Desire Case

The Streetcar Named Desire further develops the background and the actions of Blanche. Blanche arrives at Elysian Fields by taking "a streetcar named Desire, and then transfer[ring] to one called Cemeteries" (15). The streetcar is physically the vehicle by which Blanche arrives in Elysian Fields. Desire is also the reason Blanche is brought there, or more forced to leave where she was. Because of Blanche's relations with a younger student in her old occupation, and the sexual desire to seek these relations, Blanche must leave her former position and visits her sister by riding "desire... that rattle-trap street-car that bangs through the Quarter, up one narrow street and down another" (70). There is desire all around Blanche as displayed when the young man is speaking with Blanche and she clearly would like to be with him. Blanche cannot escape her desires and it drives many of her actions through the play.

Roses/Flowers are descriptive of Blanche in the play and display the connection between desire and death. Stella compares Blanche to a daisy and describes her as fresh, to which Blanche replies, "One that's been picked a few days" (47). Stella attempts to describe Blanche as a catch and insinuates her as desiring. Blanche, however, is very self-conscious of her appearance and believes she looks expired. This connection with expiration, and even death, is depicted when the Mexican street vendor is selling her flowers. She advertises with the exclamation: "Flores para los muertos" (119). In English, this text is translated: Flowers for the dead. This directly bonds the ideas of desire, as if someone desires another, they may present flowers, and death, as the flowers are intended for the dead.