Character Analysis Of Blanche Dubois In A Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire is one of Tennessee’s most well-known pieces of literature. Blanche DuBois is the main character and is arguably the most iconic character. There are multiple interpretations of her as well. Blanche has conflicting identities throughout the story that cause her to make bad decisions and end up in an institution. Blanche has many experiences that add to her trauma throughout her life. To begin with, Blanche was married, at a very young age, to Allan Grey. She one day found him with another man and responded to him by telling him that he is “disgusting.” Her act of cruelty led Allan to commit suicide. This trauma is still with Blanche throughout the story. Later on, when she meets Mitch, she confesses to him that she had “intimacies with strangers” because it was the only way to “fill her empty heart.” She also admits to having an intimate …show more content…
However, when an incident occurred with Stanley, that Blanche did not make up, Stella could not believe her. In scene 11, Blanche told Stanley that Mitch came by to basically apologize to her and beg for her forgiveness. This led to Stanley finally giving in and arguing with her about how she lies, uses imagination, and conceitedness. She tried to get by him, but he would not allow that, and so she warned him that something bad will happen. She picks up a bottle and smashes it so that it is spiked and broken, as if to use it as a weapon. He charges at her and grabs her wrist. He ended the scene by mentioning “We’ve had this date with each other from the beginning!” (1877) The commentary adds that he picks her up by the waist and carries her to the bed. This implies that he rapes her. The next scene starts off by Stella mentioning “I don’t know if I did the right thing, I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley.” (1878) This later foreshadows that she calls the institution to come pick her sister