Tennessee Williams in the play A Streetcar Named Desire takes the values of Southern society and portrays them with the aide of the character, Blanche DuBois. Through Blanche’s alienation from the culture and society of the South, she reveals the reliance on men by women and the importance of reputation and character in Southern society.
During the time of the play, men took on the role of a dominant head of the family. A man was expected to take charge and support their wife. From a woman’s perspective, it was a necessity to have a man because he took care of the money and satisfied the woman’s need for security and care. For example, Stella stated that, “Stanley doesn’t give me a regular allowance, he likes to pay bills himself” (4-79). It was the social norm for a man to provide for a woman. Through Blanche’s desperateness for a husband, Williams is able to emphasize the significance of a man. Blanche exaggerates this dependence on men. When asked why she wants a man, Blanche replies, “I want to rest! I want to breathe quietly again! Yes – I want Mitch… very badly! Just think! If it happens! I can leave here and not be anyone’s problem…” (5-85). Blanche’s alienated mind set leads her to believe that with a man comes the solutions to all of her problems, with a man comes the end of all her worries. Through the overly dramatic actions that Blanche takes to attract men, Williams is able to show how women of this time hold men in a higher light. Williams illustrates how men where elevated, in the mind of woman, to the essential role of provider of needs.
As Blanche searched for a man to answer all her problems, she underlined the societal importance of reputation. Through Williams’ descriptions, Blanche comes across as a vain character, trying to hide her shameful past by attempting to look young. Blanche does not fit into society because she is unable to take pride within herself. Instead, Blanche focuses on trying to hide her outer appearance. For example, when a light is turned on, Blanche cries, “And turn that over-light off! Turn that off! I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare!” (1-75). It is later revealed that Blanche has a reputation of sleeping around. Blanche denies this by stating, “I’m afraid he does have me mixed up with this ‘other party.’ The Hotel Flamingo is not the sort of establishment I would dare to be seen in!” (5-38). The news of her sinful acts spread and Blanche loses a potential husband because of it. Blanche is thus separated from society by her humiliating acts. Williams uses Blanche to show the effects and significance of reputation in the South.
By looking at the people who are not accepted into a society, such as Blanche DuBois, one is able to see what that society values. Williams uses this technique to subtly portray characteristics of culture that would not have made it into the story otherwise. The character of Blanche brings out important societal principles such as the importance of men and reputation in the South. Even as Blanche is living in her own fantasy world, she is able to reveal deep social traits about Southern society.
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