In the drama, "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams, Williams uses the motif of lighting throughout the novel to develop the character of Blanche. The way Blanche reacts to light can be seen as her attempt to hide her true character, hide her vanishing youth and beauty, and attempt to avoid reality.
Blanche hides in the darkness, and avoids the light, as a way to escape reality. This idea is represented when Mitch attempts to turn on the light, "I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic...-Don't turn the light on!" (Williams page 117) This example from the text demonstrates Blanches attempt to hide from reality by trying to get rid of direct lighting. Blanche wants to live in a unrealistic, fantasy world, and she attempts this by hiding from her real life, in the shadows. This idea was expressed once more during the novel. "And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that's stronger than this--kitchen--candle." (Williams p. 115). Blanche tells Mitch the shocking details of her marriage to Allan. She …show more content…
"And turn that over-light off! Turn that off! I won't be looked at it in this merciless glare!" (Williams Page 19) Blanches reaction to the "merciless glare" of the light is seen as her way for avoiding her aging self. Once Blanche is caught in a difficult situation, the light reveals her aging youth, which upsets Blanche because she does not want to face the fact that she is becoming old. Once again Blanche cowards from the light when she is with Mitch. "We'll have a night-cap. Let's leave the lights off. Shall we?" (Williams page 87) Even with Mitch, a man she likes very much, she can not expose her face to true lighting. She asks Mitch to turn off the light in order make Mitch believe that she is still a young woman, and that she is not
Blanche hides in the darkness, and avoids the light, as a way to escape reality. This idea is represented when Mitch attempts to turn on the light, "I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic...-Don't turn the light on!" (Williams page 117) This example from the text demonstrates Blanches attempt to hide from reality by trying to get rid of direct lighting. Blanche wants to live in a unrealistic, fantasy world, and she attempts this by hiding from her real life, in the shadows. This idea was expressed once more during the novel. "And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that's stronger than this--kitchen--candle." (Williams p. 115). Blanche tells Mitch the shocking details of her marriage to Allan. She …show more content…
"And turn that over-light off! Turn that off! I won't be looked at it in this merciless glare!" (Williams Page 19) Blanches reaction to the "merciless glare" of the light is seen as her way for avoiding her aging self. Once Blanche is caught in a difficult situation, the light reveals her aging youth, which upsets Blanche because she does not want to face the fact that she is becoming old. Once again Blanche cowards from the light when she is with Mitch. "We'll have a night-cap. Let's leave the lights off. Shall we?" (Williams page 87) Even with Mitch, a man she likes very much, she can not expose her face to true lighting. She asks Mitch to turn off the light in order make Mitch believe that she is still a young woman, and that she is not