Main themes of A Streetcar Named Desire There are 3 main themes in the play A Streetcar Named Desire, the first is the constant battle between fantasy and reality, the second we have the relationship between sexuality and death, and finally the dependence of men, play an important role in this book. One of the first major themes of this book is the constant battle between fantasy and reality. Blanche explains to Mitch that she lies because she refuses to accept the hand fate has dealt her. Lying to herself and others allows her to make life appear as it should be rather than as it is. Stanley, a practical man firmly rooted in the physical world, disdains Blanche's inventions and does everything he can to expose them. The relationship between Blanche and Stanley is a struggle between appearance and reality. It gives impetus to the plot of the work and creates an overall tension. Ultimately, Blanche's attempts to rejuvenate her life and save Stella from a life with Stanley fail. One of the main ways in which the author dramatizes the inability of fantasy to overcome reality is through an explorati...