Blanche Dubois: Stella's sister, visiting from Belle Reve.
Steve and Eunice Hubble: Neighbors living upstairs.
Mitch: Stanley's poker buddy, becomes romantically interested in Blanche.
Plot Overview
Arrival and Family Reunion
Blanche arrives in New Orleans, shocked by Stella's living conditions.
Reveals loss of their childhood home, Belle Reve, due to relatives' deaths and financial burdens.
Stanley's Skepticism
Stanley is suspicious of Blanche's intentions regarding Belle Reve.
Demands evidence, to which Blanche provides documents showing the loss.
Stanley reveals Stella's pregnancy, changing the mood to one of joy.
Poker Night Tensions
Stanley hosts a poker night while Blanche and Stella go out.
Tension arises when Stella tells Stanley to end the game, leading to an altercation.
Stanley hits Stella, but they reconcile soon after.
Blanche's Romantic Endeavors
Blanche begins dating Mitch.
She charms a young newspaper boy, showcasing her flirtatious nature.
Mitch and Blanche's relationship grows, but falters due to Blanche's past.
Blanche's Troubled Past
Blanche shares the tragedy of her husband's suicide after discovering his homosexuality.
Stanley investigates Blanche's past, discovering her disreputable history.
Birthday and Betrayal
Stanley reveals Blanche's past to Mitch, sabotaging her relationship.
Stanley gives Blanche a bus ticket back to Laurel as a cruel birthday gift, leading to her breakdown.
Climactic Confrontation
Mitch confronts Blanche about her deception, ending their relationship.
Stanley and Blanche have a final confrontation, resulting in an implied assault.
Conclusion and Departure
Stella prepares for Blanche's departure, believing Stanley over Blanche.
A doctor arrives to take Blanche away as she succumbs to her delusions.
Themes and Analysis
Vulnerability and Isolation: Blanche's downfall highlights the struggle of individuals with delicate dispositions.
Reality vs. Fantasy: Blanche's constant retreat into her fantasies to escape harsh realities.
Desire and Destruction: The destructive nature of unchecked desire, as seen in the characters' relationships.
Reflection
The narrative invites reflection on the societal treatment of vulnerable individuals and the consequences of ignoring mental health and support systems.
Additional Resources
For further analysis, consider exploring Tennessee Williams' themes across his body of work.
Videos and literature critiques may offer more insights into "A Streetcar Named Desire."