Blanche Dubois enters the lives of Stanley and Stella Kowalski when she arrives at their apartment at Elysian Fields. The beautiful and cultured Blanche clashes with the primitive Stanley. However, unlike the cultured Blanche first seen, the real Blanche is penniless and has a history with many men. When Stanley reveals Blanche’s impure past to everybody, Blanche struggles to continue and ends up in a mental facility. The deterioration of Blanche’s character is a result of her attempts to and inability to keep the facade. To Tennessee Williams, hiding behind an illusion is pointless because reality will always come around.
A great appearance means a great deal to Blanche. In Blanche’s wardrobe lies feathers, furs, pearls, bracelets, …show more content…
She even deliberately covers the small light bulb in the Kowalski 's apartment with a paper lantern to dim it. After all, “a woman’s charm is fifty percent illusion” (41), and Blanche’s flamboyant clothes and constant fishing for compliments and attention shows her emphasis on physical appearance. She is an aging, unmarried Southern Belle, used to being pampered. As the days pass, she grows increasingly worried about others’ opinion of her. Under dim light, individuals may not see the wrinkles on her face, but will notice the overall design of her face. Hopefully, her entrancing smiles will captivate them enough to not care about the aging. Her method works to some extent. Her love interest, Mitch, is fond of Blanche and, the two often have fun with each other while in dim light. Unfortunately, the world is not in dim light. Blanche refuses to go out before the evening because the sun is out and threatens to reveal the true nature of her appearance. Mitch finally confronts her about her fear of lights and admits that he does not mind Blanche being “older than what [he] thought” (145). Instead, he is more upset at her lies, especially with regard to her old-fashioned ideals. Despite her wishes, the aging Southern Belle cannot hide her flaws forever. When the truth comes out, all of her ingenuine charm dissipates and leaves a frail, insecure shadow. Blanche dooms her relationship with Mitch by building it upon a foundation of lies and fake
A great appearance means a great deal to Blanche. In Blanche’s wardrobe lies feathers, furs, pearls, bracelets, …show more content…
She even deliberately covers the small light bulb in the Kowalski 's apartment with a paper lantern to dim it. After all, “a woman’s charm is fifty percent illusion” (41), and Blanche’s flamboyant clothes and constant fishing for compliments and attention shows her emphasis on physical appearance. She is an aging, unmarried Southern Belle, used to being pampered. As the days pass, she grows increasingly worried about others’ opinion of her. Under dim light, individuals may not see the wrinkles on her face, but will notice the overall design of her face. Hopefully, her entrancing smiles will captivate them enough to not care about the aging. Her method works to some extent. Her love interest, Mitch, is fond of Blanche and, the two often have fun with each other while in dim light. Unfortunately, the world is not in dim light. Blanche refuses to go out before the evening because the sun is out and threatens to reveal the true nature of her appearance. Mitch finally confronts her about her fear of lights and admits that he does not mind Blanche being “older than what [he] thought” (145). Instead, he is more upset at her lies, especially with regard to her old-fashioned ideals. Despite her wishes, the aging Southern Belle cannot hide her flaws forever. When the truth comes out, all of her ingenuine charm dissipates and leaves a frail, insecure shadow. Blanche dooms her relationship with Mitch by building it upon a foundation of lies and fake