Buddhist Reflections on an American Tragedy: A New Reading of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire

Vishma KUNU

탈경계인문학Trans-Humanities

2014, 7(3), pp.45-56
Publisher : Ewha Institute for the Humanities: EIH
Research Area : Other Humanities

Vishma KUNU ¹

¹Temple University

ABSTRACT

This essay brings Tennessee Williams and the Buddha into conversation with each other by way of an analysis of A Streetcar Named Desire through the lens of Buddhism. Even though Williams and the Buddha are about 2500 years apart, I argue that there are intersections between Williams’ keen observations about human nature and the Buddha’s teachings. I bring these connections into relief through a consideration of Streetcar’s setting and main characters, Stanley Kowalski, Stella Kowalski and Blanche Dubois, in terms of fundamental, early Buddhist concepts such as desire (tan ˙ hā) and the three defilements (kilesas). The Buddhist tradition has long utilized stories for didactic purposes and through this analysis, Williams’ play comes into focus as a fitting, modern addition to this storehouse of instructive narratives.
KEYWORDS

Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire, Buddhism, jātaka, tan ˙ hā, kilesa, sam˙ sāra
REFERENCES (9)

[book] Atkinson, Brooks / 1971 / Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Streetcar Named Desire:A Collection of Critical Essays / Prentice Hall : 32~34

[book] Irvine, William B. / 2006 / On Desire: Why We Want What We Want / Oxford University Press

[book] Kazan, Elia / 1971 / Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Streetcar Named Desire: A Collection of Critical Essays / Prentice Hall : 21~27

[book] Miller, Jordon Y / 1971 / Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Streetcar Named Desire: A Collection of Critical Essays / Prentice Hall : 1~19

[book] Wallis, Glenn / 2007 / Basic Teachings of the Buddha / Modern Library

[book] Walshe, Maurice / 1995 / The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the DīghaNikāya / Wisdom Publications

[book] Weissman, Philip / 1971 / Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Streetcar Named Desire: A Collection of Critical Essays / Prentice Hall : 57~64

[book] Wickramasinghe, Martin / 1956 / The Buddhist Jātaka Stories and the Russian Novel / The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd

[book] Williams, Tennessee / 1975 / A Streetcar Named Desire / Signet
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