“It is desire that moves us, and, in moving us, gives our life direction and meaning” (Burton, 2014, pg. 1). The previous quote aptly describes how desire is an ever-present aspect of life. Desire is a feeling that has an effect of any and all actions, whether it is consciously or subconsciously. “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams is a prime example of how desire affects the lives of everyday people and the impacts of those desires. Williams does this by describing the intertwined lives of Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski. Williams’s depiction of Stanley Kowalski and DuBois’s lives represent how desire is unstable, consuming, and destructive.
During the course of “A Streetcar Named Desire”, DuBois presents herself as an innocent…show more content… However, at the same time she expressed her desire for her life to be like it was before she was forced to live with Stanley Kowalski and Stella Kowalski. This desire for her past seems to slowly destroy her ability to mentally adapt to the lifestyle she has been forced into. Despite the realities that are against her, DuBois refuses to acknowledge that she is now a member of the lower class and because of this she observes everything with a cynical attitude. DuBois states, “Where I’m not wanted and where I’m ashamed to be” (as cited in Williams, 1947, pg. 70). This quote indicates a moment where DuBois clearly states how she is feeling about her situation. DuBois’s feelings are maintained throughout the play and are fueled by the events she witnesses. Although she attempts to adapt in the beginning, due to the events she witnesses and experiences, her views on the society she is now living in progressively get more negative. Negative experiences coupled with her negative outlook on life lead to DuBois’s desire for her past life becoming stronger. However, as her desires become stronger, she begins to hate her life even more, leading to a vicious cycle that destroys her mental ability to adapt to her