Summary:
An overview of tragic flaws possessed by the main characters in Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire." Blanche du Bois' own tragic flaws coupled with those of Stanley Kowalski's serve to hinder Blanche and lead ultimately to her downfall.
In the play A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams gives the main characters of the story tragic flaws which ultimately bring them down. The tragic heroes are contrasted from others in the play by their flaws that lead to their ultimate downfall in the end. Blanche du Bois, is a perfect example of a character who's tragic flaw ultimately leads to her downfall in the end, and Stanley Kowalski is a character who's flaws hinder Blanche and in the end bring her down.
Blanche's biggest flaw in the play is her desire. This desire arises because of her constant loneliness which she puts up with after her husband's tragic death. From that point on her life, she goes sliding down a slippery slope. Blanche goes on a search for guys who would fulfill her desire, yet she never gets an adequate amount, so she moves on. This only perpetuates her suffering and dirties her name and reputation. After she has nowhere to go, her desire brings her to her sister's doorsteps. "They told me to take a street-car named Desire." (Williams 15).
Another flaw that Blanche has is peripheral, yet it contributes to a reaction which explodes into something that leads to Blanche's downfall. Since she is a perfectionist, when she comes to live with Stella and Stanley, she tries to change their ways of living by decorating the place and performing other modifications to the lifestyles of the married couple. This sets off a negative attitude in Stanley since he can not live the way he lived before Blanche appeared in their life. Now that she is here, he can not fulfill his desires, which mostly have to do with sex.
Stanley's biggest flaw is his character. He is a domineering and possessive husband who has an abundance of pride. "Remember what Huey Long said-'Every Man is a King!' And I am the king around here, so don't forget it!" (Williams 107). When Blanche comes into his life with her views and beliefs, and criticizes his private lifestyle, his character because of his flaws turns against the poor Blanche. She stands alone helpless against such a vigorous person, and not even her sister can help her. "Don't ever talk that way to me! 'Pig-Polack-disgusting- vulgar-greasy!'-them kind of words have been on your tongue and your sister's been too much around here! What do you two think you are? A pair of queens"" (Williams 107).
In the end, the vulnerable Blanche, who throughout her whole life tries to be strong, finally breaks down because of her haunting past ruining her life in the present. Blanche being susceptible is another flaw that contributes to her downfall, because throughout her whole life she has been with many strangers who influenced her negatively in many different ways.
This is the complete article, containing 464 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
