Metaphor

Title- A Streetcar Named Desire

Besides the literal meaning of the title of the play it also serves as a metaphor.  Desire is the drive that behind human action.  People go where their desire takes them.  The fact that there is a streetcar (representing modernization) shows that despite the advent of society and civilization people are still driven by their basic desires.

Metaphor for the play

Modern-day cavemen

Though the play takes place in the industrialized New Orleans, the men all still have the mentality of cavemen.  They are aggressive hunters acting on their baser instincts.