streetcar named desire

            But, honey, you know as well as I do that a single girl, a girl alone in the world has got to keep a firm hold on her emotions or she'll be lost!- Blanche DuBois, the tragically poignant character of Tennessee Williams' notable play A Streetcar Named Desire, compensated for her disheveled past with fantasies. Scarred by the abrupt suicide of her husband Allen Grey, Blanche gradually slipped into a world governed by her delusions. For instance, she was overtaken with loneliness so she embarked on a conquest to fill the void in her life with love. After many foolish attempts Blanche met Mitch, a "gentleman- whom she believed would replace her loneliness with love and respect. Sadly her ambitious fantasy was destroyed by Stanley's cruel intervention, and Blanche was once again abandoned by someone she trusted. In the end, Blanche could no longer cope with harsh reality, and as a result she took refuge in a "make believe- world of fantasy and dreams. In order to better understand blanche's fantasies, one must retrace the events to the root of the problem. As a young girl blanche married Allen Grey, who at the time was confused about his sexuality. Upon discovering his secret, Blanche felt disgusted and concluded that she "failed him in some mysterious way."" She carried the burden of his death with her, and the immense feeling of guilt prevented Blanche from moving on. Instead she dealt with the loss by trying to recapture love through various fantasies. One in particular involved millionaire Shep Huntleigh, a "gentleman-, who repented her last chance for rescue. In addition to Shep, Blanche indulged her fantasies with young boys, and consequently lost her job. In short, Blanche's endless search for love stemmed from Allen Grey's death, and eventually escalated into a fantasy world. In spite of her evasive past, Blanche once more attempted to replace her loneliness with a loving relationship.