Streetcar Named Desire Psyche

The Representation of Psyche in A Streetcar Named Desire
The characters of Blanche Dubois, Stanley Kowalski, and Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar
Named Desire are all representations of the basic parts of the human psyche. The three basic parts of the human psyche are: the Id (the sense of desire with disregard to consequences), the Superego (the individual’s sense of right and wrong and guilt), and the Ego (the mediator of the Id and Superego, trying to satisfy both at once). Despite the fact that they all represent parts of the human psyche, together they cannot function as a psychologically stable and healthy individual. Blanche and Stanley both primarily function on the Id principle of desire, but for different reasons. Stanley is looking for
However, one cannot mediate with Id and Id. Two Ids overpower the one Ego, causing for a triangle of destructive relationships, proving that, combined, they could not create a mentally stable individual.
Blanche, the main character of A Streetcar Named Desire, primarily represents the Id of the human psyche. The first example of her giving into desire is in the very first chapter where she is sitting alone in the Kowalski residence when “she notices something in a half opened closet. She springs up and crosses to it, and removes a whiskey bottle. She pours half a tumbler…(Williams 10)” Blanche steals the alcohol from the Kowalskis in order to desensitize herself from the real world. She does this to escape her thoughts of the past regarding her husband who committed suicide. It is the job of the
Ego to create fantasies to fulfill desires of the Id, but Blanche is trying to replace her Ego with Id. Her goal of replacing her Ego by “filling the void” with Id is one of the factors that will end up leading to her psychotic break at the end of the play. Another one of Blanche’s desires besides drinking is attention to her sexuality from as many men as possible. In Scene 3, as Blanche and Stella come into the
The first display of him giving in to desire is in Scene
3, when he is drinking and gambling with his friends at home. Blanche turns on a radio in the other room, which infuriates Stanley. Stella calls him a “drunk­ drunk­ animal thing (Williams 62),” which causes Stanley to go and beat her. This instance of drinking and abuse shows Stanley’s extreme lack of empathy for others and his egocentricity. His Id is reinforced when Stella returns to him shortly after she was beaten. Stella returning to Stanley sheds light on the fact that there are no consequences that
Stanley will have to endure for his actions, further stimulating his Id. Stanley’s next bout of abuse towards Stella happens in Scene 8, where he has been drinking. Stella tells him to clean up his spot at the table, calling him “disgustingly greasy (Williams 131).” Stanley hurls his plate to the floor, yelling,
“That’s how I’ll clear the table! Don’t you ever talk that way to me! (Williams 131)” He begins throwing a tantrum, much like a small child (small children function primarily on Id). His outburst