It’s no coincidence that Blanche and Mitch end up being a couple in Tennessee Williams “A Streetcar Named Desire" as the decisions they make as well as the actions they take are heavily influenced by their similar desires.
In the play, Blanche is arguably the character whose actions are most influenced by the desires she has. Williams shows this symbolically in the very beginning of the play as Blanche literally takes a “streetcar named Desire… to Elysian Fields” (1540, 1541). By Blanche, who is the only character to take this streetcar in the entire play, taking the streetcar, it shows how her actions are completely influenced by desire as she needed “Desire” to even get to her sisters place. We find out later in the play that the desire that she is driven by happens to be the wanting of security from a significant other. This just so happens to be the same desire that drives Mitch to Blanche in the play. Mitch and Blanche both desire a significant other to spend the rest of their lives with. As Mitch says himself after Blanche opens herself up to Mitch, “You [Blanche] need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it be – you and me, Blanche” (1579). Although Mitch and Blanche both desire a significant other, they desire one for different reasons. Mitch desires Blanche because he is afraid of being “lonely when [his mother] passes on” (1578). Mitch also desires Blanche in the way that “likes [Blanche] to be exactly the way [she] is” (1575). Blanche, however, doesn’t desire Mitch for his personality or his looks, but for his desire. Continuously throughout the play, the reader can notice that Blanche loves compliments. Blanche even tells Stanley in scene two that she was “fishing for a compliment” (1552). Blanche understands that Mitch desires her. Therefore, Blanche dictates their relationship in ways, such as having dates at night so that Mitch doesn’t see the wrinkles on her face, so that he will continue to desire her. In Blanches mind, as long as Mitch desires her, Mitch will always give her compliments and attention.
Mitch and Blanche’s desires are the same in that they both wanted to be with someone else, but Mitch’s desire to be with someone that he genuinely liked drove him away from Blanche, whereas Blanche’s desire for someone to give her compliments and attention forever drove her to insanity.
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I like your analysis on the streetcar at the beginning of the play. We never hear much about this, other than the fact the Blanche takes it to get to her sister. I think this is a good representation of how Blanche is driven by desire. Then, you did a good job talking about Blanche and Mitch sharing the same desire of a significant other, but also that they want this for different reasons. I agree with the reasons you mentioned and I think this shows how desire shapes the lives of these two characters. Blanche needs support and someone to take care of her, and Mitch needs a wife so he is not lonely. Together, they could each reach their desires, but because of their inability to forgive each other, the relationship crumbles.
ReplyDeleteI think I know what you are saying in your first sentence, but you probably should not say Mitch and Blanche "end up" being a couple because they don't. Also, in your quote "You [Blanche]..." I don't think you need to include [Blanche] in it. You clearly spent some time carefully reading the text. You make use of some good quotes but you could offer some more explanation (I do the same thing). I think you should tie all the quotes with a unifying idea. I agree that both these characters are in desperate need for a significant other to spend the rest of their lives with, especially Blanche because she's getting old. Mitch also needs a wife to bring home to his mother, but unfortunately, Blanche cannot be his wife because she's not "clean" enough.
ReplyDeleteI would even say that the streetcar being named "Desire" reflects how desire had brought her to this place with Stella. Due to her desire for attention and wanting other men to take care of her, she wound up being with one of her students and so lost her job. She desired his attention and his youth, and so was fired for the conducts that she had done. Her desire drove her to get help from her sister. You logically brought forth that she was the only one who drove the streetcar named Desire, which could represent that she is the character mostly driven by desire. You provide good evidence from the play to support Mitch's desires and reveal the match up of desires that these two have. They are both lonely and need each other to escape that feeling, but Mitch needs a purity and stability in his partner, while Blanche needs only attention to be satisfied. These two then clash, since Blanche is not pure, so Mitch will not give her the attention she so desires. Overall you brought some great points and used specific and direct quotes relating to your topic to support your blog.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you about the symbolism in the title of the play "A Streetcar named desire." Blanche definitely is being influence by her desire which also leads to her demise because after all that she did she still did not to marry anyone. I that Mitch desire was to have a wife that he can love and trust and these were things that Blanche did not offer.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mention that Blanche is completely driven by desire. I agree that they both want a relationship. Blanche manipulates Mitch while Mitch wants a genuine relationship. I like how you explained the importance of the "streetcar" at the beginning of the play.
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