Stella Kowalski In A Streetcar Named Desire

In the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, we are introduced to a slew of characters and different personas. The introduction sets the tone of the main characters, especially Stella Kowalski. Stella Kowalski is portrayed as a lighthearted, kind, younger sister of Blanche DuBois. Stella speaks freely with her neighbors, jokes around with her husband, and greets her sister with wide open arms. Then we are met with Stella’s foil character, Blanche, a teacher from Mississippi who seems to be on the edge. When the two sisters have their interaction the audience can easily see the difference between the two. The two sisters could not be any different based on age, job status, and their personas. Blanche makes offhand comments about
Stella’s home and is constantly tear Stella down offhand. This was an interesting dynamic because Stella is opening her home, although small, to Blanche and Blanche in return is diminishing it. Additionally, she cuts Stella off when they are speaking and reprimands her sister for not asking about her even though she won’t stop speaking. Stella even comments that she has learned to just stay quiet as Blanche talks. This hints at the possibly of being something that has occurred throughout their lives. Stella is the younger sister of the two and she is considered a baby in Blanche’s yet it is Blanche that acts like a child in her mannerisms and attitude.
The two sisters are also foils in the sense of relationships, as Stella, is in love with her husband Stanley, and stands by him. However Blanche, has lost her husband and feels that she is quite lost in her life. I think that is intriguing that although she looks down on Stella’s home, she wants to stay there and refuse at staying at a hotel. This may also foreshadow Blanche’s loss of money or status. Lastly, although the two sisters do seem to have tension, you can sense that two are very protective and loving each other despite flaws within themselves.