A Streetcar Named Desire Secrets And Lies Analysis

In Tennessee Williams a streetcar named desire, he explores the notions of secrets and lies through conceptual polarities, the real vs. the unreal. Mostly relating to Blanch and her alternate reality created by secrets and lies. Society and class also play a big role in the relation to secrets and lies, upper class vs. lower class and man vs. woman.

Polarity of the real and surreal in relation to the notion of secrets and lies, I believe is the way in which each individual perceives their lies and secret. Blanche is displaced and alienated, protecting herself in a world of lies. Her retreat into a world of lies leads to madness a breakdown of self and reality. Stanly’s perception of the world can be made untruthful by ego and the brutal
She is characterized as having a “delicate beauty that must avoid a strong light” Throughout the play the use of the adjectives “delicate” and “white” symbolize her purity and her likeness to a moth. This contrasts her “uncertain manner” with her comparison to a moth, emphasizing her fragility. This is extended through the dramatic technique of lighting where Blanche refuses to appear, exposing her true age, “I can’t stand a naked light bulb” We soon learn about Blanche’s alcoholism and grand illusions, a reality she keeps a secret, while the surreal is exposed through her lies. The fact that blanche retreats into her lies, even after all the damage done to her, suggests that her fusion of real and surreal is important for her own protection, a form of
Blanches dialogue, presents her ‘old world’ as being upper class, however we learn that this is all a lie. The poor grammar in her language as her lacking education is not consistent with her grand illusions of her world. Blanches question “How do I look?” emphasizes her pre occupation with sexuality, and her desire to be desired. “I tell what ought to be the truth” the use of exclamation emphasis her passion to defend her lies, her short sentence emphasizes her panic. The exposure of her sexual secrets reveals her eviction from Belle reeve ostracism from laurel and her expulsion from society by the end of the play as she becomes mentally ill. Blanche comes of as powerful women to the audience but as the play goes on we learn that she is far from