A Lacanian Reading of Blanche's subjectivity in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

A Lacanian Reading of Blanche's subjectivity in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

This article attempts a psychoanalytic reading of the Blancheʹs subjectivity and reveals the effect of other characters Desire on Blancheʹs emotional investment in Imaginary Order in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. Tennessee Williams plays have been discussed from different approaches by many critics. The significance of this study lies in the fact that it will try to apply Lacanian theory of Selfhood, Other , Desire, Castration, Imaginary and Symbolic Order on Tennessee Williamsʹ main female character, Blanche, so that the reader could understand some of her reactions. It seems that a psychoanalytic approach is the best way to do justice to Williams’ disturbed characters. Through each scene, all of the characters will be analyzed in order to lighten the issue that whether family, friends and society (Lacanian Other) have an effect on Blanche Selfhood or not. Blanche is placed as an alienated subject in the Symbolic Order so her subjectivity would be formed in it. The society, Allan, Stella, Stanley, Apartment, her dead relatives, and Mitch contribute in creation of her subjectivity. Blanche is simultaneously drawn in two different directions, Imaginary and Symbolic Order. Unconsciously she is pushed to the Symbolic Order and became a subject in it. She is unable to function as a subject in society. As a result of rejection of Symbolic Order, she is drawn to Imaginary Order and spends more and more time there. She misrecognizes her identity and finally the strength of this unconscious desire draws her into insanity.