Insanity––– defined in the Oxford English Dictionary is “the state of being seriously mentally ill; madness.” This definition implies that the insane individual possesses an uncontrollable mental illness, one that alters their emotions and behavior. A second definition views insanity as “extreme foolishness or irrationality.” Here insanity is insinuated as behavioral rather than psychiatric, suggesting that it is more of a conscious choice of action. In modern society, the word “insanity” is thrown around and used loosely to describe people who act in unthinkable or irregular ways. In these circumstances, insanity can range from a person irresponsibly overspending their money to a person committing murder. Regardless of the serious discourse surrounding mental health in the dictionary definition, the word insanity finds itself easily permeating everyday conversation. Nonetheless, by defining insanity as an exhibition of poor mental health, it can be manifested into many illnesses, including schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is characterized by a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, which often leads patients to act irregularly or irrationally (NIMH, 2018). Blanche Dubois from Tenessee William’s, A Streetcar Named Desire, embodies the mental illness definition of insanity, distinctively schizophrenia, through her inability to distinguish reality from her fantasies and her overall delusional sense of self.
Blanche’s character embodies a gradual transcendence into insanity, fueled by loss, despair, and desperation. At the beginning of the play, Blanche's initial cover-ups seem harmless enough, only as a means of altering her self-image and escaping embarrassment. However, Blanche’s inability to differentiate her fantasies from reality is what becomes the core of her mental deterioration. A common symptom of schizophrenia is delusional behavior, characterized by idiosyncratic beliefs that contradict reality and rationality. Blanche lies about the reason for her arrival at Stella’s apartment claiming to be on a “leave of absence” from her job as a schoolteacher. This, however, is later revealed to be untrue after her incident with the young boy is exposed by Stanley. Blanche nonetheless refuses to accept that she was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with an underage boy, exemplified through her persistent denial. She instead disguises reality with the life she wishes she had, “The high school Superintendent-he suggested I take a leave of absence,” (Williams 21). Blanche’s compulsive lying begins to unveil her insanity as she becomes unable to distinguish what is real from what is not.
Blanche's projection of her inner fantasies into real life further indicate her insanity and retreat from reality. Her obscure and inappropriate encounter with the young delivery man reveals that Blanche truly believes in the fantasies in her head. In her mind, Blanche still sees herself as a young woman flirting with someone her age, when in reality she is acting inappropriately. Blanche's delusional perspective aligns her with symptoms of insanity which only progress more throughout the play. Moreso, Blanche’s profession as an English schoolteacher renders her to be surrounded by fiction every day. Her occupation and exposure to fantasy and romance could be a catalyst to her own mental demise. Blanche’s delusional behavior demonstrate her lack of self-awareness and as she believes in the lies she feeds to others and herself.
Blanche’s delusions go even further as she orchestrates a telegram received from Shep Huntleigh. She once again feeds her fantasies, this time in a more "insane" fashion. Although it is clear she and Shep never had a relationship, she nonetheless insists he will come rescue her from her despair. Her vulnerable and desperate state of mind combined with Stanley's rape leads to her breaking point as she is taken away to a mental institution at the end of scene eleven. When greeted by the Matron, stage directions state that “The greeting is echoed and re-echoed by other mysterious voices behind the walls, as if reverberated through a canyon of rock” (139). The voices that Blanche hears as she meets the Matron mimick hallucinations, a common symptom of schizophrenia. At this point in the play, she is the most mentally detached. Even in the final scene as she is being taken away, Blanche remains convinced that Shep Huntleigh will come and rescue her and fulfill her fantasies, "You are not the gentleman I was expecting. That man isn't Shep Huntleigh" (138). These behaviors demonstrate her disturbed perception and withdrawal from reality, all which fall under the symptoms of schizophrenia. She retreats into her own delusions of a perfect life with Shep, unable to accept the physical realms around her as she is carried out. The behaviors and delusional mental state that Blanche exhibits throughout the play fall under the definition of “insanity” in its most vague and specific aspects.
