Stella

Named Desire”? In the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”, Tennessee Williams utilises a range of characters to expose and critique the way that institutions and attitudes of post-war America placed restrictions on women’s lives. The female characters, Stella Kowalski and Blanche DuBois, play a prominent role in this portrayal of the treatment of women, as while both females demonstrate two different types of femininity, they both find still themselves dependant on men. Additional supporting…

the play we see drunk Stanley who has absolutely no control over himself raping Blanche. Even after Blanche tells Stella that Stanley raped him she refuses to believe that Stanley can do such a horrible thing, and she still lives with Stanley as she is dependent on him and has nowhere else to go. Another example of domestic abuse is from Scene three when Stanley gets drunk and slaps Stella. In both of these cases, Stanley is drunks and believes that his actions should be excused as he himself…

women, especially one that he dislikes. When Stella leaves because Stanley hit her, he becomes remorseful, as he senses his control over his life is slipping. Despite him calling her back “with heaven-splitting violence” (Williams 1842), Stella takes him back, and does not demand change at all. In fact, “her eyes [went] blind with tenderness” (Williams 1842), which reinforced Stanley’s idea that he can be abusive as long as he apologizes. In this way, Stella is a stumbling block in getting…

Stanley and Stella are bickering. Stanley is revealing the truths to Stella of Blanche’s past that he has learned from a reliable source. Stanley openly sees through her illusion and her mask, but needless to say Stella is reluctant to believe him for Blanche is her sister, her family. Stanley’s character represents the harsh light of reality. Stanley is the reality that is cracking her mask, trying to break her down from denial to reveal her secrets. While he is conveying the truth to Stella in…

characters. I do believe that Stella and Blanche are multidimensional characters. In my opinion Stella and Blanche each have their flaws and strengths, beyond the stereotype society would give them as the abused girlfriend and the promiscuous drunk. I believe the way they interact with others and each other demonstrate that. Stella grew up in Belle Reve with Blanche, but seemed to ween off her luxurious living once she grows up and marries Stanley. This proves that Stella is a strong…

and also Stella. Sexuality is represented through Stanley, who is symbolic of the male population, who is allowed to be openly sexual and dominant but Stanley uses this as a control “Stanley uses his sexuality and aggression to assert his dominance in his household” (Shmoop Editorial Team). Society accepts sexual violence caused by the male of the house. This is shown through the appearance of the ‘blue piano’, which is a symbol for sensuality and sexuality, Stanley’s beating of Stella and the…

where Stella stands up for herself and calls Stanley out for not cleaning the table, Stanley shouts back, “That’s how I’ll clear the table! [He seizes her arm.] Don’t ever talk that way to me! Pig — Polack — disgusting — vulgar — greasy!” (Williams 118). This helps highlight Stanley's aggression and dominance that he holds over Stella in that he thinks he can get away with calling her names and yelling at her without her talking back. Also, it shows how easily provoked Stanley gets when Stella…

Blanche Dubois enters the lives of Stanley and Stella Kowalski when she arrives at their apartment at Elysian Fields. The beautiful and cultured Blanche clashes with the primitive Stanley. However, unlike the cultured Blanche first seen, the real Blanche is penniless and has a history with many men. When Stanley reveals Blanche’s impure past to everybody, Blanche struggles to continue and ends up in a mental facility. The deterioration of Blanche’s character is a result of her attempts to…

Bathing and the Role of the Bathroom in A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire focuses on the mysterious and thought-provoking personality and state of mind of Blanche DuBois. Throughout the play the most prominent characteristic we learn about her is her desire to be fresh and to look young. In connection with her wish of eternal beauty comes the important symbol of the bath which appears several times during the play, to help not only Blanche to rest and find…

world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that’s stronger than this — kitchen — candle…” This line describes the love she lost and how her life hasn’t been the same since. After moving in with Stanley and Stella, Blanche began to look for a new man to take care of her. First, her eyes were set on Harold Mitchell, also known as Mitch. Out of Stanley’s gang of friends, he was the only one that she was seemingly attracted to. They began to go out, and…