Light In A Streetcar Named Desire

Brilliant and creative writers are able to exploit simple ideas or objects to emphasize an important message or characterize a persona in their play. In Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, Williams utilizes light to help characterize Blanche DuBois. Blanche is presented as an individual who avoids reality, has sexual desires, and displays herself ostentatiously, but she is really an insecure tragic figure; she lies about her age and steers clear of things that will expose the truth. Williams uses light, in his play, as a motif to illustrate that Blanche does not only hide from the light to disguise her age, but very much hide her imperfections and the truth. There are many interpretations as to what “Blanche” means. Bloom references
Blanche becomes more and more acquainted with one of Stanley’s friends, Mitch. The first time she meets him, she tells him, “I can’t stand a naked light bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action” (Williams 55). This was her justification for wanting her paper lantern put over the light bulb. The paper lantern assisted in alleviating the unhappy truth about her age, her tensions, and her situation. Smith-Howard and Heintzelman state, “...Blanche has an aversion to being viewed in bright light that will reveal her true age.” Blanche lies to Mitch about her age and prevents herself from being with him throughout the day and rather sees him during the evening or the night (Smith-Howard & Heintzelman). When they meet a second time, Blanche tells Mitch a part of her past. She tells him about a man, Allan Grey, that she used to be married to. She tells Mitch that she discovered love at a young age and at first it was like, “...you suddenly turned a blinding light on something that had always been half in the shadow...then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again...” (Williams 95). Williams illustrates that Blanche was at one point in her life at ease and unafraid. After discovering that her husband was homosexual and telling him that he disgusted her, Allan committed suicide; as a result
Blanche hid from the light to disguise her age, hide from her flaws, and avoid the truth. The light was once a symbol of love for Blanche, but it became a destructive element for her. The light revealed not only her age, but her past, imperfections and the truth. In addition, she recognized her own tragic flaws by claiming that she doesn’t want realism, is dishonest to others, and is deceitful. Blanche is vulnerable and frail to confront the reality and instead looks to find ease in her illusions. However, it is not too far before she has to face the real world in front of