The Downfall of Romanticism as portrayed in Streetcar A central theme in "A Streetcar Named Desire" is romanticism. Blanche Dubois, a central character in Williams's play represents romanticism and its failures. Williams uses Blanche to convey his underlying theme- romantics are unable to assimilate into society. Blanche's failure in life is multi-cause, however they all relate to her romantic qualities. Her self-destructive behavior is certainly a primary cause to her failures in life. Her excessive …showed first 75 words of 381 total…

…showed last 75 words of 381 total…never able to combine her two needs. Tennessee Williams was a romantic himself. Williams, characteristic of all other romantics, had a strong desire for an ideal beauty and love in the world. As already established, there are many fundamental flaws with the ideals of romanticism. Williams, perhaps, recognizes his own human flaws, and is using Blanche Dubois as an outlet to represent them, or perhaps even understand them to better deal with his own problems.