Essay | Reality and Illusion in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Death of a Salesman"

In A Streetcar Named Desire, more than a few of the characters use illusion to make themselves more sociably acceptable. Blanche is too frail to deal with what has become of her life. She relies on illusion to break away from it, feigning innocence and delight. After Stanley rapes her, Blanche loses the ability to make different her falsehood and reality. Furthermore, one key reason for the personality clash flanked by Stanley and Blanche is their differing views on reality. Stanley is always viciously straightforward, and Blanche prefers illusions and niceties. Stella uses the "illusion" of a contented marriage to make her life endurable. Blanche would much rather live in a delusional world of heavenly ignorance than face the facts. On the contrary, Stanley is a business type of man that thinks that prefabricated bliss isn't bona fide happiness. The author believes that it is...
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