Tennesse Williams is known as one of the greatest American playwrights. Although his life was full of self – destructiveness, personal dramas and emotions he continued to write earning himself a place not only in American but the world literature as well.

Among his most notable and successful plays were “The Glass Menagerie”, which he refers to as “memory play”, “A Streetcar Named Desire”, “The Rose Tatoo” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” for which he was appreciated winning the Pulitzer Prize.

One of the greatest influences on Williams’ works had a brilliant Russian writer Anton Chekhov. Also novelist D.H. Lawrence and poet Hart Crane are known as the individuals who inspired the playwright.

Mississippi born Williams, who later changed his name to Tennessee, belongs to the tradition of great Southern writers who have refreshed the literary language with Southern English.

“Streetcar Named Desire” which was firstly entitled “The Poker Night” emerged right after the theatrical success of “The Glass Menagerie” when the authour learned to play poker game. At first he wanted the central action to concentrate on poker playing work

Blanche can be described as a tragic heroine. She dreamed of a decent life but what she experienced was pain, illusion and struggle to unravel from the past and brutal treatment by Stanley which destroys her vulnerable nature and finally leads her to insanity. As Williams once said, “She is a demonic creature; the size of her feelings was too great for her to contain”. Trying to avoid dreadful memories from the past, she lived in an illusive and magical world instead. Her desire to be special and loved derives from her failure in relationships and her loneliness.

In the first scene Blanche’s appearance compared to a moth which in literature is a symbol of the soul. This symbol can suggest that the travel to New Orleans is a journey of her soul.

Blanche hopes to leave her reputation behind and improve her financial status by marrying a rich man Shep Huntleigh. When this prospect is destroyed, the only possibility of future happiness Blanche sees in Mitch, Stanley’s friend who falls in love with her. Unfortunately Blanche’s hopes are shattered after Stanley finds out the truth about her disrespectable past. Her world is torn apart and her mental stability diminished after being raped by Stanley and at the end of the play she is placed in a mental institution. It was not the actual rape which lead her to madness but the fact that she was abused by a man who represented everything disagreeable to her.

When Blanche arrives at her sister’s Stella’s and her husband Stanley’s small apartment she pretents to be a woman who has never experienced dishonour or disrespect. Thinking that her heart and soul remained untouched and uninvolved in her physical affairs, she leaves them behind and sees herself as moral, appropriate and even prudish. She wants to think of herself as young and attractive, but she hates bright light, in fear in would reveal her age.

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