Light In A Streetcar Named Desire

ar Named Desire, the recurring symbol of light— exhibited in various forms throughout the play— tangibly reveals various characters’ narratives of Blanche and uncovers the state of their relationship with her. From stage directions regarding lighting to references to light and darkness in Blanche’s monologues, the light becomes a figurative spotlight that Blanche blindly performs in. Tennessee Williams casts Blanche into a one-woman show, where she personalizes her appearance and aura according to the character she’s interacting with. The various audience members then each interpret her facades and respond by adding to Blanche’s narrative— and ultimately her fate. Throughout the play, the recurring theme of light and its contrast with shadows

Her appearance is described as a “delicate beauty [that] must avoid a strong light” but is quickly contrasted with her comparison to “a moth” (5). Though Williams allows the audience to interpret her equitably, he also alludes to her conflicting character; moths are typically attracted to lights, yet Blanche’s beauty comes undone when “light” exposes her (5). The unbiased perspective quickly dissolves as Blanche begins to interact with other characters in the play and starts using her various facades to appear as appealing as possible. Blanche’s insistence of avoiding light stems from her fear of being exposed and seen for who she truly is. In her first verbal reaction to avoiding light, Blanche commands her baby sister, Stella, to “turn that over-light off,” insisting she wouldn’t “be looked at in this merciless glare” (11). Her quick deflection of light, which occurs when she calls “Stella for Star,” not only contrasts with her crave for attention, but also demonstrates her uncomfortableness when

Mitch confronts Blanche after learning of her deceitfulness and attempts to see her “in the light,” yet Blanche continues to desperately hide herself in the “comforting” “dark” (116). Mitch “tears the paper lantern” off the lamp, fully allowing himself to view Blanche without her controlling how she is to be perceived. The paper lantern has acted as a symbol of Blanche’s tendency to cover her insecurities with beauty and “magic” (117). By forcefully removing Blanche’s treasured item, Mitch has uncovered Blanche’s performance and foreshadows to the upcoming violence and forceful removal of Blanche. To further emphasize her vulnerability, the movie adaptation has Mitch holds Blanche up to the light, placing her in a submissive position where she can no longer twist reality in her favor. As the light highlights her true features, Blanche exposes her tendency to crave “magic” and deny the “truth” and in a heart wrenching moment, Mitch no longer believes in the performance she has put up for him. This terminates Blanche’s power to control how others perceive her as they view her performance and desire to fantasize as deceitful; the remaining scenes in the play consist of other characters choosing Blanche’s fate and determines how she should act. The use of light in the final scenes of the play show the devastating effect of exposing Blanche. The