Blanche?

Within a Streetcar Named Desire, William Tennessee most accurately brings to life a set of dramatic characters who thoroughly express the typical masculine and feminine stereotypes of the past. In doing so he portrays his characters as people who put on artificial fronts while they secretly struggle to conceal their real emotions, feelings, and true selves. In effect, he achieves the ability to allow us to make our own "understandings and readings of these characters". As a result, our own insights allow us to discover that these characters are much more complex then they initially appear. By providing us with such spaces where we can interpretate the characters for ourselves, Tennessee is asking us to recognize and see people for who they are beyond the stereotypes.

Blanche is expressed as a woman full of imagination, one who is constantly lost within her fantasies, and unable to face reality. Her character is almost childlike with the exception that she in reality is a full grown woman. Throughout the entire play, Blanche is constantly mingling with the concept of her age and its effects on her femininity. She desperately tries to conceal her age; hiding behind soft lights, not going out during the day,bathing and powdering on a regular basis(in attempt to keep herself looking 'fresh'). Moreover, she is constantly lying to her potential lover Mitch, claiming that she's Stella's younger sister, when in reality she is five years her senior, or acting as if she doesn't know what alcohol is when in fact she secretly drinks on a regular basis, or further yet,making Mitch believe that "she [has] never been more than kissed by a fellow" (1581), when in reality Blanche has had numerous affairs, to the extent where she has been fired from her job as a schoolteacher. By attempting to feed into the stereotype of a fragile, young, and innocent female, Blanche might not be "more than a delusional, aging debutante". Yet, there are small instances that exist, where Blanche's actions and words, ask us to reconsider our thoughts. These instances, give us true insight to her personality, beyond that of a desperate aging woman.

Although we assume that Blanche is artificial when it comes to her relationships, several instances suggest otherwise. For example, while it seems as though Blanche is taking advantage of Stella, she in fact cares for her. When Stella is hit by Stanley, Blanche screams and runs to her defense. She hurriedly takes Stella away to safety telling her, "Dear, dear little sister, don't be afraid!" Her actions and words are quite sincere, she seems to be truly concerned for her sister's well being.

While it appears that Blanche is merely using Mitch for marriage, this is untrue. Blanche is quoted thanking Mitch for his kindness,telling him that he has "a great capacity for devotion" (1578). These words imply the potential feelings she has for Mitch. She insists on earning his respect, while she has to lie for it. Her intentions are not insincere, but truthful. Furthermore, when she is with Mitch she is quite relieved and grateful, so much so that "she makes a sobbing effort to speak but [her] words don't come." (1579)When Mitch tells her that he will not marry her, Blanche "staggers back from the window and falls to her knees"(1592). She does so after he leaves, while she is alone. If she were truly uncaring and insensitive why would she do so? Why would she feel the need to express her emotions to nobody, but herself?

Lastly, as seen through her sensitivity in regards to her first husband, "I didn't know anything except that I loved him unendurably but without being able to help him or help myself" (1579), we realize that she deeply regrets her actions,and still grieves his death to this day.

By putting up an artificial front and concerning herself with such materialistic things, Blanche is able to imagine that the world holds potential. This is her alternative to the violence, alcohol, and prostitution that is associated with cruel reality.