13 Facts About Blanche DuBois

Blanche DuBois is a fictional character in Tennessee Williams' 1947 Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Streetcar Named Desire.

Blanche DuBois had a series of meaningless affairs to numb her grief, and was thrown out of her hometown of Laurel, Mississippi, as a "woman of loose morals" after sleeping with a 17-year-old boy.

Blanche DuBois is nervous, and constantly flutters and paces about.

Blanche DuBois has an obsession with staying out of direct light, and even covers a light bulb with a paper lantern.

Blanche DuBois calls Stanley an ape, and shames Stella for marrying a man so violent and animalistic.

Blanche DuBois is not shy about expressing her contempt for Stanley and the life he has given her sister, which makes him proud.

Blanche DuBois's character creates a sense of duality right from the start as she keeps looking for alcohol and her exaggerated airs of propriety create suspicion.

Blanche DuBois begins dating Stanley's friend Harold "Mitch" Mitchell, who is distinct from Stanley in his courtesy and propriety, and sees in him a chance for happiness.

Mitch learns that Blanche DuBois had been seen numerous times at a hotel with a specifically bad reputation.

Blanche DuBois learns that she did not willingly leave her job as a schoolteacher, but was actually let go due to inappropriate relations with an underage student.

Blanche DuBois begins drinking heavily and escapes into a fantasy world, conjuring up the notion that an old flame, a millionaire named Shep Huntleigh, is imminently planning to take her away.

Blanche DuBois has been portrayed several times on stage and on screen.

Blanche DuBois was portrayed by Vivien Leigh in the London stage production, which was directed by her then-husband Laurence Olivier, She reprised the role in the 1951 film adaptation.