Blanche’s character embodies a gradual transcendence into insanity, fueled by loss, despair, and desperation. At the beginning of the play, Blanche's initial cover-ups seem harmless enough, only as a means of altering her self-image and escaping embarrassment. However, Blanche’s inability to differentiate her fantasies from reality is what becomes the core of her mental deterioration. A common symptom of schizophrenia is delusional behavior, characterized by idiosyncratic beliefs that contradict reality and rationality. Blanche lies about the reason for her arrival at Stella’s apartment claiming to be on a “leave of absence” from her job as a schoolteacher. This, however, is later revealed to be untrue after her incident with the young boy is exposed by Stanley. Blanche nonetheless refuses to accept that she was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with an underage boy, exemplified through her persistent denial. She instead disguises reality with the life she wishes she had, “The high school Superintendent-he suggested I take a leave of absence,” (Williams 21). Blanche’s compulsive lying begins to unveil her insanity as she becomes unable to distinguish what is real from what is not.
Blanche's projection of her inner fantasies into real life further indicate her insanity and retreat from reality. Her obscure and inappropriate encounter with the young delivery man reveals that Blanche truly believes in the fantasies in her head. In her mind, Blanche still sees herself as a young woman flirting with someone her age, when in reality she is acting inappropriately. Blanche's delusional perspective aligns her with symptoms of insanity which only progress more throughout the play. Moreso, Blanche’s profession as an English schoolteacher renders her to be surrounded by fiction every day. Her occupation and exposure to fantasy and romance could be a catalyst to her own mental demise. Blanche’s delusional behavior demonstrate her lack of self-awareness and as she believes in the lies she feeds to others and herself.
Blanche’s delusions go even further as she orchestrates a telegram received from Shep Huntleigh. She once again feeds her fantasies, this time in a more "insane" fashion. Although it is clear she and Shep never had a relationship, she nonetheless insists he will come rescue her from her despair. Her vulnerable and desperate state of mind combined with Stanley's rape leads to her breaking point as she is taken away to a mental institution at the end of scene eleven. When greeted by the Matron, stage directions state that “The greeting is echoed and re-echoed by other mysterious voices behind the walls, as if reverberated through a canyon of rock” (139). The voices that Blanche hears as she meets the Matron mimick hallucinations, a common symptom of schizophrenia. At this point in the play, she is the most mentally detached. Even in the final scene as she is being taken away, Blanche remains convinced that Shep Huntleigh will come and rescue her and fulfill her fantasies, "You are not the gentleman I was expecting. That man isn't Shep Huntleigh" (138). These behaviors demonstrate her disturbed perception and withdrawal from reality, all which fall under the symptoms of schizophrenia. She retreats into her own delusions of a perfect life with Shep, unable to accept the physical realms around her as she is carried out. The behaviors and delusional mental state that Blanche exhibits throughout the play fall under the definition of “insanity” in its most vague and specific aspects.
I think making the connection of Blanche's insanity to schizophrenia is a bold claim. As a reader, I would like to see more evidence to back this up, although I think it is an interesting thesis to have. I read Blanche to be more of a hopeful liar that hides her real life to project a certain image to others, without her actually believing her lies to be true. I guess by that definition she would not be insane, but simply mentally ill, which one could argue are not the same thing, but the definition you used says otherwise. I thought this was interesting to read, but would like more evidence to back up Blanche's schizophrenia.
ReplyDeleteI like that you are making a bold claim, I think it is super interesting. I might not agree with it, but I still think that it is fun that you are creating a strong argument for a very specific thing and not a lot of people do it. By picking out details in the play you argues very well that Blanche has schizophrenia, but I don't think that is necessarily true. There a myriad of mental illnesses that fall into line with the same diagnosis and something that they tell you as a psych student (my other major) is not to assume any diagnosis until you really know the field. Also mental illness affects so many people in different ways. But please keep up with these types of arguments, because they are fun to read and interesting to think about.
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