Even though delusions can be used as a defence mechanism during hard times, in the end, it is inevitable that reality will triumph. Blanche’s own perception of herself falls apart slowly throughout the play, and eventually her overwhelming reality leads to her complete withdrawal from the real world. We begin to see Blanche unravel once her self perception is questioned by those around her; most obviously by Stanley. Stanley is very much the opposite of Blanche; he is grounded, practical, and bases his beliefs off of reality. In the play, he is constantly trying to reveal Blanche’s true identity and dissipate her fantasies; this is fully represented when he rapes her. Blanche’s ideal vision of innocence and love is symbolically stripped away
