An Explanation on Blanche’s Tragedy in A Streetcar Named Desire

Qiang ZHANG

Abstract


This paper mainly focused on the character and social origin that caused the tragedy of Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire written by Tennessee Williams. The personality of Blanche is one of the author’s fantabulous creations. On the one hand, Blanche wanted to go after a new life and true love; on the other hand, she was not scared of confronting the fact of life. The division of her individuality led to her tragic fate. Blanche was a victim of two vicious systems: feudalism of the old South and capitalism of the rejuvenated union. The moral standard and value of life made her incapable of doing something. She regarded men as the anchor for her life and lacked resolution to live in the society. Finally, she was dropped by men as well as the society. A Streetcar Named Desire proposes an incisive comment on the way institutions and manner of postwar America imposed restrictions on women’s lives, and also demonstrates the embarrassing situation of Southern women in contemporary society


Keywords


Blanche’s tragedy; Streetcar; Desire

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/n

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