A Streetcar Named Desire Theme
QUESTIONS 1. Did Stella ever know that Stanley raped Blanche? If so, why didn’t she care? 2. Why was there no apparent difference between blacks and whites in the play, given the time period? 3. Does Blanche ever heal and go on to live a normal life on her own?
CRITISISM
From a feminist perspective, A Streetcar Named Desire is a work ready to be analyzed. The differences between men and women are especially prominent in the relationship between Stanley and Stella. The language and actions that Stanley uses to address his wife are quite vulgar. He swears at her regularly, and in many instances hits her. Stella’s response is that of a loyal dog, following Stanley around and excusing his maltreatment of her without a second thought. Also throughout the play, women never hold any significant position of power. In fact, men hold all the power, as seen when Stanley beats Stella and rapes Blanche, both without any repercussions. Neither Blanche nor Stella holds a job, and Blanche’s most recent job included prostitution. The female experience as portrayed by Tennessee Williams is that of an altogether suppressed and chained-down gender role. Women do not have any power, and they are in submission to the men’s desires at all times. Blanche is characterized as essentially hopeless without a man, and Mitch dictates their relationship. The major theme for female characters through the production is that they are weak individuals who do not possess the capacity to be worth much more than a reproductive machine and cook.
A Streetcar Named Desire
Fantasy is used as a coping mechanism until reality becomes too much to be covered by a simple illusion of the mind.
Ashley James
AP English 12 Period 5
January 10, 2013 A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is a play that has been performed for years. The story of two sisters takes place in New Orleans. Tennessee Williams takes a situation and personifies it through the stage. Throughout the
CRITISISM
From a feminist perspective, A Streetcar Named Desire is a work ready to be analyzed. The differences between men and women are especially prominent in the relationship between Stanley and Stella. The language and actions that Stanley uses to address his wife are quite vulgar. He swears at her regularly, and in many instances hits her. Stella’s response is that of a loyal dog, following Stanley around and excusing his maltreatment of her without a second thought. Also throughout the play, women never hold any significant position of power. In fact, men hold all the power, as seen when Stanley beats Stella and rapes Blanche, both without any repercussions. Neither Blanche nor Stella holds a job, and Blanche’s most recent job included prostitution. The female experience as portrayed by Tennessee Williams is that of an altogether suppressed and chained-down gender role. Women do not have any power, and they are in submission to the men’s desires at all times. Blanche is characterized as essentially hopeless without a man, and Mitch dictates their relationship. The major theme for female characters through the production is that they are weak individuals who do not possess the capacity to be worth much more than a reproductive machine and cook.
A Streetcar Named Desire
Fantasy is used as a coping mechanism until reality becomes too much to be covered by a simple illusion of the mind.
Ashley James
AP English 12 Period 5
January 10, 2013 A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is a play that has been performed for years. The story of two sisters takes place in New Orleans. Tennessee Williams takes a situation and personifies it through the stage. Throughout the
Cited: Elliot, Debbie. "A Streetcar Named Desire." Present at the Creation. National Public Radio. 23 Sept. 2002. Http://www.npr.org. NPR, 23 Sept. 2002. Web. 10 Jan. 2013. "Tennessee Williams." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/tennessee-williams/about-tennessee-williams/737/>. Williams, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire. [New York]: New Directions, 1947. Print.