Both A Streetcar Named Desire and A Taste of Honey include characters who are victims of their sexuality. These two texts were written in 1947 and 1958 respectively, and this period of time showed a specific attitude towards homosexuality: Homosexuals were treated with constant disrespect and homosexuality was also classed as a mental disorder. These views were also evident towards women who engaged in sexual relations outside of marriage. The negative attitudes towards characters such as Geoffrey and Helen from A Taste of Honey, and Blanche and Alan from A Streetcar Named Desire show how they are often victimised because of their sexuality. Sexual promiscuity is a character trait found in both Blanche and Helen, and they gain negative reputations due to the way Williams and Delaney present them. During Scene Seven
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This suggests that Helen didn’t have many options open for a career, her talent was in a field that would be particularly difficult in which to make a living, and so her sexuality may have been one of the only options for her. In A Streetcar Named Desire Blanche reveals why she presents herself as she does during Scene Five when she comments how “men don’t - don’t even admit your existence unless they are making love to you” and “You’ve got to be soft and attractive.” She acted the way that she did in Laurel because she wanted to feel alive, and like someone else saw her as a human being and someone beautiful. Blanche wants her existence to be acknowledged and so this could be why she hides her true sexuality. She acts innocent when interacting with Mitch, “I can’t stand a naked light-bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action”. However she is secretly a different person, which is seen when she kisses the young boy in Scene Five; “I’ve got to be good and keep my hands off children”. Also, throughout the play Williams uses costumes to suggest the true Blanche, she wears a “scarlet satin robe” to
This suggests that Helen didn’t have many options open for a career, her talent was in a field that would be particularly difficult in which to make a living, and so her sexuality may have been one of the only options for her. In A Streetcar Named Desire Blanche reveals why she presents herself as she does during Scene Five when she comments how “men don’t - don’t even admit your existence unless they are making love to you” and “You’ve got to be soft and attractive.” She acted the way that she did in Laurel because she wanted to feel alive, and like someone else saw her as a human being and someone beautiful. Blanche wants her existence to be acknowledged and so this could be why she hides her true sexuality. She acts innocent when interacting with Mitch, “I can’t stand a naked light-bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action”. However she is secretly a different person, which is seen when she kisses the young boy in Scene Five; “I’ve got to be good and keep my hands off children”. Also, throughout the play Williams uses costumes to suggest the true Blanche, she wears a “scarlet satin robe” to