The Monologue In A Streetcar Named Desire By Tennessee Williams

A Streetcar Named Desire is a play by Tennessee Williams about Blanche Dubois, who unexpectedly visits her younger sister, Stella, after losing their family plantation, Belle Reve. As Blanche tells Stella the devastating news, she lies to her about why she left her job as a school teacher. Blanche tells Stella that her nerves were affecting her and the school told her to take a break; the truth is that she actually got fired. This is common for Blanche to do because she has a tendency to lie in order to hide from reality and maintain a perfect image. Later on, when Blanche meets Stanley, Stella’s husband, she immediately feels uncomfortable with him, especially when he begins to ask her quite personal questions regarding her past even though they just met. This is common for Stanley to do because he likes to keep things as real and as serious as s as possible, has no regard for others and doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him. This then ultimately results in Stanley becoming a bit suspicious of Blanche and her past and because he represents reality, it is clear that he isn’t going to settle for Blanche’s illusion as well as what she may be hiding. Throughout this conflict between Blanche and Stanley, Williams illustrates that reality will always overpower illusion.

Williams begins by showing that reality will always overpower illusion when Blanche tries fishing Stanley for a compliment on how she looks. Blanche constantly feels the need to be complimented on her physical appearance by others because of the fact that she is very conscientious when it comes to her age. Anytime she can receive a compliment on her looks, it gives her a sense of relief that she is still found attractive by others. Williams shows that reality will always overpower illusion when Stanley says, “Stanley: I don't go in for that stuff. Blanche: What stuff? Stanley: Compliments to women about their looks. I never met a dame yet that didn't know if she was good-looking or not without being told, and some of them give themselves credit for more than they've got”(38). This quote reveals that Stanley has never been interested in women who feel the need to be complimented on their looks. Given that Stanley represents reality it is evident that when he tells Blanche this he is not planning on feeding into her illusion therefore leading to reality winning.