Tennessee Williams story, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” was a mix of the past and present that clashed together by two characters who believed in different lifestyles. In the story, Williams uses the domestic setting along with the characters personal traits as a base for the elements for social change. There are many references in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” that represent the use of past and present being used together. The past and present were entwined by the characters personal characteristics, the setting of the story, and Blanche’s personal relationships with men throughout the story.
To begin, the personal characteristics of Blanche and Stanley were used to represent how society was changing into a new world. In the story, Blanche was used to represent the Old South, while Stanley in the story represented the American Dream. Blanche embodies the image and the ideals of the Old South. Stanley, on the other hand, is employed as a factory worker and is steadily contributing to the demise of the southern lifestyle that Blanche represents. Blanche’s representation of the Old South included being in favor of the old American values, refinement, manners, and the high culture of the Old South. In “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Blanche says, “Stella, you have a maid, don’t you” (Williams 1.1.69) ? From that quote, we can tell that Blanche grew up in a higher rank class and still believes that her sister should be living in the same lifestyle because to her class are race are