Illusion and Fantasy in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

Illusion and vision in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee WilliamsAn illusion is hairpiece belief whereas fantasy is imagining fancifulvisions. Both these themes are important in the play because they showhow they can be mistaken for reality by each character in the play.The themes illusion and fantasy are twisty from the start of theplay. We learn from when Stanley throws the package of meat down toStella that he is a dominant character and that his relationship withStella isnt as happy as it may seem to be. Even in scene 2, Stanleys belligerence is shown towards Stella, since when do you give meorders?. moreover, the most significant example of his brutality isduring the poker Game in scene 3. This is where the themes illusionand fantasy are brought in, because Stella acknowledges in a fantasy worldwith Stanley. We learn how Stanley keeps Stella under the thumb.However fierce Stanley might be, she wont reveal that herrelationship has problems to Blanche or anyone, it wasnt anything asserious as you seem to take it. In the commencement exercise place, when men aredrinking and playing poker anything can happen. Stella haspsychologically made herself get used to this behaviour from Stanley,why, on our wedding short as we came in here he snatched off oneof my slippers and belt along about the place, smashing the light bulbswith it. She has made it seem normal because she is illusioned by thethought that what they have is too strong to let go. Stanley is likean habit-forming drug to her, for example, in scene 4, Stella is innarcotised tranquillity. However rough he may be, Stella needsStanley as a fix. It is as though she is brainwashed by him. WhenBlanche comments on the previous nights even... ...hebecomes desperate and unhinged. She sees spousals as her only means ofescaping her demons, so Mitchs rejection amounts to a convict ofliving in her internal world. Once Mitch crushes the make-believeidentity Blanche has constructed for herself, Blanche begins to boil down into madness. With no audience for her lies, which Blancheadmits are necessary when she tells Mitch that she hates reality andprefers magic, Blanche begins performing for herself. further Blanchesescapist tendencies no longer show her need to live in a world full ofpleasant bourgeois ease. instead of fancy and desire, her newalternate reality reflects regret and death. She is alone, afraid of twain the dark and the light her own mind provides her with a last fill-in of escape. Her fantasies control her, not the other wayaround, but still she shrinks from the wickedness of reality.