Historical Events In Tennessee Williams's Life In A Streetcar Named Desire

The historical events that occurred throughout Tennessee William’s life are shown and incorporated in his play, A Streetcar Named Desire. Williams grew up with three relatives who were raised mostly by their mother. His father was a busy businessman who never had time for them. Gender roles and class struggles of the time helped William set up his characters personalities as well as personal experiences while growing up and living in New Orleans. His time era also helped influence how the characters were portrayed and based on how society saw it fit for people to act.
Tennessee William grew up in Mississippi with his two siblings, Rose and Walter Williams. William’s father, Cornelius, was a busy shoes sales man, who had a problem with alcohol. …show more content…
A few of the characters in his plays even represent some of his family’s characteristics. He included some of the historical events going on during his life. Williams sister, Rose, was diagnosed with schizophrenia at a very young age (“American History Timeline”). Williams character, Blanche, who is not crazy but is eventually takin in to be hospitalized for being so mentally unstable. Blanches character is automatically hated by Stanley, because of her strait forward answers and contradicting comments toward Stanley. Stanley does not trust Blanche’s character and says, “The Flamingo is used to all kinds of goings-on. But even the Flamingo was impressed by Dame Blanche” (1859)! Stanley is a war hero who has just returned from fighting over seas. He likes to show off his manliness by always drinking and spending time with his buddies. Stanley has a little bit of an alcoholic, which might be a representation of Williams’s father and mother situation while growing up. Stanley likes to get what he wants he sees Stella as less superior to him and to show his dominance he even rapes Blanche. Stella loves Stanley and even though he treats her poorly. She feels like it’s her duty to always stay by his side. The gender roles between the two characters shows how society was post world war …show more content…
The middle and lower class were seen as the new heroes of world war two. American soldiers were returning home to settle down with their wife’s and start having children. The man had proven themselves as masculine figures on the battlefield and were now read to take their positions as head of the house hold. The country was still struggling from high unemployment rates. The middle and lower classes were the main focus for writers because they were the real heroes who were always constantly fighting to survive. William has the men in the play represents the everyday hardworking American. The play takes place in New Orleans where William spent a majority of his time writing. The New Orleans city life inspired Williams in writing two of his best plays. One which one him a