According to Psychologytoday.com, the term “Desire” derives itself from the Latin word Desiderare, meaning, ‘To long or wish for’. Desires are often regarded as sexual, lustful urges for pleasure and satisfaction. However, our desires can be a result of personal insecurities that we may feel and in turn, we desire to feel secure and comfortable at any costs. A Streetcar Named Desire written by Tennessee Williams is a play that displays the theme of “desire” in many scenes but not only in a sexual way. Desire is shown within the play through Stanley’s desire for power and control, Blanche’s desire for security and her desire to live in a fantasy world. Stanley portrays the alpha male where he shows dominance over other characters and takes
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Throughout the play, we see the contrast between Blanche’s desire to live in her fantasy world and her reality. In scene nine of the play Blanche states, “I don’t want realism. I want magic! (Mitch laughs) Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don’t tell the truth, I tell what ought to be truth” (Williams, 145). In this quote, Blanche’s desire for her fantasy world is seen as she states how what she believes is her real life should be true rather that what her reality is. She refuses to accept what she is doing is wrong but rather lets her desire take over of living in a fantasy world. While in the bath, Blanche sings the song It’s only a paper moon. The lyrics of the song symbolize Blanche’s inner desires and feelings as the song relay the idea of having others believe in your fantasy world rather than I realty. Blanche sings, “It’s only a paper moon, Just as phony as it can be- But it wouldn’t be make- believe If you believed in me!” (Williams, 121). Through this song, Blanche expresses her true desire for others to believe in her fantasy world rather than choosing to live in her reality. Blanche truly believes she can get by in life by lying about her own along with others believing in it too. Her desires to live in her fantasy world ultimately leads her to her down fall as her reality is
Throughout the play, we see the contrast between Blanche’s desire to live in her fantasy world and her reality. In scene nine of the play Blanche states, “I don’t want realism. I want magic! (Mitch laughs) Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don’t tell the truth, I tell what ought to be truth” (Williams, 145). In this quote, Blanche’s desire for her fantasy world is seen as she states how what she believes is her real life should be true rather that what her reality is. She refuses to accept what she is doing is wrong but rather lets her desire take over of living in a fantasy world. While in the bath, Blanche sings the song It’s only a paper moon. The lyrics of the song symbolize Blanche’s inner desires and feelings as the song relay the idea of having others believe in your fantasy world rather than I realty. Blanche sings, “It’s only a paper moon, Just as phony as it can be- But it wouldn’t be make- believe If you believed in me!” (Williams, 121). Through this song, Blanche expresses her true desire for others to believe in her fantasy world rather than choosing to live in her reality. Blanche truly believes she can get by in life by lying about her own along with others believing in it too. Her desires to live in her fantasy world ultimately leads her to her down fall as her reality is