Blanche Dubois is a wealthy, upper-class, old-style American woman, from Mississippi, who has come to a rough part of New Orleans to stay with her sister, Stella. Before we even get to know anything about Blanche, from her first appearance we get a good impression of her vulnerability and implied innocence. Williams proposes that Blanche wears clothes that suggest delicateness, such as a white suit with a fluffy bodice, and Blanche is described as being uncertain, like a moth. Williams also mentions that Blanches delicate beauty should avoid a harsh, strong light. As moths are seen as being silky and soft, yet vulnerable to touch, and also dangerously attracted to bright lights, this fits in well with Blanches character. We learn throughout the first few scenes of the play, that Blanche is very delicate and vulnerable, and seems doomed to be burnt to a crisp by the bright lights of New Orleans. In the common, simple place Elysian Fields is, Blanche seems very incongruous, and completely out of place. She is dressed incorrectly for the place she is in.
Blanches body language also suggests an ambiguous manner- she sits completely upright very stiffly, with her shoulders slightly hunched and her legs pressed close together. She seems very nervous and cautious, and clutches her purse as though her life depended on it.
Williams has purposely made her laugh nervously a lot, and seems to lie about herself a lot to her sister. She is an obvious alcoholic, but seems to resent this fact, and tries very hard to keep this from Stella.
There is also a lot of symbolism in everything about how Blanche is described. For example, Blanches name means White Woods, and it is surely not just a coincidence that her surname (Dubois) is so close to a word meaning uncertain (dubious). Blanche herself seems keen to refer to her name, and nature, and Orchard in Spring, to make herself as glamorous as possible.
The white clothes that she wears represent innocence and purity, and Blanches constant bathing seems to accentuate her need to cleanse herself. The white also suggests that all she is will be spoilt, as she cannot stay clean forever.
She seems to be hiding many things, and seems confident that she can cope with all her burdens alone, which automatically make her a prime target for Stanley to help.
Away from Stanley, she seems fairly confident, although always slightly jumpy. She is a well-to-do woman from an original French-American family, and takes the role of older sister to a slight extreme, being almost parental to Stella, patronising and belittling her. She seems too worried about everything, and tries to place some blame for losing Belle Reve on Stella.
She seems to try to stake out her own territory, claiming the bathroom as her sanctuary, and during the poker game in Scene Three, using her sexuality to tease the men. She has obviously not been around men in a while, as she almost gives herself on a plate to Mitch, again revealing her insecurity.
As we have found out by this point, via Stanley, Blanche had a husband when she was very young, who died. She shows more vulnerability and genuine sympathy towards Mitch when conversing with him.
Blanche again seems to be trying to shelter herself, by asking Mitch to cover up the harsh white light, with a soft colourful paper lantern shade.
Due to all these factors, we see that Blanche is incredibly fragile, and undoubtedly likely to fall under some sort of tragedy. All of the stage directions seem to indicate that Blanche is a delicate woman, who could easily be hurt by the slightest incident.
It seems that she could be burnt at any moment, by that bright light she is so drawn to.
As we read more of the play, we uncover more and more of Blanches secrets and she becomes more and more erratic and fragile.
Her uncertain manner, and insecure ego seem to develop as the play continues, and it seems very predictable that Blanche is doomed to fail, and that she has had an extraordinary past, and many a tale to tell.
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