A Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire grapples with how an individual experiences reality. One of the main mysteries that become revealed over the course of the play is Blanche’s history. Rather than being on vacation as Blanche claims, she in reality has suffered serious traumas and is fleeing a past of which she is ashamed. However, it does not suffice to say that she lies to the residents of Elysian Fields. Upon arrival, she tells Stella that she was “on the verge of—lunacy, almost” (14) and that she “stayed at Belle Reve and tried to hold it together” (20). She expresses emotional honesty despite excluding the details about her relationships at the Flamingo Hotel and at school.

Williams chose to portray Blanche’s hallucinations on the stage. The audience hears the "Varsouviana" when it plays in Blanche’s head and sees shadows dancing on the wall, even when other characters do not. These visceral moments make reality out of illusion and bring into question what constitutes a “real” experience. 

Stella’s portrayal of her relationship with Stanley is constantly in flux. She tells herself and Blanche certain things about her marriage that are inconsistent with Stella’s actions in moments of despair.