How is the idea of naturalism depicted in A Streetcar Named Desire?

Naturalism was a literary period which was highlighted between 1880 and 1940. Naturalists tended to believe that nature was more powerful than anything else and that mankind could never overturn its power. Naturalists would use everyday life, common characters, and lots of personification related to nature. Naturalists "studied" characters through their relationships with both other characters and nature alike. Taking an "experimental" stand on life, Naturalists were objective in life and allowed the natural order of things to progress.

While not typically defined as a Naturalistic piece, some characteristics of Naturalism are apparent in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire."

First, the play depicts lower-class characters in a lower-class setting. This is very typical of the Naturalistic texts.

Second, the play's action includes circumstances of life as it really was during the period: the men worked, the women stayed home, and violence was an accepted part of both the private and societal spheres.

Lastly, the ending of the play was made apparent through all which led up to it. Life for Blanche and Stella was what it was. No matter how hard either of them tried, their lives were on a path which they would not be able to deter from. Blanche's mental instability could lead to nothing but her being institutionalized and Stella's love for Stanley could lead to nothing but her staying with him.

Naturalism was first began by French writer Emile Zola. Zola forged the road for other authors who wished to pull away from the Romantic ideas of writing. Romantics viewed life through "rose-colored glasses" (meaning they forced the beauty of all things to the front). In essence, in their desire to elevate nature and the beauty of nature, Romantics tended to alter the realities of life.

Naturalists, on the other hand, desired to show life as it really was (as an extension of Realism). The authors tended to be metaphorical scientific observers, stating only what they observed in life without manipulating it.

In regards to Williams' play, A Streetcar Named Desire, the text can be seen as containing Naturalistic characteristics. Symbolism is very important in Naturalistic writings. The play offers many different examples of symbolism. For example, the symbolism of both the streetcars and the light bulb is essential to the play. Both have multiple meanings which blossom over the course of the play.

Naturalists also elevated the importance of nature. Unlike the Romantics who idealized nature, Naturalists believed that nature was the most powerful "being" (given its tendency to be personified) upon earth. In the play's case, the nature of both Stanley and Blanche are very important. Their nature is what leads to the explosive climax.

Naturalists also tended to portray realistic characters in realistic settings. Working class characters who lived normal lives with normal struggles tended to be the focus of the characterizations created for Naturalistic pieces. The fact that the play takes place in a rundown area of New Orleans and depicts normal working class characters (like Mitch and Stanley) proves the setting to be one typically found in Naturalistic writings.