Streetcar Named Desire Light And Darkness Essay
A Streetcar Named Desire: A Light and Dark Perception
There are many connotations leading to the words light and darkness, but generally, most people relate the word light with positive meanings, and they associate the word darkness with negative meanings. However, in the play A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams uses the theme of light and darkness in very interesting ways to further highlight key points and characters. He uses light and darkness in both physical, as in being actually present in the play setting, and literal ways, as seen in dialogues between characters. The most evident and significant emphasis of the theme of light and darkness is on truth and fantasy. Blanche’s Chinese paper lantern which she uses to cover a naked light bulb plays a big role in representing both Blanche’s nature and illusion. The same lantern also subtly, but strongly portrays Stella’s attitude towards Blanche’s negative attributes. One would believe that …show more content…
Stanley creates a dark setting on the wedding night by smashing light bulbs to emphasize the romance. “Stanley’s always smashed things. Why, on our wedding night – soon as we came in here – he snatched off one of my slippers and rushed about the place smashing the light bulbs with it.” (scene 4 page 64) Stella later states she was somewhat thrilled by Stanley’s action because she loved the resulting amorous darkness. However, light also plays an important role in defining the couple’s relationship. “I pulled you down off them columns and how you loved it, having them colored lights going! And wasn’t we happy together, wasn’t it all okay till she showed here?” (scene 8 page 112) Similarly with Blanche, the lights represent the passion of their sexual bond. The “lights” continued to shine brightly until Blanche comes with her lies, deception and paper lantern which diminish the brightness of the
There are many connotations leading to the words light and darkness, but generally, most people relate the word light with positive meanings, and they associate the word darkness with negative meanings. However, in the play A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams uses the theme of light and darkness in very interesting ways to further highlight key points and characters. He uses light and darkness in both physical, as in being actually present in the play setting, and literal ways, as seen in dialogues between characters. The most evident and significant emphasis of the theme of light and darkness is on truth and fantasy. Blanche’s Chinese paper lantern which she uses to cover a naked light bulb plays a big role in representing both Blanche’s nature and illusion. The same lantern also subtly, but strongly portrays Stella’s attitude towards Blanche’s negative attributes. One would believe that …show more content…
Stanley creates a dark setting on the wedding night by smashing light bulbs to emphasize the romance. “Stanley’s always smashed things. Why, on our wedding night – soon as we came in here – he snatched off one of my slippers and rushed about the place smashing the light bulbs with it.” (scene 4 page 64) Stella later states she was somewhat thrilled by Stanley’s action because she loved the resulting amorous darkness. However, light also plays an important role in defining the couple’s relationship. “I pulled you down off them columns and how you loved it, having them colored lights going! And wasn’t we happy together, wasn’t it all okay till she showed here?” (scene 8 page 112) Similarly with Blanche, the lights represent the passion of their sexual bond. The “lights” continued to shine brightly until Blanche comes with her lies, deception and paper lantern which diminish the brightness of the