Stagecraft and Symbolism
Williams uses brilliant theatrical devices to make Blanche's psychological journey visible to audiences. The apartment's transparent back wall reminds us of the larger world pressing in, whilst darkness and light imagery tracks Blanche's descent into madness. Her white clothes and pale appearance literally show her fading away.
Poker games frame the play's most crucial scenes, reflecting how life itself becomes a game of chance and survival. Williams originally called the work "The Poker Night," and the card metaphor runs throughout—Stanley always holds the winning hand because he understands the rules of this harsh new world.
The play's symbolism works on multiple levels. Mitch's cigarette case mirrors Blanche's trunk—both carry remnants of dead, unrecoverable pasts. Meanwhile, Blanche resembles a moth (traditionally representing the soul), drawn to light but ultimately destroyed by it.
Remember: Williams believed symbols should "say a thing more directly and simply and beautifully than it could be said in words"—every visual element serves the story's emotional truth.