In Tennessee Williams' 1945 play, the character of Blanche Dubois is by far the most complex character. To explore whether the play can be considered as its own tragedy, where the play is considered a modern tragedy, we must first examine the necessary criteria of the genre. To meet the standard, the work should be a serious depiction of the fall of the protagonist, a person of admirable qualities, who makes a fatal mistake. These qualities are wasted in the final calamity, which presents a disproportion between the initial mistake and the extent of the punishment. Catharsis should arouse feelings of pity and terror. A Streetcar Named Desire can be seen as a modern domestic tragedy, with basic elements of traditional tragedy. The central character, or protagonist, Blanche Dubois has the tragic flaw of arrogance, taking pride in both intellect and pride in sexual prowess. Blanche came to the house of her sister and brother-in-law Stella and Stanley Kowalski, because she has nowhere else. go, having lost the inheritance of their ancestral home, Belle Reve (Beautiful Dream), due to the mismanagement of his ancestors and Stella. Stanley is an American of Polish descent, a modern, rugged, working-class man who distrusts and detests Blanche from the start. The admirable qualities of eloquence and education that Blanche demonstrates (Blanche is a literature teacher) are an affectation and an annoyance for him. Even Blanche herself talks about her admirable qualities, in scene ten, saying that she is cultured, and of intelligence and education. Stella also points out others while talking to Stanley, telling him that Blanche was both tender and trusting as a child. Blanche also dresses well, and is amazed at the st...... middle of paper ......neven in a way that he has failed to do so far during the show, and in doing so, he is also undoing his aristocratic education. Finally, let's look at the punishment. When Blanche returns from the hospital a few days later and Blanche tells Stella what happened, she chooses not to believe Blanche. As Stella tells her neighbor Eunice, “I couldn't believe her story and continue living with Stanley.” They arrange for Blanche to be admitted to a mental institution. At the end of this final scene, while Stanley and his friends are playing poker, we see Blanche become hysterical when a nurse arrives and attempts to take her away. She gives in and becomes passive only when the doctor enters the apartment, behaving like a gentleman. Then he lets himself be led away, calmly. I believe this symbolizes Blanche's death, the final, crushing punishment.