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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.
