6.1.1

Interpreting Blanche & Self-Pity

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Self-Pity in A Streetcar Named Desire

Bernard Deckle has said of Williams’ writing that "His plays deal consistently with a serious theme – self-pity, the persistence of memory that holds people in its grip and will not let them go with their lives".

Analysis of comment

Analysis of comment

  • This seems an insightful comment because, in all of the characters in A Streetcar Named Desire, we see a point of stasis where characters cannot progress or move on. Memory and self-pity stop them from progressing.
Characters that don't progress

Characters that don't progress

  • Neither Blanche nor Stanley can progress. Stanley is hung up on being a "Polack".
  • Stella has a memory of Stanley being loving and kind.
  • Mitch is held in the grip of his mother.

Interpreting Blanche

Some productions in the past have tried to steer the audience’s sympathy away from Blanche (who it is argued, does not deserve any sympathy) and direct it more towards Stanley.

Sympathy for Blanche

Sympathy for Blanche

  • Most recent productions have redirected this back in the direction of Blanche.
Study in cruelty

Study in cruelty

  • The play has also recently been read as a study in cruelty – explored through both Blanche and Stanley's behaviour.
Blanche - lack of balance

Blanche - lack of balance

  • Another notion is that Blanche cannot find balance in her life.
  • She seeks both the intellectual and the physical but cannot find the two together.
  • She is not driven by a real interest in Stanley; only sexual desire.
  • This conflict in her drives the tragedy forwards.
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 Interpreting Blanche & Self-Pity

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

  1. 1
    In what ways can different characters NOT progress in _A Streetcar Named Desire_?Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Which character is held in their mother's grip?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What drives Blanche's interest in Stanley?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    _A Streetcar Named Desire_ has recently been read as a study in cruelty. Through which two characters is this idea explored?Fill in the list
  5. 5
    Some past productions of _A Streetcar Named Desire_ have directed sympathy away from Blanche. Who have they directed sympathy towards instead?Multiple choice
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End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

Contemporary & Modern Reviews