Blanche prefers darkness and avoids direct light, which equates darkness with lack of romance and danger. The naked lightbulb in the Kowalski's apartment may symbolize harsh reality and truth. When Stanley smashes all the lightbulbs during his first night with Stella, it signifies his rejection of illusion. The "colored lights" Stella likes refer to places that mask the truth. The bright light when Blanche reminisces about her husband's suicide represents harsh reality penetrating her fantasies. The candles on Blanche's birthday cake, and her blowing them out, suggest the passage of time and inevitable fading of youth. Blanche uses light as a metaphor for both romantic awakening and the shattering of illusions

1. LIGHT IMAGERY:
A Streetcar
Named Desire

2. "I don’t think I ever seen you in the light. That’s a fact! You never
want to go out in the afternoon. You never want to go out till after
six and then it’s always some place that’s not lighted much. […]
What it means is I’ve never had a real good look at you.” (Mitch)

3. Why does she not like direct light?

4. Blanche equates darkness with lack of romance,
civilisation and danger. Can you think of some
examples from the play?

5. What might the naked
lightbulb in the Kowalski’s
apartment symbolise?

6. Why is it significant that Stanley smashes all the
bulbs in the house when he and Stella first get
together?

7. Stanley says that Stella likes the nights “with
the coloured lights.” What does this mean?

8. When Blanche reminisces about her husband’s
fate, the Varsouviana polka plays and she is lit by a
bright light. What might this symbolise?

9. On her birthday, the candles on Blanche’s cake and
the blowing out of them may suggest what?

10. WBlanche describes falling in love like this:
“You suddenly turned a blinding
light on something that had
always been half in shadow, that’s
how it struck the world for me.”

11. Blanche describes the impact of her husband’s
suicide like this:
“The searchlight which had been turned
on the world was turned off again and
never for one moment since has there
been any light that’s stronger than this —
kitchen — candle…"

12. So…hiding herself (and her
past/pain) from the world AND
blocking the world out by
pretending it is not there, is an
important coping mechanism
for Blanche. REALITY VERSUS
FANTASY.

14. THE SYMBOLS GAME…..GUESS WHO?
Guess the character based on the symbol shown
before the clock runs out.