A Streetcar Named Desire - Analysis of Mitch

Mitch maybe a weak character but his treatment of Blanche is disturbing and harmful. In light of this comment explore Williams’s dramatic presentation of Mitch.

Williams arouses an uncomfortable personal tension through the character of Mitch. ‘Mitch gets up awkwardly and moves to her a little…..drawing her slowly into his arms’ (pg.57). Williams himself said he never had any sexual experiences until he was 27, relating to an awkwardness yet understanding towards women which is presented through Mitch, this tension is expressed through Mitch’s actions and language around Blanche. ‘He lowers her but keeps his hands on her waist….he fumblingly embraces her’(pg.53) , Blanche asks mitch to “unhand me sir” this is implying a disturbing need of Blanche, as she has asked him to let her go , but he is holding on to her as he was a child, as if he was somewhat reliant on her. This is later reinforced at the end of scene “you need somebody. And I need somebody, too” (pg.57). This could be related to the fact that women played huge part in Williams’s life, he was very close to his mother as he was a sick child, she was his primary carer he also had a strong relationship with his sister Rose, who was lobotomised. Alike the need of women, Mitch has a sick mother whom is reliant on him and they have a close relationship, “why did your mother want to know my age?” Mitch closeness to his mother is both a problem for Blanche and opportunity for mutual sympathy. This also presents the fact that Mitch has a diluted masculinity compared to other males in the play like Steve and Stanley. Mitch is described by Blanche as “My Rosenkavalier” this is a romantic hero bowing before his lady from “The Knight of the Rose”, this is dramatic irony as Mitch is presented as anything but a romantic hero, he is the complete opposite, reminding us of Blanche’s real target, Mitch is bemused but is playing the role that is expected of him, showing he is trying to be a gentlemen and do what is expected of him by his lady , which was unusual for men in the quarter highlighted by Stanley “he hurls a plate to the floor….That’s how I’ll clear the table …seizing her arm”(pg.65).

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