

Symbols have strong meanings into relationships and give the reader insight into the thoughts and actions of the characters. They stand for things that aren’t told or expressed with words. Tennessee Williams uses symbolism and motifs to his advantage and provides a door that’s open for interpretation. This allows his literature to be relatable to a wide Variety of people. He allows the reader to enter Blanches mind through the light bulb, bath, and music. Williams also uses a simple thing a meat to sum up Stella and Stanley’s relationship. Everyone one puts themselves into something, some people just loses them self’s.

Works Cited

Williams, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire [a Play. New York: New Directions, 1947. Print.