Street Car Names Desire

In class essay Throughout the play A Streetcar Names Desire by Tennessee Williams, Stella is a victim of abuse from those around her. Blanche Dubois, Stella’s sister staying with Stella and Stanley from Laurel, finds herself lost after loosing a life of luxury on a ranch. Stanley, Stella’s husband, has irreconcilable differences with Blanch on most views. The great difference between Stanley and Blanche causes Stella to be a middleman: caught in-between the ongoing dispute. This position Stella holds attracts guilt and abuse from Stanley and Blanche. An outsider’s view of sympathy towards Stella is based upon the actions from Blanche and Stanley towards her, as a victim of physical and emotional abuse. Blanche Duboise reenters Stella’s life with expectations to be welcomed. She is quickly mistaken upon meeting Stanley. As a result of Stanley and Blanches differences, they did not share any form of a positive relationship. Because of this, Blanche does not approve of her way of living nor the man she is in love with. Blanche states with a superior attitude, “Well if you’ll forgive me- he’s common!” (82). Stella, insulted by her sister, is left unsure of whom to side with. This unapproved notion of Stanley, adds to the sympathy towards Stella as she is not receiving the respect and trust of judgment from Blanche. As a victim of verbal abuse, the empathy for Stella is caused by Blanche’s actions. Stanley does not treat Stella with the respect a devoted and loving husband should give.
Stella, a pregnant woman at this point of the play, comes home to men playing poker late at night. Stanley does not show any respect for Stella nor Blanche. He throws his watermelon on the floor, plays music from the radio loudly, and will not end the game when Stella asks. In the stage directions “Stanley charges after Stella” (63), the reader gets a sense of Stanley’s animalistic ways. Stanley punches Stella, sending Stella to Eunice’s apartment in a panic. The exploitation