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'Shame lies at the heart of every character'. Self and identity in…
'Shame lies at the heart of every character'. Self and identity in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'
BLANCHE'S TRUNK
Blanche's trunk represents her loss of identity, The trunk holds Blanche's old poetry written by Allen, and the Belle Reve papers. These both expose her downfall as a 'Southern Belle' and as a wife.
The evidence that Blanche lost Belle Reve (kept in the trunk), evidences the loss of her 'beautiful dream', which may have been why she felt slightly hesitant to show them to Stanley.
BLANCHE'S BATHING
Blanche is obsessively bathing, reflecting her desire to be morally clean and thus further reflecting a feeling of guilt.
Blanche feels responsible for Allen's suicide and struggles to forgive herself.
THE USE OF LIGHT
Light is used by Williams throughout the play as a defining theme to emphasise the contrast between Blanche and Stella's personality.
'Her face is serene in the early morning sunlight'
Stella, though having slept with Stanley the night before (after he hits her), feels clearly no shame. Allowing herself to be exposed in the scrutinising light.
Stella feels less shame because she has not bound herself to the cultural expectations of the 'Southern Belle'. Stella does not feel shame in allowing herself to be dominated by the increasingly powerful values of the working class in New Orleans.
Blanche of course avoids light at all costs.
'Her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light'.
She does so in an attempt to adhere to the beauty ideals of the Southern Belle, which she wants to dominate her identity.
Blanche's interest in covering the raw light bulb with a lampshade and having it ripped off by Mitch is very symbolic of her desire to hide.
DEPENDENCE ON MEN
Blanche's identity relies soley on men, claiming
'you've got to have your existence admitted by someone, if you're going to have protection'.
Blanche tries to recruit Shep Huntleigh to help her and Stella.
Stella stays with Stanley, though Blanche tells her she was raped. Stella chooses to believe Stanley because she has built a life with him, and would have no way to support herself as a single mother.
Blanche looks to marry Mitch, though she doesn't really want to, to ensure her protection from her own reputation.
In order to do this, she constructs an image that she think can deceive Mitch into marrying her. He helps her put the lampshade on the light bulb, unknowingly helping her conceal herself. He then rips it off when he wants to see her properly and realises she is 'dirty'. 'You're not clean enough to bring in the house with my mother'.
Blanche says
'I want to deceive him enough to make him--want me...'
to which Stella replies
'Blanche, do you want him?'
Stella is well aware of her sister's instability
Blanche constructs a facade identity that she thinks will allow her to become a married woman. Her true identity is that of stability and masculine reliance.
Stella's identity is dominated by Stanley whose working class values overpower her Southern Belle values, which Blanche still posseses.
'I pulled you down from them collumns',
Stanley tells Stella. He is proud of his dominance, using his virile masculinity to do the same to Blanche.
THE AMERICAN DREAM
Blanche, Stella and Stanley all have very different visions of their 'american dream', which was a concept that had emerged following the great depression
Stanley's american dream was that of the new emerging type, an adherence to meritocracy (which is arguably quite a masculine vision) whilst Blanche's american dream was that of aristocracy, and inheriting your fortune.
Along with this, Blanche emphasises her belief in the inheritance of values. Blanche cherishes her southern Belle ideals, whilst Stanley believes in more working class social values, dragging Stella with him
This is exhibited most clearly when Blanche walks into the space when the men are playing poker and implores that they
'don't get up'.
Stanley bluntly replies
'nobody's going to get up'.