A Streetcar Named Desire: Costumes

Costumes in "A Streetcar Named Desire" are key signifiers of social background, class, and one’s sense of self.
Williams uses nonverbal elements like costumes as visual cues to characters’ motivations and the concepts they embody.

Initial Appearance: Daintily dressed in white, portraying her as a vulnerable outsider.
Poker Game Scene: Feminine white suit and floral dress juxtaposed with the men's colored shirts.
Reflection of Social Background: Costumes become a focus for Stanley’s resentment towards Blanche’s world of privilege; Descriptions of her clothes reveal Stanley’s anger.
Playing a Role: Costumes reflect different aspects of her character to persuade Mitch; Seduction of Mitch in Scene III involves changing clothes to appeal to his desires.
Collapse of Facade: In Scene 10, a soiled and crumpled white satin evening gown symbolizes her reputation.
Redemption: In Scene 11, she changes into a 'Delia Robbia blue' costume, symbolizing spiritual renewal.

Colored Shirts and Gaudy Pajamas: Reinforce his image as a powerful patriarch.
Work Clothes: Reflect his working-class status.
Brilliant Silk Pajamas: Symbolize his triumph over Blanche in Scene 10.

Aspirations: He wears an 'alpaca coat' to appear chivalrous, but feels constrained.
Confrontation Scene: Wears his usual 'blue denim shirt and pants', abandoning the chivalrous ideal.

Blanche's Transformation: From Southern Belle to scarlet woman to martyr, traced through her costumes; Her white suit at the beginning and white sack at the end suggest redemption.
Water and Cleanliness: References reinforce the image of baptism and spiritual renewal.
Emphasis on Bodies: Stage directions emphasize Blanche and Stanley’s costumes, highlighting their conflicting values and the sexual energy between them.
Color Symbolism: Duality of colors impacting purity and societal status.