| A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) is the most celebrated drama by Tennessee Williams, which has been inspiring people to read and study from different perspectives. This thesis attempts to use Carl Jung's archetype theories to discuss its heroine Blanche's psychology and find out the causes of her self-destruction.Related to Jung's major concepts of archetypes in terms of persona, shadow and animus, the explanation of Blanche's destruction in Streetcar1 will go on three aspects. Firstly, Blanche's persona is analyzed. According to Jung, persona is a symbolic archetype, mediating the relationship between the individual and the external world by repressing the inner shadow to gain social approval and acceptance. Blanche hides her sordid past and presents the persona as a traditional virgin in order to be accepted in a new situation. Secondly, Blanche's shadow and its manifestation are unearthed. Shadow is the dark side of human psyche, acting as a destructive and unreasoning power. Meanwhile, as the self-compensation in reality, shadow also has the positive aspect. As a victim of the patriarchal social system, like a parasite depending on men economically and mentally, Blanche indulges herself in men's world of lust while longing for independence. Thirdly, Blanche's animus and its influences on her are presented. Animus is the male image of woman, featuring adamancy, aggressiveness, controlling power and so on. Blanche's animus affords her an underlying support to make her be strong, but it as well deteriorates the relationship between her and the men around her, which inflicts destruction on her.The thesis unscrambles Blanche's general psychological processes from the angles of persona, shadow and animus and views the basic cause of Blanche's tragic fate as the psychological unbalance resulted from the infiltration and corruption of patriarchal system. The thesis aims to offer another angle to analyze the heroine's destiny in Streetcar by using Jung's archetypes. |
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