"There is an optical illusion about every person we meet." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

An illusion is defined by dictionary.com as, "something that deceives one by producing a false or misleading impression of reality." In our everyday lives, we are constantly faced with illusions about many different issues; the harshness of death, the truth of life, the honesty of people, etc. In the play by Tennessee Williams, "A Streetcar Named Desire," he introduces his audience to 3 main characters. One character readers meet are Blanche. Ralph Waldo Emerson, famous transcendentalist, once said, "There is an optical illusion about every person we meet," meaning that each person is not who they always seem to be. Blanche uses her lies and illusions as a way to erase her past and believe she has lived the life she has always wanted. She is not who she appears to be, thus making her an optical illusion. Stella, Blanche's sister, believes all of her sister's lies throughout the play. She plays up to Blanche to make her feel good about herself and encourages her husband, Stanley, to do the same. Stanley sees through Blanche and wants no part in her lies and illusions.

In the last few lines of the play, Stella states, "I couldn't go on believing her story and live with Stanley" (p. 1232). In this line, the reader understands that Stella has had enough of Blanche and her stories. She's believed all the others, however, Blanche told Stella that Stanley raped her. Stella can not begin to believe that being true. At this point in the play, both Stella and Blanche's fantasy lives have been destroyed. Blanche has been forced to face the reality of life and Stella has learned all about the truth in her sister's past. 

From my own personal experience, I believed the lies of a "friend" just like Stella, while I was warned by others, as Stanley warned Stella. This individual was a recovering drug addict and lied straight to my face about her relapse. She promised me she was not using. Eventually, as time passed, it became obvious that she was in fact using again. She lost her job, her house, and began asking anyone she knew, including me, for money. Being lied to, or believing someone else's illusions never ends in a positive scenario for any individual involved. Someone always gets hurt; in "A Streetcar Named Desire," it was Stella who got hurt and in my own experience it was me who got hurt.