A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is a play about a former high school teacher, Blanche Dubois, who moved in with her sister and husband, Stella and Stanley. Blanche Dubois has been through many difficulties in order to fulfill the emptiness that is within her. Her young husband, Allen Gray committed suicide, she lost Belle Reve, and she lost her stature in Laurel. The driving force behind these actions were the empowerment of her desires. Williams uses allusions to develop the theme of desire as seen in Blanche and those allusions are Arabian Nights, My Rosenkavalier, and Elysian Fields.
Blanche uses the allusion Arabian Nights to show her desire of wanting to be with young men to relive the moments she had with her young husband, …show more content…
Blanche makes reference to this allusion when Mitch was coming forth with a bouquet of roses seconds after the paperboy left. Blanche addresses him in an excited and happy manner. She says, “Look who’s coming! My Rosenkavalier! Bow to me first… now present them! Ahhhh-Merciiii!” (Williams 99). The origin of My Rosenkavalier is known as follows: Der Rosenkavalier, meaning the knight of the roses, is the title of a 1911 opera by German composer Richard Strauss. Der Rosenkavalier is a tale of the married aristocratic Marshallian and her young male lover Count Octavian. The statement ‘Rosenkavalier’ refers to Octavian acting as the person who presents the ceremonial silver rose Sophie for Baron Ochs (Sophie and Ochs were intended to wed). Octavian and Sophie fall in love. In the end, realizing the impossibility of their love and their inevitability of losing him, the Marshallian chooses to set Octavian free (“Looking Deeper into the Allusions in A Streetcar Named Desire” par. 2). The significance of Blanche alluding to this allusion at that specific time is because Blanche is the damsel in distress. She needs to be rescued and in this case Mitch was her hero. Furthermore the roses throughout the play were used to symbolize the relationship of Mitch and Blanche. When Mitch brought forth the roses the very first time, they were beautiful and …show more content…
Elysian Fields is known to be a plane of existence reserved for the souls of the most heroic and virtuous individuals. However, in A Streetcar Named Desire, Elysian Fields is not only the street that Stanley and Stella live on, but a poor, and unmaintained street. This allusion was used when Blanche arrived at Stella’s home and was surprised with what she sees. She says in confusion to her neighbour Eunice, “They told me to take A street car named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at Elysian Fields!” (Williams 16). The significance of this allusion to Blanche’s desires is as follows: According to Blanche Elysian Fields symbolizes her new life. Little did she know that the mistakes, habits, and desires that she had left back in Laurel also came on the journey with her and are instilled know instilled within her. In conclusion, Blanche comes to New Orleans in search of a new life and with different desires but soon realizes that Elysian Fields is her ultimate downfall and not any different than
Blanche uses the allusion Arabian Nights to show her desire of wanting to be with young men to relive the moments she had with her young husband, …show more content…
Blanche makes reference to this allusion when Mitch was coming forth with a bouquet of roses seconds after the paperboy left. Blanche addresses him in an excited and happy manner. She says, “Look who’s coming! My Rosenkavalier! Bow to me first… now present them! Ahhhh-Merciiii!” (Williams 99). The origin of My Rosenkavalier is known as follows: Der Rosenkavalier, meaning the knight of the roses, is the title of a 1911 opera by German composer Richard Strauss. Der Rosenkavalier is a tale of the married aristocratic Marshallian and her young male lover Count Octavian. The statement ‘Rosenkavalier’ refers to Octavian acting as the person who presents the ceremonial silver rose Sophie for Baron Ochs (Sophie and Ochs were intended to wed). Octavian and Sophie fall in love. In the end, realizing the impossibility of their love and their inevitability of losing him, the Marshallian chooses to set Octavian free (“Looking Deeper into the Allusions in A Streetcar Named Desire” par. 2). The significance of Blanche alluding to this allusion at that specific time is because Blanche is the damsel in distress. She needs to be rescued and in this case Mitch was her hero. Furthermore the roses throughout the play were used to symbolize the relationship of Mitch and Blanche. When Mitch brought forth the roses the very first time, they were beautiful and …show more content…
Elysian Fields is known to be a plane of existence reserved for the souls of the most heroic and virtuous individuals. However, in A Streetcar Named Desire, Elysian Fields is not only the street that Stanley and Stella live on, but a poor, and unmaintained street. This allusion was used when Blanche arrived at Stella’s home and was surprised with what she sees. She says in confusion to her neighbour Eunice, “They told me to take A street car named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at Elysian Fields!” (Williams 16). The significance of this allusion to Blanche’s desires is as follows: According to Blanche Elysian Fields symbolizes her new life. Little did she know that the mistakes, habits, and desires that she had left back in Laurel also came on the journey with her and are instilled know instilled within her. In conclusion, Blanche comes to New Orleans in search of a new life and with different desires but soon realizes that Elysian Fields is her ultimate downfall and not any different than