In A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, the character Blanche Dubois has many sides to her with lots of depth. Blanche is not a simple character; she is the type of character that cannot be simply categorized as protagonist or antagonist. Depending on how you look at her situation, you either love her or hate her. Regardless Blanches life is no picnic; she has her woes and her faults. How she deals with this can be categorized into three subjects of neurosis, id, and traumatic experience.
Karen Horney came up with the Theory of Neurosis, in which a person is either moving toward, against or away from people. Considering Blanche Dubois, she is all of them. Discussing the first, moving toward people, you can see how Blanche yearns for the affection and companionship of others. Also the way she feels the need for a partner. In Streetcar Blanche says:
After the death of Allan intimacies with strangers was all I seemed able to fill my empty heart with I think it was panic, just panic, that drove me from one to another, hunting for some protection . . . (Williams, 118)
After the death of Allan, her husband, Blanche didnt seem to know what to do with herself, she was lost and in that she found her own way of being loved and sheltered, real or not. In the terms of moving against people, Blanche has a need for power, in the way she manipulates her sister Stella, she also has a need for social recognition and personal admiration. Notice how when Blanche walks into the first poker night, she tell the men Please dont get up (Williams, 48) and Staley tells her nobodys getting up. Blanche demands to be recognized, she does not want to be ignored or mistreated. She also wants to be complimented any chance given, its almost as if she thrives on attention. Lastly Blanche moves away from people, she has a deep need for perfection. Blanche often wants to make sure she looks presentable (on her terms), and she doesnt seem to be as bright and fervent as when she is confident in her looks. Also when her life in Laurel went awry, making it inadequate for her, she became the worst version of herself. In essence Blanche is completely neurotic, she fills the requirements of each component of the theory of neurosis, and she is the perfect example of an emotionally unstable person.
Sigmund Freud developed the structural model of personality, this including the Id. The Id is the stage newborns undergo, to get their basic needs met. Generally the Id isnt concerned about reality, or anyone elses needs, they only care about themselves and their own needs. Blanche used lies to avoid reality, its not clear whether or not she knew her lies would hurt others, if she did, she didnt care. Blanches avoidance of reality is evident in this line she said to Mitch, I dont want realism, I want magic. . . I dont tell truth, I tell what ought to be truth (Williams, 117). Blanches entire stay in New Orleans with Stella and Stanley seemed to all be a lie, she lied about her job (she was fired), she lied about her intimacies, and she even lied about her drinking habits. The paper lantern also symbolizes Blanches escape from truth, and how she hides it. The lantern covers the light and the light is the truth, Blanche refuses to be seen in that light, in essence the truth. Blanche lived in another world, away from reality making room for her own fantasy.
Finally, traumatic experiences hit Blanche the hardest. The major experience was with her late husband, Allan. Blanche was very much in love with Allan and while they were married, Blanche found him in bed with another man, this crushed Blanche. For awhile they never discussed it, but while dancing the Varsouviana, Blanche said to him I saw! I know! You disgust me . . ., after this Allan shoots himself. This is the event that led to Blanches numerous partners, many of which being strangers. In this life she wanted to leave, she came to New Orleans and started the lies, escaping reality (relating to the Id), and making everyone believe she was a precious flower that couldnt be touched, which in the end ruined the relationship between Mitch and Blanche. Another experience that altered Blanche was towards the end when Stanley raped her. It isnt completely obvious, the effects, but the reader can tell Blanche was damaged by it. Especially when her own sister, Stella doesnt believe her, Blanche tells the doctor, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. (Williams, 142) This shows how her experiences have had her develop trust issues and a need to be with stranger, intimately or not, just to feel safe, when her own family could not do the job.
Blanche Dubois is a very thorough character, when first reading the book, I thought she was insane, and in fact she is by definition insane. But it is almost understandable the way she has been living her life. Stella has said that Blanche has not always been like this, so maybe it was all the things she went through after Stella left and all the deaths surrounding her that caused to be so neurotic and unstable. Blanche Dubois is not an easy character to understand at first sight, one has to really dig to see that she may have many, many faults but her reasons are legitimate, maybe if there were to be a Streetcar 2 Blanche could be shown as improving and living a better life. Maybe one day she will take off that paper lantern.
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