In the Kowalski household, Blanche pretends to be a woman who has never known indignity. ... Stanley himself takes the final stabs at Blanche, destroying the remainder of her sexual and mental esteem by raping her and then committing her to an insane asylum.

Why is Blanche mentally unstable?

Sexual assault plays a part in the final degradation of Blanche's mental state. Stanley's cruel disregard of her fragile mental state and his rape of Blanche pulls her to face reality—her promiscuity, the loss of her husband, and the loss of her family home—such that she regresses to a psychotic state.

What is Blanche Dubois tragic flaw?

Throughout Tennessee William's play “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Blanche Dubois exemplified several tragic flaws. She suffered from her haunting past; her inability to overcome; her desire to be someone else; and from the cruel, animalistic treatment she received from Stanley.

Does Blanche have PTSD?

Specifically, that the characters Blanche and Brick have undergone such significant trauma that they both develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While Blanche uses limited resources available to her to find reprieve from PTSD, her community thwarts these attempts.

How does Stanley destroy Blanche?

As the play progresses, Blanche's instability grows along with her misfortune. Stanley sees through Blanche and finds out the details of her past, destroying her relationship with his friend Mitch. Stanley also destroys what's left of Blanche by raping her and then having her committed to an insane asylum.

An analysis of Blanche Dubois in “A Streetcar Named Desire”

16 related questions found

What is Blanche's mental illness?

s psychological disorder is indeed schizophrenia. Thus, the symptoms of Blanche Dubois? personality disorder are disturbances of perception, delusions and illusions, and withdrawal from reality.

How is Blanche an antihero?

Blanche's heartbreak following her first love causes her to descend into the degeneration that becomes her ruin, a fact which lends empathetic justification and a sorrowful light to her actions. Another situation in which Williams shows sympathy toward Blanche is her most dramatic victimization in the play: her rape.

What did Blanche lie about?

Blanche lies about her drinking, she lies about her age, she lies about losing her job, and she lies through omission about a past that seems tragic in the play but like punishment in the movie. ... Stanley thinks Blanche is lying about the loss of the family's estate in order to cheat him and Stella.

What is Blanche's biggest flaw?

Blanche's biggest flaw in the play is her desire. This desire arises because of her constant loneliness which she puts up with after her husband's tragic death. From that point on her life, she goes sliding down a slippery slope.

Why does Blanche go insane at the end of the play?

By marrying, Blanche hopes to escape poverty and the bad reputation that haunts her. ... Stanley himself takes the final stabs at Blanche, destroying the remainder of her sexual and mental esteem by raping her and then committing her to an insane asylum.

Why is Stella unable to believe Blanche at the end of the play?

At the end of the play, Eunice explains to Stella her philosophy of life. ... Stella is unable to accept that Stanley raped Blanche, a stance Eunice supports with the words, “Don't ever believe it.” Stella cannot reconcile Stanley, a rapist, with Stanley, her husband and the father of her newborn child.

Why does Stella send Blanche to an asylum?

Stella, now a mother, has committed Blanche to a state-run mental institution, taking the rape accusation as evidence her sister has gone insane.

Is Blanche Dubois a narcissist?

Blanche suffers from Narcissistic personality disorder and exhibits several insecurities at the start of the play although remains as a reasonably friendly and decent woman who does love those close to her such as Stella despite occasionally coming off as rather rude and elitist.

Who is the tragic hero in Streetcar?

Blanche Dubois, the Tragic Hero in Tennessee Williamʼs A Streetcar Named Desire. A tragic hero is the main character in a tragedy, which usually involves the notion that such a hero makes an error in his or her actions that leads to his or her downfall.

How is Blanche a tragic figure?

Blanche's relationship with the ghostly presence of love through Streetcar may primarily suggest that she is in fact a tragic hero as she, through her inability to transcend the conservative views of the late 40s southern Bible belt, in which traditional values against adultery and homosexuality are the foundations of ...

Why does Blanche bathe so much?

Blanche takes frequent baths throughout the play to “soothe her nerves.” Bathing is an escape from the sweaty apartment: rather than confront her physical body in the light of day, Blanche retreats to the water to attempt to cleanse herself and forget reality.

Does Stanley Trust Blanche?

Stanley does not believe her, but goes along with her story anyway. Blanche seems to believe her lie and story so much that it becomes her truth.

How is Stanley's tearing the paper lantern from the bulb significant?

Stanley is the best character to tear the paper lantern from the bulb because he has the hottest temper. He is animalistic and acts instinctively throughout the play without first thinking of the repercussions of his actions.

Do we feel sympathy for Blanche?

Blanche 'wants Mitch' so that she can 'breathe quietly again'. This again makes you feel sympathy for Blanche as Stella has a man in her life yet she does not and she is the oldest. This sympathy is, however, shattered by the fact that she risks losing Mitch by flirting with a 'young man' at the end of scene five.

How old is Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire?

Blanche DuBois: A sensitive, delicate, moth-like member of the fading Southern aristocracy, about thirty years old, she has just lost her teaching position in Laurel, Mississippi, because of her promiscuity.

Is Blanche Dubois bipolar?

Interestingly enough, this accurate portrayal was due to Leigh's own struggle with bipolar disorder. It was so severe that at times Leigh had trouble differentiating her own life from her role of Blanche. As tragic of a case as this is, it made Blanche come alive onscreen, and essentially made the movie.

What are neurotic symptoms?

anxiety, sadness or depression, anger, irritability, mental confusion, low sense of self-worth, etc., behavioral symptoms such as phobic avoidance, vigilance, impulsive and compulsive acts, lethargy, etc., cognitive problems such as unpleasant or disturbing thoughts, repetition of thoughts and obsession, habitual ...

What does Blanche Dubois drink?

Upon entering the Kowalski's' household, Blanche pours herself half of a tumbler of whiskey. This act foreshadows her outright dependence on the substance. It is evident throughout the play that she tries to keep up her aristocratic façade by only drinking whiskey, which is an expensive and strong form of liquor.

Does Blanche have BPD?

Blanche's character exhibits some of the traits of Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) and of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

How is Blanche presented as an outsider?

From the outset of the play, Williams' presentation of Blanche as an outsider evokes sympathy from an audience. Physically, Blanche's “appearance is incongruous to the setting”. Her “white suit” connotes numerous meanings.