seph Krutch writes, “Though there is in the play a certain haunting dream-like or rather nightmarish quality, the break with reality is never quite made, and nothing happens which might not be an actual event.” How true on not only Blanches part, but each of the characters. The play is so raw and in-your-face that it almost takes on qualities of a fantasy, especially at the time of its debut. But Tennessee was able to create a play that rather expertly walked the fine line between illusion and reality; a task not easily accomplished.John Gassner, in Contemporary Literary Criticism speaks beautifully of Tennessee’s genius when he says that Tennessee “transmits the base metal of reality into verbal poetry” (77) This “poetry” is evident in scene two as Blanche recoils at the disruption of the love letters she received from ?Alan? saying, “Everyone has something he won’t let others touch because of their—intimate nature.” (42) This passage speaks novels about the character of Blanche, Stanley, and Stella. Blanche of course is attempting to wipe the slate of all behaviors that might undermine her image of a lady. Blanche is telling Mitch this very thing in scene six when she says, “you know as well as I do that a single girl, a girl alone in the world, has got to keep a firm hold…” (87) Stanley is a little harder to read than Blanche but under close examination you can see that he too holds numerous things sacred. The simple fact that he doesn’t want to kiss Stella in front of Blanche might be an indicator that his relationship with Stella is that for him. The brutish Stanley breaks down bawling in scene three after striking Stella and cries up to Eunice, “My baby doll’s left me… I want my baby.” (59) Now clearly this is not the behavior one would normally associate with Stanley. Stella too requires love and attention....
