Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar named desire is a play about a fallen woman in society's eyes. As a young woman Blanche lost the family fortune, estate and her young husband. These events have overwhelmed Blanche for years causing her to be a social exile. She is sometimes described as a tragic hero; a person who once had vast potential was plagued with a doubtful future. Others believe that Blanche Dubois is an anti-tragic hero, meaning that her life had no significance and effect on society. The Southern belle known as Blanche demonstrates throughout the play that her life did not make an impact on the world, in the end she was only fooling herself. .
In her early years, Blanch Dubois had much to be happy about. She was a young woman part of a wealthy family, deeply in love with a young boy. When her love committed suicide, Blanche's life was never the same again. "They told me to take a streetcar named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and travel six blocks and get off at-Elysian Fields." The transition from living in Belle Reeve, to the Flamingo and then to New Orleans caused Blanche to deteriorate which would ultimately lead her to a sanatorium. Each event in her life added to the foundation, that put her in a mental hospital. .
Numerous critiques believe that Blanche Dubious is an anti-tragic hero, meaning her life did not affect society at all. "Never inside, I didn't lie in my heart (119) Blanche says that she followed her heart throughout life, she never logically examined her life situation. This sort of decision making caused Blanche to be a failure in society. "Desire brought me here.where I'm not wanted and where I'm ashamed to be" (70) Instead of thinking about her future she acted on her intuitions, something most people grow out of when they become adults. It is evident even to the people around Blanche that she is not thinking with her mind. "Are you boxed out from your mind.
