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.