A Streetcar Named Desire Trauma Essay

Trauma will always play an unfortunate role in society. Artists, poets, and other visionaries tell the stories that reflect this. They articulate the hate and pain that is felt by one or many. The authors Toni Morrison and Tennessee Williams best portray this in their respective characters; Sethe in Beloved and Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire. Both characters have immense trauma, manifesting in many different ways. One could make the argument that the two are similar, finding commonalities and assuming trauma is a thinly veiled component of character. Yet, that way of thinking could not be further from actuality. Trauma is both heavy and complex. It plays a large role in the thoughts and actions of Sethe and Blanch, but in incredibly different

It acts as a buzzword to grab the attention of the masses, so its definition is often obscured. Sethe and Blanche show trauma in its truest form, something that gathers after experiencing distressing or frightening events. It affects their view of themselves and the world, influencing their actions and relationships. Trauma can haunt someone, quite literally in Sethe's case. It seeps into their person, defining their life. This is where Sethe's and Blanches similarities start and end. Beloved, both in spiritual and physical form, haunts Sethe. Whether Beloved is interpreted as a physical being seeking revenge or a manifestation of the generational trauma of slavery, Sethe cannot let go. Sethe feeds into this, as seen by her love for Beloved. Sethe cares for Beloved, making her the first priority. Sethe even finds comfort in caring for Beloved, the parasitic and manipulative behavior of trauma is seen in this. The actions of Beloved put up an illusion for Sethe, forcing her to define her life by Beloved herself. These illusionary beliefs are also seen in

Stanley sexually assaults Blanche, along with humiliating her throughout the novel. This forces Blanche to mentally escape to somewhere else. A place filled with illusionary ideas and fantasy. She regresses back to her time with Shep Huntleigh, believing the oil millionaire is coming to rescue her from Stella's apartment. Yet, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that Shep will never rescue Blanche. Blanche is only trying to escape the trauma of her past and present. As Blanche's mental state continues to deteriorate, those around her make attempts to help. This is where the most striking contrast between Sethe and Blanche is found; those around Blanche do not offer the same support as those around