5.1.3

Recurring Motifs

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Recurring Motifs

Williams is famous for using symbols. These symbols work as recurring motifs in the play, which offer the reader and audiences insights into characters and events. Some examples include:

Blanche avoiding light

Blanche avoiding light

  • Blanche’s avoidance of light – she likes to be seen in the shadows.
Blanche's bathing

Blanche's bathing

  • Blanche’s continual bathing – perhaps she hopes to wash away the sin of her past.
Blanche's closed trunk

Blanche's closed trunk

  • Blanche’s closed trunk as a metaphor for hiding her past and closing it off.
Shadows

Shadows

  • Williams’ wider use of shadows as a dramatic method.
Meat

Meat

  • The use of meat as a metaphor. This puts Stanley in the position of the caveman who leaves the home to hunt food.
Gambling terms and cards

Gambling terms and cards

  • The use of gambling terms and cards as descriptions of real-life events on stage.
Mexican woman

Mexican woman

  • The Mexican woman selling flowers signifies Blanche’s downfall and suffering.
Jump to other topics
1

Context & Overview

1.1

The Author

1.1.1Tennessee Williams
1.2

Social Context & Setting

1.2.1Social Context1.2.2Social Issues1.2.3Setting
1.3

Tragedy

1.3.1Overview of the Tragic Genre1.3.2Modern Domestic Tragedy1.3.3End of Topic Test - Author, Context & Tragedy
2

Scene Summaries

2.1

Scene One

2.1.1Scene One: Summary2.1.2Scene One: Tragedy Ideas
2.2

Scene Two

2.2.1Scene Two: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.2.2End of Topic Test - Scenes One-Two
2.3

Scene Three

2.3.1Scene Three: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
2.4

Scene Four

2.4.1Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.4.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Three & Four
2.5

Scene Five

2.5.1Scene Five: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
2.6

Scene Six

2.6.1Scene Six: Summary
2.7

Scene Seven

2.7.1Scene Seven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
2.8

Scene Eight

2.8.1Scene Eight: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.8.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Five-Eight
2.9

Scene Nine

2.9.1Scene Nine: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
2.10

Scene Ten

2.10.1Scene Ten: Summary & Tragedy Ideas
2.11

Scene Eleven

2.11.1Scene Eleven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas2.11.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Nine-Eleven
3

Character Profiles

3.1

Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski

3.1.1Blanche DuBois - The Past & Illusions3.1.2Blanche DuBois - Relationship with Men & Breakdown3.1.3The Dynamic Between Blanche & Stanley3.1.4End of Topic Test - Blanche & Stanley
3.2

Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.2.1Stella Kowalski3.2.2Harold Mitchell (Mitch)
3.3

Minor Characters

3.3.1The Hubbels & Other Characters3.3.2End of Topic Test - Stella, Mitch & Others
4

Key Ideas

4.1

Sex & Gender

4.1.1Sex & Desire4.1.2Masculinity & Femininity4.1.3End of Topic Test - Sex, Desire & Gender
4.2

Appearances, Fantasy & Reality

4.2.1Outer & Inner Appearances4.2.2Fantasy & Reality4.2.3End of Topic Test - Appearances, Fantasy...
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.1.1Structure & Stage Design5.1.2Linking Devices5.1.3Recurring Motifs
5.2

Genre, Form & Language

5.2.1Genre5.2.2Form & Language5.2.3End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques
6

Critical Debates

6.1

Early & Modern Reception

6.1.1Interpreting Blanche & Self-Pity6.1.2Contemporary & Modern Reviews
6.2

Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach

6.2.1Feminist Approach6.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach6.2.3Marxist Approach6.2.4End of Topic Test - Critical Debates
7

Ideas About Tragedy

7.1

Ideas About Tragedy

7.1.1Tragic Ideas & Villain7.1.2Tragic Structure & Language
8

Recap: Main Quotes

8.1

Main Quotes by Scene

8.1.1Scene One - Quotations8.1.2Scene Two - Quotations8.1.3Scene Three - Quotations8.1.4Scene Four - Quotations8.1.5Scene Five - Quotations8.1.6Scene Six - Quotations8.1.7Scene Seven - Quotations8.1.8Scene Eight - Quotations8.1.9Scene Nine - Quotations8.1.10Scene Ten - Quotations8.1.11Scene Eleven - Quotations

Practice questions on Recurring Motifs

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Who likes to avoid being in the light?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What action does Blanche repeat?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What does Blanche’s avoidance of light symbolize?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What is the significance of Blanche’s continual bathing?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What does Blanche’s closed trunk represent?Multiple choice
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Linking Devices

Genre