Blanche Dubois As A Tragic Hero In A Streetcar Named Desire

The Queen of the Nile Aristotle conceptualized how â€Å"tragedy arouses the emotions by bringing a person who is somewhat better than average into a reversal of fortune for which he or she is responsible; then, through the downfall of the hero and the resolution of the conflicts resulting from the hero’s tragic flaw, the tragedy achieves a purging of the audience’s emotions† (Masterpieces of World Literature). Tragic plays have one or more tragic heroes within them; A Streetcar Named Desire is no exception. According to Dr. Hebert, a tragic hero must meet the following criteria: they â€Å"must be Noble, have a tragic flaw such as hubris, they go through a sequence of fall, suffering, learning, and punishment, and there must be an emotional†¦show more content†¦This part of the film demonstrates the fact that Blanche thinks that she is better than others to the point of being stuck up. Early in the film, Blanche and Stella return home at night and Stan ley is playing cards with some friends. When Blanche is introduced, she says, â€Å"how do you do? Please, don’t get up.† Stanley replies, â€Å"nobody is getting up.† Blanche expects everyone to stand on her behalf when she walks by as if she were of grandeur social status. Even Stella notices Blanche acting better than everyone when Blanche tried to get Stella to leave Stanley. Stella says, â€Å"don’t you think your superior attitude is a little out of place?† Blanche has this idea that since they grew up in Belle Reve, they should not live in a small apartment, they deserve better than â€Å"hanging back with the brutes† (Williams). The relationship shared between Blanche and Mitch is unlike the relationship she shares with any other men in the film. She truly exposes herself to Mitch and reveals her tragic flaw, desire, during their date on the deck. Blanche begins describing her husband, Allan. Blanche says, â€Å"I killed him,† and further explains that while dancing, she told Allan, â€Å"You are weak, I’ve lost respect for you, I despise you.† Allan â€Å"broke away from† Blanche and â€Å"stuck a revolver in his mouth and fired† (Williams). Blanche had feel in love at a young age and her reality was destroyed with this single pull of the trigger. She felt a need to fill the void and didShow MoreRelatedA Streetcar Named Desire : A Tragic Desire969 Words   |  4 PagesA tragic hero in literature is a type of character who has fallen from grace, where the downfall suggests feelings of misfortune and distress among the audience. The tragic flaw of the hero leads to their demise or downfall that in turn brings a tragic end. Aristotle defines a tragic hero as â€Å"a person who must evoke a sense of pity and fear in the audience. 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