Gender identity is socially constructed, not biological. The role of gender was evidently defined before the twentieth century. However, the twentieth century brought a lot of changes to women and their condition, both inside as well as outside the household. Women started getting appreciated in the previously male dominating society. However, this didn’t last for long and by the mid-century men continued their dominating role back in the society. Tennessee Williams wrote this play in the fifties when this change was happening in society. In this play male dominance is evidently clear. Women were confined to the household and away from realities of the outside world. By analyzing the character of Stanley; a masculine, Stella; a symbol of femininity;
…show more content…
Her character conflicts with the mid-twentieth century gender roles. Blanche, who is Stella’s sister, is from the south. She’s grown up in Belle Reve, her hometown, a place that formed her. She’s opposite of Stanley in every way. She lives in her own virtual world and barely seems to have faced the realities of life. Perhaps, she has faced bitterness of life in an early age, that’s the reason she wants to live in her virtual realm to cover the guilt and grief of her homosexual husband and triggering his subsequent suicide. Her infinite baths in the play also represents her guilt and way of washing her sins. Stella refers about her bath to Stanley once, “She 's soaking in a hot tub to quiet her nerves. She 's terribly upset…she’s been through such an ordeal” (Williams 32). It appears Blanche had a reason every time to justify her constant baths. Blanche never gets along with Stanley throughout the play. She struggles with Stanley for power as Stanley is the typical dominating male character of fifties. She tries to interfere in Stella and Stanley’s life that Stanley doesn’t like. “Stanley feels his authority undermined, when Stella tells him what they should do (including being kind to Blanche). In this case, however, he is also trying to protect Stella from Blanche 's influence. He also believes that, if Blanche goes, everything will be just …show more content…
He portrays male and female gender labels and the reaction of the society to these traditions. Williams uses different literary techniques to depict his understanding of labels such as character foils, symbolism, dictions and sarcasm. Williams did a brilliant job in writing this play in that era that forces people to think again about the social norms prevalent in that society. Now it is up to the people whether or not they want to
Her character conflicts with the mid-twentieth century gender roles. Blanche, who is Stella’s sister, is from the south. She’s grown up in Belle Reve, her hometown, a place that formed her. She’s opposite of Stanley in every way. She lives in her own virtual world and barely seems to have faced the realities of life. Perhaps, she has faced bitterness of life in an early age, that’s the reason she wants to live in her virtual realm to cover the guilt and grief of her homosexual husband and triggering his subsequent suicide. Her infinite baths in the play also represents her guilt and way of washing her sins. Stella refers about her bath to Stanley once, “She 's soaking in a hot tub to quiet her nerves. She 's terribly upset…she’s been through such an ordeal” (Williams 32). It appears Blanche had a reason every time to justify her constant baths. Blanche never gets along with Stanley throughout the play. She struggles with Stanley for power as Stanley is the typical dominating male character of fifties. She tries to interfere in Stella and Stanley’s life that Stanley doesn’t like. “Stanley feels his authority undermined, when Stella tells him what they should do (including being kind to Blanche). In this case, however, he is also trying to protect Stella from Blanche 's influence. He also believes that, if Blanche goes, everything will be just …show more content…
He portrays male and female gender labels and the reaction of the society to these traditions. Williams uses different literary techniques to depict his understanding of labels such as character foils, symbolism, dictions and sarcasm. Williams did a brilliant job in writing this play in that era that forces people to think again about the social norms prevalent in that society. Now it is up to the people whether or not they want to