Streetcar Named Desire Illusion vs Reality
A Streetcar named desire 1. REALITY VS ILLUSION In symbolic terms, the conflict between Stanley and Blanche pits reality against illusion. What is reality? To Stanley reality is what you can touch and see. Stanley feels right at home in reality- that is, among real people, the kind who act natural and who say what they think and feel. ... No wonder Blanche rejects reality in favor of illusion. Reality has treated her unkindly. ... " Losing her way altogether at the end of the play, Blanche can no longer distinguish illusion from reality. ... Illusion and Reality Blanche is sufficiently self-aware to know that she cannot survive in the world as it is. Reality is too harsh, so she must somehow create illusions that will allow her to maintain her delicate, fragile hold on life. “A woman’s charm is fifty percent illusion” (scene 2) she acknowledges to Stanley. ... This means that she seeks to manipulate reality until it appears to be what Blanche thinks it ought to be. ... But in this play, reality dominates.