A Streetcar Named Desire is highly eulogized for its delicate construction, refined writing, vivid characters and provoking thoughts. The play is preoccupied with the extremes of human brutality and sexual behavior such as madness, rape, incest and nymphomania, as well as violent and fantastic deaths. With such series of powerful portraits of the human condition, Williams offers American theatergoers unforgettable characters. 

1.2 Research Situation

So far, a substantial number of researches have been done on the theme of A Streetcar Named Desire. In order to show how the play has been variously studied, I classify these different researches into three groups which, I think, can draw the essential lines of demarcation. I will first begin with the studies on cultural clashes between Stanley and Blanche, then those on Blanche’s tragedy from the feminist perspective. Finally, there will be some researches of the trend to import sexuality along with queer to the play’s analysis.论文网

As for the conflict between north and south, Professor Wang Yiqun espouses that the play primarily portrays the contradiction between Blanche and Stanley, and the failure of Blanche can be considered as the decline of the south. (Wang, 1992:79) 

It is also a critical perspective from the point of the much-discussed question of Blanche’s tragedy. Judith J. Thompson works out that Blanche’s downfall follows a common pattern, “which begins always with mythically elevated expectations, followed by inevitable disillusionment, and the physical corruption of the soul’s transcendent dreams”(Thompson, 2002:26). Zhu Yanyan intimates Blanche’s tragedy by her unsuccessful journey of self-salvation. Suffering from her husband’s death, family’s misfortune and unconventional life, Blanche bears so tremendous a psychological burden that she has to purify her body and soul and undertake a series of actions by frequently bathing in hot water, secretly drinking wine, and consciously distorting reality. (Zhu, 2011:131-136) Liu Xiling points out the reason why Blanche’s self-salvation is useless is that she fails in getting rid of the protection of men, as well as changing her values on men and herself. As far as Liu is concerned, Blanche is the tragedy of the society which is ruled by males. Liu appeals females to realize what the value is as a woman and gain dignity in a right way. (Liu, 2009:112-114) 

Further more, some scholars reach a similar conclusion of Blanche’s tragedy but with focus on the feminism. Ruth Foley interprets the play on the plight of Blanche in Southern patriarchal society, either degraded or destroyed in her search for identity and security. Foley analyzes that Stanley’s personality provides insight into how men dominate women and convince them of their inferiority. And Blanche is frantic about her fading good looks even if only through the realm of fantasy, deeply etched with the concept that youth and beauty are the only sources of feminine power. When Blanche is unable to live up to her self-imposed expectations as a properly raised Southern belle, she displays deep-seated psychological instability. Thus, Foley explicates Blanche as a helpless victim who cannot break from her traditional role in a society that empowers males and victimizes females. (Foley, 2013:49-71) Wei Fang regards Blanche as the representative of delicate and fragile southern female images. Wei’s paper traces this typical controversial heroine in terms of social culture, economic factor and women’s psychology to find out the main factors for her destruction. In Wei’s opinion, it is difficult for Blanche to master her own fate and face conflicts brought by industrialization and commercialization under the restriction and oppression of patriarchy. Wei holds the view that once women yield themselves to patriarchy, instead of struggling indomitably for their freedom, their miserable situation will not be changed. (Wei, 2008:102-108)