FANTASY vs. REALITY

   There is a fine line between the differences in fantasy and reality. In A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, the character Blanche is defined by these concepts. She desires to be wanted, and holds such a strong past of dark memories that she hides in this realm of fantasy. Throughout the reading Blanche transitions from very subtle fantasies she portrays to others, to the more dramatic examples when she begins to believe this illusion is her reality. Stephen Colvin, author of the article "The Nature of the Mental Image," describes the minds ability, or a lack of, to determine what is real and what is just an illusion.

   Two very famous philosophers have demonstrated immense ideas dealing with the issues of deception, and of false ideas conceived from prejudice. Arthur Schopenhauer, a German philosopher, said “the discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the false appearance things present which mislead into error, not directly by weakness of the reasoning powers, but by preconceived opinion, by prejudice.” A German philosopher by the name Niccolo Machiavelli quoted “one who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.” Both of these very powerful and deep quotes, one would say, have much in common.  These brilliant philosophers are explaining the ability to believe in false truths and illusion through someone’s opinions or their own.In the play A Streetcar Named Desire, many themes present themselves; however due to such a dramatization of illusion through the character Blanche, the perception of fantasy over reality and illusion define this character. 

   Blanche Dubois enters into her sister Stella, and brother in law Stanley’s life with a past of deep regret and struggle. She has lost her husband, was fired from her teaching job for inappropriate acts with a student, and she lost her family’s land which went back for generations. Throughout her stay with Stella and Stanley one can tell there are some things about Blanche that make her seem almost vulnerable. Motifs such as the way she constantly takes baths to almost cleanse her soul, and how she never allows herself to be seen in the light as if she is afraid for people to see her true identity and age, demonstrates she is not proud of who she is, while at the same time attempting to portray a classy and sophisticated woman. After Blanche takes her first bath, she converses with Stanley telling how she feels like a new person.“Hello, Stanley! Here I am, all freshly bathed and scented, and feeling like a brand new human being!” (Williams 1179).The reality of this issue is that you cannot take a bath for a spiritual cleanse, and the idea she lets herself believe these baths help only digs her deeper into a fantasy world.

  
   Fantasy over reality, Illusion and false appearance are three ideas that define Blanche progressively as the play goes on. At first its little things such as these apparent soul cleansing baths, to more dramatic and obvious examples as seen in the last scene of the play when Blanche is awaiting the arrival of Shep Huntleigh to take her away to the Caribbean on a yacht. “I can smell the sea air. The rest of the time I’m going to spend on the sea. And when I die, I’m going to die on the sea”. (Williams 1234). This idea was manufactured by Blanche right before the rape scene, when Stanley asks about the attire Blanche is wearing. She comes up with a ridiculous story of a telegram coming for her from an old admirer wishing to take her away. This was also thought up directly after Mitch tells Blanche “You’re not clean enough to bring in the house with my mother” (Williams 1226). Blanche is feeling so unwanted and is not only presenting a false appearance, but also believing heavily in them for comfort. After everything Blanche has been through she makes herself believe in these fantasies in order to feel secure about herself, and block out all of the realistic truths she so deeply wishes to forget.

    Some could argue that Blanche is attempting self-preservation by deceiving all of these strangers, by shaping herself into somebody she is not. Several examples include her age comparison to her sister Stella, how she is still a school teacher taking a leave of absence, deceiving Mitch just enough so that he would want her. The list goes on, but is her motives really to preserve a classy image? After reading an article written by Professor Stephen Colvin, University of Illinois, provides some insight on the minds abilities to confuse imagination and perception. Most people are capable of believing in fantasies while still acknowledging a “firm grasp on the real universe” (Colvin 159). Most subjects are able to distinguish this fine line of what’s real and what is not. It is clear, especially towards the end, that Blanche is not one who is capable of dealing with these fantasies and taking it as an illusion. She makes these illusions become her “real universe.” Some can also say that due to such a troubled past, Blanche may be very weak and vulnerable to an alternate reality, due to a lack of desire to be in the present one. As Machiavelli said about people being able to deceive other, who is to say he wasn’t saying that people can allow them to deceive themselves? One who allows themselves to be deceived is obviously vulnerable, and being in that state of mind can you not be vulnerable to your own devices? Blanche is both weak and vulnerable, and after months of living a lie I see no reasons of doubt that she could not have possibly deceived herself.

   Fantasy over reality, illusion and false appearances are demonstrated heavily by the character Blanche in the plot, setting and theme. The idea she never allows people to see her true identity in the light is and example of how she sets and illusion of her true being. Stephen Colvin stated that it is possible to lose your grip on reality, and the ability to determine what is real and what is not. In Blanche's situation, this fantasy she portrayed drove her insane. By the end of the play, when the truth of Blanche's unfortunate past was revealed, she was the only person who actually believed that what she said was her "real universe." The desire for Blanche to create this kind of alter ego, and to be desired by others, was so dramatic that it eventually led her to lose all sense of reality.