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Delusions In A Streetcar Named Desire

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One dominant theme in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is the destructiveness of the natural tendency to engage in self-delusion when dealing with life’s difficulties. From the beginning, the main character Blanche seeks to do all she can to convince herself and others that the situations she encounters are better than they truly are. She hides her issues with drinking and the loss of her home, ultimately lying to her sister Stella and Stella’s husband Stanley. Stanley however, is very direct and does not allow Blanche to remain in her perfect world. Consequently, Stanley’s actions become more blunt and harsh as the play progresses which result in a worsening of Blanche’s delusions. The deterioration of her mental state is shown

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