[Mitch crosses to the switch. He turns the light on and stares at her. She cries out and covers her face. He turns the light off again.]
– Tennessee Williams
A Streetcar Named Desire, Scene 9. Despite Blanche’s plea not to turn the light on, Mitch switches it on anyway. Blanche cries out and covers her face because she doesn’t want her aging beauty exposed to the light of harsh reality. Mitch’s action is about tearing down Blanche’s facade and make-believe world of lies and fantasy.