A Streetcar Named Desire: Characterization, Character Motivation, Symbolism

Characterization is the method an author uses to develop or reveal characters, their personalities, and their motivations. There are two kinds of characterization: direct characterization and indirect characterization.

Direct characterization: the author or narrator tells the reader what the character is like. For example, “Ryan is tall and thin, and he has an ugly mean streak.”

Indirect characterization: a writer reveals a character’s personality, traits, and motivations through that character's thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that character—this includes what other characters think and say about him. For example, “When Katie stepped on Ryan’s foot, he pushed her, called her a klutz, and threw her binder out the window.” Here’s another example, “Katie recalled the incident with Ryan and said, ‘Ryan’s a jerk. He’s got a pretty serious anger management problem.’” Note: Indirect Characterization is generally considered superior to direct characterization, since it is an act of showing, rather than telling.

Motivation: this drives a character to do what they do. To determine motivation we ask ourselves: what is this character’s strongest desire? It’s often necessary to determine a particular character’s motivation in order to determine an author’s purpose in including that character. Often their desire is Thematic and requires us to consider the novelist’s major thematic ideas.

Symbolic significance: many characters have a meaning beyond advancing the plot. What do they symbolize? Are they foils (characters that exist to contrast against another character)? Are they archetypes (types of characters that we see in many different works of fiction)? Does a character exist to introduce an idea or theme in a text?

Directions: For each of the characters below, identify and cite examples of both direct and indirect characterization from the novel. Then make an inference about that character’s central motivation in the novel. Citation format is as follows: “Here is a sample sentence” (author 54). For example: “It certainly was a dirty trick” (Salinger 11).

Stanley Kowalski

Direct Characterization

Indirect Characterization

Motivation(s)

Stella Kowalski

Direct Characterization

Indirect Characterization

Motivation

Symbolic Significance:

Blanche Dubois

Direct Characterization

Indirect Characterization

Motivation

Symbolic Significance:

Mitch

Direct Characterization

Indirect Characterization

Motivation

Symbolic Significance:

Allan (Blanche’s past husband)

Direct Characterization

Indirect Characterization

Motivation

Symbolic Significance:

Now, having examined Tennessee Williams’ methods of characterization, how might you characterize his individual style?