A Streetcar Named Desire
by Tennessee Williams

A Streetcar Named Desire: Dramatic Irony 2 key examples

Definition of Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony is a plot device often used in theater, literature, film, and television to highlight the difference between a character's understanding of a given situation, and that of the... read full definition
Dramatic irony is a plot device often used in theater, literature, film, and television to highlight the difference between a character's understanding of a given... read full definition
Dramatic irony is a plot device often used in theater, literature, film, and television to highlight the difference between a... read full definition

Key Examples in A Streetcar Named Desire

Scene 4
Explanation and Analysis—In The Dark:

In an example of dramatic irony, Stella tells Blanche that Stanley’s violence is worth it to her, implying that this is the case because she's a physical, sexual person like her husband:

STELLA: But there are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark—that sort of make everything else seem—unimportant

Scene 11
Explanation and Analysis—Kindness of Strangers:

In the final act of the play, Blanche's interaction with the doctor who comes to take her to the mental hospital is full of dramatic irony. As she is being led away, Blanche murmurs:

BLANCHE: Whoever you are—I have always depended on the kindness of strangers

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