A Streetcar Named Classism
An analysis of classism present in A Streetcar Named Desire
Classism: noun, a social construct meant to prejudice people belonging to a particular social class, normally by economic bracket, into groups of varying worth and dispensability. Those who place themselves on top through classism thrive while those under them suffer for it. A Streetcar Named Desire, a play by playwright Tennessee Williams holds a great example of how dangerous and hurtful classism can be. A Streetcar Named Desire is a play about Blanche Dubois, moving in with her poorer sister after losing the family home to debt. Blanche, being of the upper class, is not used to the lower class lifestyle and ends up having a mental breaking after hurting …show more content…
When meeting Stanley’s friends, early on in the play, Blanche meets Mitch, who is more of a traditional gentleman. Blanche takes a liking to his gentlemanly ways, even though she considers him to be of a lower class. Blanche liked him and needed someone to support her and help her move out of her sister’s house and Mitch needed someone to bring home to his dying mother so she would not die worrying about Mitch getting a girl. After a date, Mitch says to Blanche, “You need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it be-you and me, Blanche?” (116). If Blanche were to have married Mitch she could have moved out of Stella and Stanley’s flat and the tension between her and Stanley would dissipate naturally from lack of contact. But if Stella were to marry Mitch she would have to resign herself down to a lower class lifestyle and she is unable to able to do that with her expectations of what society owes her for being upper class. Instead of facing a reality that conflicts with her ideals of class and the natural order of human existence she invents herself a brighter world in which an oil tycoon billionaire is coming to sweep her off her feet. She speaks of this billionaire, Shep Huntleigh, saying “Texas is literally spouting gold in his pockets” (76). She treats his wealth and power like it is all that really matters about him. Not once when she speaks of him does she speak …show more content…
Blanche’s ideals took away from her: her safety in her attack on Stanley’s character, her chance at a good life in New Orleans, and her chances with Mitch. Now they take the last shreds of her sanity and leave her tattered remains to fight for themselves. Classism is a double edged blade, those who would wield it against others should those who fear it
An analysis of classism present in A Streetcar Named Desire
Classism: noun, a social construct meant to prejudice people belonging to a particular social class, normally by economic bracket, into groups of varying worth and dispensability. Those who place themselves on top through classism thrive while those under them suffer for it. A Streetcar Named Desire, a play by playwright Tennessee Williams holds a great example of how dangerous and hurtful classism can be. A Streetcar Named Desire is a play about Blanche Dubois, moving in with her poorer sister after losing the family home to debt. Blanche, being of the upper class, is not used to the lower class lifestyle and ends up having a mental breaking after hurting …show more content…
When meeting Stanley’s friends, early on in the play, Blanche meets Mitch, who is more of a traditional gentleman. Blanche takes a liking to his gentlemanly ways, even though she considers him to be of a lower class. Blanche liked him and needed someone to support her and help her move out of her sister’s house and Mitch needed someone to bring home to his dying mother so she would not die worrying about Mitch getting a girl. After a date, Mitch says to Blanche, “You need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it be-you and me, Blanche?” (116). If Blanche were to have married Mitch she could have moved out of Stella and Stanley’s flat and the tension between her and Stanley would dissipate naturally from lack of contact. But if Stella were to marry Mitch she would have to resign herself down to a lower class lifestyle and she is unable to able to do that with her expectations of what society owes her for being upper class. Instead of facing a reality that conflicts with her ideals of class and the natural order of human existence she invents herself a brighter world in which an oil tycoon billionaire is coming to sweep her off her feet. She speaks of this billionaire, Shep Huntleigh, saying “Texas is literally spouting gold in his pockets” (76). She treats his wealth and power like it is all that really matters about him. Not once when she speaks of him does she speak …show more content…
Blanche’s ideals took away from her: her safety in her attack on Stanley’s character, her chance at a good life in New Orleans, and her chances with Mitch. Now they take the last shreds of her sanity and leave her tattered remains to fight for themselves. Classism is a double edged blade, those who would wield it against others should those who fear it