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“The Role Of Symbolism In A Streetcar Named Desire” - College Essays

“The Role Of Symbolism In A Streetcar Named Desire”



Blanche Dubois, pure yet destructive, Stanley Kowalski, loving yet primitive, and the Street Car Named Desire, a trolley that leads to death, are all symbols in Tennessee Williams’ allegory. In A Street Car Named Desire, Williams uses names, clothing, astrological signs and inanimate objects as symbolic devices throughout the play. Blanche Dubois’ name and appearance, the contrast between Stanley Kowalski and Stella Kowalski, and the name of trolley, all play an important role of symbolism throughout Williams’ play.
Blanche Dubois means “white woods”, a name usually given to a person who is pure and truthful, Blanche however is neither pure or truthful. Blanche says, “Now don’t get ...

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meaning that she is chaste, despite the fact that she seduced her seventeen year-old student. Although Blanche “is about five years older than Stella”(15), she lies about her age because she does not want anyone to know the truth about her.
In contrast to Stella Kowalski, Stanley Kowalski is a loud and obnoxious character who is repeatedly compared to an animal. Stanley is primitive and a “survivor of the strong age; bearing raw meat home from the kill in the jungle”(38) His personality symbolizes his power and brutality, and his ability to say whatever he desires. In scene one, Stanley is described as “…a male bird among hens…everything that is his, that bears his emblem of the gaudy seed-bearer.”(29), meaning he takes pleasure in his masculinity. Stanley’s brutality, later becomes apparent when he rapes Blanche.
The trolley, Street Car Named Desire, plays an important role in the novel and symbolizes Blanche’s desire to get away from her past. Although Blanche may not ...

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PAPER DETAILS
Added: 12/20/2008 07:10:19 PM
Category: Arts
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 492
Pages: 2

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