Street Car

Desire is probably the most noticeable and vivid theme in the entire play. It is emphasized many times throughout the eleven scene play, including during the first scene “He [Stanley] heaves the package at her [Stella]. She cries out in protest but manages to catch it; then she laughs breathlessly.” Stanley throwing the meat at Stella is much more than it seems; it consists of a sexual connotation representing physical desire. Another form of desire that comes up multiple times during the play is Blanche’s desire to constantly bathe. It means much more to her then just being clean, it is a way for her to repent her past; a way, not just to cleans her body, but to cleans her soul. Even when Blanche exits the washroom, she is wearing a red robe, red symbolizing lust and physical desire. Another example of desire from The Street Car Named Desire is the silver, engraved cigarette case. The case, itself, doesn’t represent desire, but is used by Blanche as a tool for physical desire; when she pretends to not being able to read the engraved words on the case, just so Mitch would come closer to her. Williams was so thorough in making sure that the theme was noticeable that, not only did he use desire throughout the play, but he used more than one form of it. The street-car named Desire does not represent sexual desire, but instead it represents Blanche’s desire or determination to start a new life. “[Stella] Haven’t you ever ridden on that street car? [Blanche] It brought me here.” Desire has been so heavily repeated that the name of the play, itself, is The Street Car Named Desire. [continues]

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