I believe that illusion is not necessary to everyone's life but rather it helps them to avoid the harsh realities that they may have to deal with in their lives. I also believe that a major theme of this play was how our lives can often experience a fierce battle between these illusions. In the case of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' there are many examples where the characters are simply hiding in or behind illusions and where the characters may try to destroy or protect their illusions or those of others.
The best example is found by looking to the main character. Blanche Dubois was a troubled woman who throughout the play lives her life in illusions. The story begins with Blanche going to New Orleans to stay with her sister Stella, and her husband Stanley for a while. Here, the illusions are revealed and the battle between the illusions and the characters will begin.
Portrait of Marlon Brando, "Streetcar Named Desire...
Cropped screenshot of Vivien Leigh from the traile...
An optical illusion. Square A is exactly the same ...What initially leads to her illusions is love. When she was young, 'sixteen, I made the discovery - love. All at once and much, much too completely' (1368). She met Allan Grey, the perfect man - he had 'a nervousness, a softness and tenderness which wasn't like a man's, although he wasn't the least bit effeminate' (1368).
However, as we are eventually are shown, this illusion wouldn't last forever. The young couple got married and, to Blanche, were falling more and more in love, when one day 'coming into a room that I thought was empty' (1368), this illusion would be shattered. In this room were her husband, Allan, and a older male friend of his. Allan Grey was gay. Soon, Blanche realised that all along he had been trying to let her know and get 'the help he needed but couldn't speak...