The Victim Of Blanche In A Streetcar Named Desire

• Blanche is often seen as the victim of A Street Car Named Desire, but Mark Royden Winchell portrays a new idea in his article, in which Blanche is not as innocent as she may seem. While Blanche is used and abused by many individuals throughout the course of the novel, she also plays a hand in causing her own disorder, beginning with her invasion of the Kowalski household. Winchell points out that, “Not only does she install herself as an indefinite squatter in a two-room apartment; she does everything within her power to wreck the contented home life that had existed in that apartment. One can hardly blame Stanley for fighting back.” She places herself in the household, criticizing and trying to change the lifestyle of Stanley and Stella. In coming to Laurel, Blanche also attempts to alienate Stella, further threatening Stanley’s previously perfect life.

• Winchell further discusses ways in which Blanche can be viewed as the culprit of the situation through her actions
Winchell explains that without the rape, the audience will too easily side with Stanley over Blanche, “The rape creates that balance. It does not elevate Blanche to the level of tragic heroine, but it does prevent the audience from siding too enthusiastically with Stanley. Remove the rape and streetcar is reduced to a sexist melodrama, in which the gaudy seed bearer reasserts patriarchal control over a household threatened by a hypocritical and self-serving matriarchy.” The rape does not clear Blanche of her wrong doings, but it does portray Stanley in a more antagonistic light. Before the violent act takes place some audience members will have completely sided with Stanley, but after it, the playing field between both characters is more leveled. Without the rape, the novel becomes more sexist, completely portraying Blanche as the villain who invaded Stanley’s space and attempted to ruin in