Death in A Streetcar Named Desire Essay -- A Streetcar Named Desire Th

Death in A Streetcar Named DesireTennessee Williams uses the approximation of death continually in the play AStreetcar Named Desire through the use of dramatic imagery andliteral references. The characters of Blanche and Mitch are used themost frequently to express Williams own obsession with death. thoughneither of the characters actually obsesses about death, Blanches look has been smothered by the deaths of those she loves and thecoming death of Mitchs mother is an obvious motivation for hisactions.Blanche first voices the theme of death in the very first scene whilstdiscussing the fate that has befallen Belle Reve. She passionatelyraves at length about the horrible deaths and her experience of lovedones dying nigh her all of those deaths Father, Mother, Margaret,that dreadful way The horrific visions of bloated bodies and thestruggle for breath and breathing have clearly cast a permanenteffect on Blanches mind. She talks of the quiet funerals and thegorgeous boxes that were the coffins, with bitter, black humour. Thedeaths of Blanche and Stellas family are important to the play asthey highlight the desperation of Blanches situation through the occurrencethat she has no other relative to turn to. This makes Stellasdecision at the end of the play seem even harsher than if Blanche hadjust simply shown up on her doorstep instead of going elsewhere.Stella states that Blanches life has been heavily affected by thedeath of her husband, Allan. Blanches marriage killed her illusionswhich can be interpreted literally. Blanche states that she roughshod inlove all at once and much, much too completely, however, her lovewas unrequited since instead of returning the love Blan... ...o have experienced near sorrow,which Mitch agrees with, thus revealing that he has been affected bythe loss of this girl. This statement also emphasises much ofBlanches own views on sorrow and explains how it has affected herlife since she has made the comment from personal experience.To conclude, Tennessee Williams dramatic use of death and dying is anoverarching theme in A Streetcar Named Desire, from which everythingabout Blanches character has make from. Without the death of Allan,Blanche would not have resorted to prostitution and the brief affairswith strangers, also the deaths of her family have driven Blanche toStellas where she is not wanted and ashamed to be. thuslythese dramatic deaths have lead to the past which comes back to hauntBlanche meaning that she can never find happiness until she dies andis forgotten.