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A Streetcar Named Desire Analysis

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It has been said that any movement is a rebellion against the norms of the previous movement. The violence of the first world war paved the way for Modernism to emerge as a new way of expression, a way that was untraditional in every aspect. Customary literary structure was not suited for this new era of violence; hence modern art surfaced. The globalization of war created anxiety and uncertainty, which permeated this new age with questions such as “what is our place in this world?” This manifested itself into the modern creation of works that unveil basic psychological truths by bringing up these questions and exploring their answers. By employing unresolved endings and depicting emotionally extreme characters, modern works convey the unsettling …show more content…
When Blanche is fed up with Stanley’s accusations, Williams’ directions state she “sprays herself with her atomizer; then playfully sprays him with it. He seizes the atomizer and slams it down on the dresser” (Williams 41). Stanley is repulsed by Blanche’s facade. His hyper-masculine temperament propels him to violently reject the perfume because of its feminine scent; he finds wearing it would pollute a fundamental facet of his character. Stanley’s aggressive manliness makes sense in the context of the time period. The nation had suffered through an unprecedented war, and it was reverting back to the old-fashioned values of family and home. Stanley has just come back from the war as a decorated soldier, and after proving his masculinity on the battlefield, he is ready to display his manhood within the home. Throughout the play, Blanche continues to shield herself from reveal, hiding from the light and playing up her backstory. Conflict arises when her love interest, Stanley’s friend Mitch, insists on taking a look at her “good and plain”. Blanche is flustered, “Of course you don’t really mean to be insulting!” to which Mitch replies “No, just realistic” (144). Blanche’s greatest fear—reality. She admits to her allure: “I don’t want realism. I want

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