StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named Desire - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This paper "The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named Desire" focuses on illusion which is referred to misrepresentation of the situation to provide a deceptive appearance of an act. Illusion can be motivated by the need to make readers get a wrong picture of the reality. …
Download free paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.9% of users find it useful
The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named Desire
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named Desire"

The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named DesireIllusion is referred to misrepresentation of situation to provide a deceptive appearance of an act or event. Illusion can be motivated by need to make readers or audience get a wrong picture of the reality as obviously expected. Fantasy on the hand involves imagining and putting ones shoes in situation that are not actually attainable given current situation. The play Streetcar named desire presents various cases of illusion and fantasy as portrayed by various characters.

Fantasy depicted in this play clearly by Blanche. Blanche from the word go represents fantasy. She comes to Elysian Fields “dressed in a white suit with a fluffy bodice” and “incongruous” to the New Orleans state which portrays reality (Murphy 8). To those who would judge Blanche by her look, she would appears as glamorous queen of the highest class but this represent fantasy and fairytale. Her dress code portrays purity and virginity and the same is the meaning of her name, “white Wood” (Murphy 7).

The white colour represent complete innocence but later in the play it is shown the Blanche represents total opposite of this purity and virginity. The author hints at this at the introduction of Blanche (Murphy 12). He says, “There is something about her uncertain manner….that suggest a moth.” Blanche tries to stick to her pure and innocent illusion of herself throughout the play. Evidently she does tries to do this on the way by trying to hide her age. She tells Mitch Stella is “somewhat older” than her and to further try to make Mitch get less of her reality, she hides in the darkness.

The tittle too depicts conflict between illusion and reality. The word “streetcar” and the inspired quality of aspiration portrayed in “desire” shows juxtaposition of antagonizing subject of dreams and realism (Murphy 8).Fantasy is also shown in the story through Blanche who uses it as her primary means of defense against her own demons and external pressure (Murphy 10). Her deceit carry no motive of malice, but rather they result from her weakness and inability to face truth head on.

Blanche blocks off things not pleasant to her: - “I don’t want to hear anymore” (Murphy 11). Although in that instance she is not representing fantasy she is running away from truth which itself signifies illusion. She does this make her life comfy. Blanche also refuses to accept her association with ‘Old America’ and for this reason forms a world in her mind where ‘New America’ exists (Murphy 13). Since the fall of her family she has tried to associate herself with the ‘New America’ and the working class.

Stanley further makes this Blanche’s fantasy more clear by the way he portrays a down to earth American who refuse to play to Blanche’s fantasies. Blanche cannot take bright light. She made an error being “delude” by having Allan in her life; a “blinding light”. Since the death of Allan, she kept away from light, the sign of truth. Light therefore becomes her enemy for she knows that it can taint her illusion (Murphy 15).As from the topic analysis illusion and fantasy have been intensively applied in the play through Blanche.

Not only does the character use illusion and fantasy as defense mechanism but it also her live in her dream world of “New America.” Illusion and fantasy is thus a theme that provides lesson to the readers on reality of life and what we wish for. It help install consciousness of good decision making with reality of life.Works CitedMurphy, Brenda. A streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams. Pasadena, Calif.: Salem, 2010. Print.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named Desire Essay”, n.d.)
The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named Desire Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/literature/1672270-streetcar-named-desire
(The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named Desire Essay)
The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named Desire Essay. https://studentshare.org/literature/1672270-streetcar-named-desire.
“The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named Desire Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/literature/1672270-streetcar-named-desire.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Theme of Illusion and Fantasy in the Play Streetcar Named Desire

Thomas Lanier Williams III

The paper “Thomas Lanier Williams III” looks at one of the most popular play writers of the 20th century who wrote such works as the Glass Menagerie and the streetcar named desire.... His own suffering is described by Hannah as a "voluptuous crucifixion," and her final appeal to God at the end of the play is only the last link in a chain of imagery of crucifixion and unsuccessful resurrection, of Christian belief gone awry.... In the Glass Menagerie, religion is used as a unique theme that helps Williams to unveil false dreams and ideals of the character....
4 Pages (1000 words) Assignment

The Past Influences the Present in the Narratives

In "The streetcar named desire", the lead character of Blanche DuBois's interactions with Stanley, Stella and Mitch are all defined by her troublesome past.... The very opposite is the case with Blanche, who becomes totally insane toward the end of the play, and is handed over to medical attention.... Blanche resorts to greater amounts of liqueur and fantasy to console her of numerous fears....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

The Theme of Death in Streetcar Named Desire

The narrator of this essay aims to tell that death is one of the most important and central themes of the play “streetcar named desire.... hellip; This essay discusses that death, in the play, has been quite associated with sex that is a means of fulfilling one's desires.... eath, in the play, has been quite associated with sex that is a means of fulfilling one's desires.... Having obeyed her husband, Stella was shown secure and safe when the play ended while Blanche had to endorse death....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Streetcar Named Desire

Blanche belonged to an Source of Tension between relationship of Blanche and Stella in A Streetcar d Desire The romantic drama movie A streetcar named desire directed by Elia Kazan was released in 1951.... References A streetcar named desire (1951).... The movie has been adopted from a 1947 play of same name penned by Tennessee Willaims.... The movie has been adopted from a 1947 play of same name penned by Tennessee Willaims....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Analysis Of The Play Streetcar Named Desire

The purpose of the paper "Analysis Of the play streetcar named desire" gives the comparative analysis of the two characters of the play by Tennessee Williams written in 1947.... Analysis Of the play streetcar named DesireIntroductionA Streetcar Named Desire is a play written by Tennessee Williams, an American playwright, in 1947.... PlotA streetcar named desire represents a cultural collision between Stanley Kowalski and Blanche DuBois.... ictionTwo levels of diction used in A streetcar named desire are spoken words by the characters and texts on the stage directions (Williams 13)....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Streetcar named desire

A streetcar named desire.... However, she is actively involved in the play.... This is in the… As the wife to Stanley Kowalski and the sister to Blanche Dubois she is in a position to bridge two very important functions in the play.... She plays an active role as a bridge number Stella's Role in the play a streetcar d Desire In a large part of the play, Stella Kowalski is presented rather as an object or a mere prize to be won than as a person....
2 Pages (500 words) Book Report/Review

Capitalism Ideas in Cherry Orchard and Death of a Salesman

This essay comares capitalism ideas in Cherry Orchard and Death of a Salesman.... It contrasts these plays in terms of social critique they offer.... They both criticise the socio-economic structures of their societies for offering empty dreams to workers and skewing definitions of success and happiness, when in reality, their poverty is permanent most of the time....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

A Streetcar Name Desire and Death of a Salesman

The author of the paper "A Streetcar Name desire and Death of a Salesman" argues in a well-organized manner that as seen in the work of Williams, Christopher Bigsby describes William as a romantic person in an unromantic world (Williams, 2004, p.... The paper "A Streetcar Name desire and Death of a Salesman" is a wonderful example of an assignment on literature.... It is evident that the fantasy world that shapes an individual's past indeed protects the reality of life as seen in Blanche's life....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us