The character of Blanche DuBois in 'A Streetcar named desire' (PDF)

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaftliche Fakultät), language: English, abstract: "A Streetcar Named Desire is a lyrical drama about the decline and fall of Blanche DuBois." (Londre, 1979: 78). In this quotation Felicia Hardison Londré indicates that both the character and the inner development of the protagonist Blanche are the focus of attention in "A Streetcar Named Desire".
At first glance, Blanche DuBois may seem superficial, even a bit ridiculous on account of the importance she attributes to her looks and to her former social status. However, in my way of thinking, the protagonist's behaviour is in a certain way symptomatic of society itself, even of humanity as a whole. That may be why "Walcott Gibbs referred to A Streetcar Named Desire as 'a brilliant impacable play about the disintegration of a woman, or if you like, of a society.'" (Nelson 1961: 121). Therefore, I consider it crucial to allow insight into the multiple facets of Blanche's personality. All the same, before approaching the caracterization, it is in my opinion necessary to provide you with some basic information about the writer of the play and its contents.