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Taboos In A Streetcar Named Desire

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The play “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams is a story of taboos from the 1950’s. The story begins with the arrival of a young southern belle named Blanche DuBois at the house of her sister in New Orleans. As the play continues deceit, romance, and conflict follow Blanche and her sister Stella. The addition of Stella’s husband Stanley, Tennessee Williams creates an catalyst to the taboos he desires for his story.In the play “A Streetcar Named Desire” Tennessee Williams shows the inevitability of change through the symbols of sex, alcohol, and appearances.

“A Streetcar Named Desire” addresses changes inevitability through the alteration of appearances.Blanche speaks to Stanley about the loss of Belle Reve and within their conversation …show more content…

Blanche pretends to be uncomfortable with the open sexuality that Stella and Stanley share as she wants to act as though nothing has changed since the loss of Belle Reve. With only a mere sheet separating the two bedrooms Blanche feel as though she is right next to the sex life of her sister and with her attempt at staying to her old ways she acts as though this is highly strange, while still appearing grateful. The change brought on by the loss of Belle Reve has forced Blanche to change from the actual southern belle persona to one that is far more realistic. With the loss of Belle Reve Blanche began to act self detrimentally: “ They told was her she better move on to some fresh territory. Yep, it practically a town ordinance passed against her!”(Williams VII.101). The act of sex always brings change in this play. Blanche’s relations with an underage student forced her to leave Laurel, which lead to the start of this play with Blanche coming to Stella’s house. Her arrival inturn leading to the relationship she shares with Mitch leading to the breakup of the two when Blanche was questioned about her

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