A Streetcar Named Desire: Analysis (Essay Sample)

[Your Name] [Instructor Name] [Course Number] [Date] A Streetcar Named Desire: Analysis The book "A Streetcar Named Desire" has progressive madness as its main theme CITATION The16 \l 1033 (Themes in "A Streetcar Named Desire"). Blanche, the main character in the book, is depicted as a mad middle aged woman whose madness is caused by low self-esteem and exhibition of delusional behavior. She is a compulsive liar, promiscuous and addicted to alcohol, all of which make up her madness CITATION Mil10 \l 1033 (Milton). She struggles in her efforts to cope with the madness. However, those around her push her deeper in madness. Observing her life conditions and situation, one is inclined to believe that her madness is justifiable. The peak of Blanche's madness occurs when she is placed in an asylumCITATION Wil04 \l 1033 (Williams and Arthur). The play uses Blanche's madness to show: how the society plunges an individual into madness; how the society neglects other forms of madness; and how virtually everyone is mad. In the play, Blanche tries to boost her self-esteem by lying compulsively, having sex and drinking CITATION Spa16 \l 1033 (Sparknotes). Initially, Blanche finds her husband in bed with another man. Out of shame and guilt her husband commits suicide CITATION ASt06 \l 1033 (A Streetcar Named Desire). This death leaves Blanche lonely. She has lost her companion, whom she initially found seeking comfort and enjoyment in another man's body. This is probably the greatest insult to a married woman's womanhood. This occurrence leaves Blanche feeling unwanted and undervalued. Her husband saw another man, not even a fellow woman, to be more attractive than her. This feeling and thought plunges her headlong into promiscuity. She flirts with men of no position (men that lack power and influence) such as the mailman, a student and MitchCITATION Wil04 \l 1033 (Williams and Arthur). At this point Blanche dresses provocatively and continues to flirt with young men. This helps her fight the thought that she is past her time, which was suggested by her husband's action. It makes her feel young and beautiful. However, the sex and flirtation do not offer her permanent satisfaction CITATION The16 \l 1033 (Themes in "A Streetcar Named Desire"). Her esteem still needs support when not around men. Blanche uses drinking and compulsive lying to boost her confidence in the absence of men CITATION Spa16 \l 1033 (Sparknotes). She hates that drinking makes her feel good. She lies in the first scenes about her whiskey consumption. She even claims that she rarely drinks. She lies to Stanley that she is a virgin by regularly hinting that she is pure CITATION Wil04 \l 1033 (Williams and Arthur). She knows that she is abnormal, but does not want people judge her negatively. She knows that in her world women who do not drink and are chaste command respect. She has to lie to catch a glimpse of this respect. Blanche arranges to get married to Mitch CITATION Wil04 \l 1033 (Williams and Arthur). She believes a new life partner would permanently end her misery and raise her self-esteem CITATION ASt06 \l 1033 (A Streetcar Named Desire). The marriage would show her and the rest of the world that she is still beautiful, desirable and marriageable. The marriage would restore her womanhood that her husband had trampled on. This dreams are blown away when Stanley informs Mitch about Blanche's true nature and background CITATION Mil10 \l 1033 (Milton). Mitch pulls out of the proposed marriage agreement CITATION Wil04 \l 1033 (Williams and Arthur). This setback pushes Blanche back to drinking. While drunk, she hallucinates that she is beautiful and a crowd of spectators are admiring her beauty CITATION Wil04 \l 1033 (Williams and Arthur). Blanches delusional behavior in this scene is justified because she has just suffered further indentation of her self-esteem. She is now stands rejected by two men. Stanley wipes away her remaining crumbs of self-esteem by raping her CITATION The16 \l 1033 (Themes in "A Streetcar Named Desire"). This shows Blanche that she no longer has value and anyone can take her at any time and do whatever one wants with her. At this point she admits that even alcohol is powerless in raising her confidence. She accepts to be placed in an asylum by Stanley. "Madness in a Streetcar Named Desire" is structured around Blanche, the main character. As the play continues Blanches falls deeper and deeper into madness CITATION ASt06 \l 1033 (A Streetcar Named Desire). However, thorough analysis of the play reveals that not only Blanche is mad, other characters are mad as well. Stella, for example, sticks to Stanley no matter the abuse and over control she suffers because of him. Stella is mad. No sane person puts oneself through abuse, suffering and unhappiness caused by an arrogant unapologetic individual like Stanley. Stella's madness is tolerance of Stanley's habits just like Blanches madness is caused by try to tolerate of societal views CITATION Spa16 \l 1033 (Sparknotes). Blanche's husband is mad. He kills himself because of the discovery of his sexual preference. Madness is the only explanation for one killing oneself over the discovery of what one pr...