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Illusions In A Streetcar Named Desire Essay

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Tennessee Williams timeless masterpiece titled “A Streetcar Named Desire” Delves into the
Intricacies of using illusion as strength to face difficult situations through the lives of his characters. The character that most embodies this in Williams' work is Blanche Dubois, a particularly enigmatic character that often used illusion as a coping mechanism. Through Blanche, Williams asserts that even though illusion can in the start provide a semblance of strength, in the end it causes the person using it to crumble often leaving them more vulnerable to the harsh realities that had caused them to use illusion as an escape than before it has been used. Through the use of key quotes from the play we can uncover William's perspective on the dichotomous nature of illusions and their limitation in shielding individuals from a truth they must confront.

Blanche Dubois, the central protagonist of “A Streetcar Named Desire” , relies on illusions as a refuge from her troubled past and present circumstances. She artfully constructs a realm of make belief shielding herself from the harsh realities of her situation. Resenting the bland and boring realities of realism Blanche asserts, “I don’t want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic!” This concise quote highlights her inclination towards illusions as she seeks solace and strength in …show more content…

As the play progresses the thin veil of Blanche’s fantasies begins to unravel exposing the fragility of her constructed life. Stanley Kowalski, her sister Stella’s husband, immediately sees through her carefully crafted facade and forcefully confronts her with the unvarnished truth. This can be seen when Blanche says she is a lady to which Stanley counters, “And I’m the king of France”. This telling exchange underscores the fleeting nature of the strength derived from illusions as they ultimately fail to provide lasting

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