realist, crushes her hope by revealing, to Mitch, the evidence he has found on her. During scene nine when Mitch confronts Blanche with the reality of her life she says “ I don’t realism. I want magic! ... I don’t tell the truth. I tell what ought to be the truth. And if that is sinful, then let me be damned for it!” (Williams 117). This is certainly clear evidence that she is afraid of reality and goes “back to her own delusions about herself” (Falk 96). Blanche is shown continuously taking long, hot baths. She says they help her calm her nerves. In the play she is seen saying “Here I am, all freshly bathed and scented, and feeling like a brand new human being!“ (Williams 37). Actually these bath scenes symbolize two things. First she subconsciously hopes to cleanse her sins away. The baths are a way to purify her from the past. She feels that because of her inability to help her husband she is the cause of his suicide. Secondly “... they make her squeal with pleasure like a child...” (Bedient 50). This suggests her desire to be young again. She lies to Mitch about her age and later says a woman must create little illusions. This then goes back to the illusionary world she has made for herself. Although Blanche does not admit to drinking often, “No, I - rarely touch it.”(Williams 30) she does. This is a clear example of Blanche lying to herself and others because of her desire to be something other than what she really is. She pours it into her bottomless pit of emptiness. She uses the alcohol to drown out the horrifying sound of the music heard when her husband shoot himself. Symbolism is shown in various ways. Williams uses astrological signs to emphasize the characteristics of his characters. Blanche, born under the Sign of Virgo, shows many Adcock 4of its traits. Virgos are “intellectual, critical, fussy, shrewd, lo...
