Lit Essay

Lit Essay: “In a Streetcar Named Desire, the main characters demonstrate aspects of both power and weakness in their relationships to each other.”
I strongly agree that, in Tennessee Williams play, A Streetcar Named Desire, the main characters display characteristics of both Power and weakness throughout the plot. The Main Characters Stanley, Stella and Blanche are constantly partaking in power plays where they experience dominant and submissive stances. Firstly I am going to discuss how Stella is depicted as both powerful and weak through her succumbing to balance and Stanley. Secondly I am going to explore how Blanche eludes strength in her manipulative skills but simultaneously is masking her ever present weakness. Finally I will take a look at the power play that exists between Blanche and Stanley and demonstrate how both have moments of submission and dominance.
In this play Stella, Stanley’s wife and Blanche’s younger sister, is depicted as both controlling and submissive to the other characters. We see that when Stella leaves Stanley after he hits her he becomes extraordinarily distressed and desperate for her return; so he ‘(Screams with heaven-splitting violence) “Stell-lahhhhhh”’ this suggests that Stella has a very strong hold over him possessing the power to control Stanley and his actions. Although the next morning when Stella is forced to rationalize why she forgave Stanley for the abuse, almost immediately; she Remarks “I am not in anything that I have a desire to get out of” indicating that she is in a desperate denial of how unhealthy their animalistic relations are and seeks to be submissive because she relies on him too much. We also see how weak Stella is when Blanche says “I’d Forgotten how quiet you were” in their first encounter, This Statement reveals to us that Stella does not have an affirmative personality and usually surrenders to the suggestions and demands of others.
Blanche is both a vindictive and desperate character throughout the play. The first time Blanche sees Elysian Fields she reminds herself “I’ve got to keep hold of myself” this suggests that there is a reason for her to fall apart and this essentially is the uncertain struggle that she faces throughout the play. Then when her and Mitch go on their first date Blanche exclaims “I guess it is just that I have-old fashioned ideals” we understand that she is manipulating him as ‘she rolls her eyes knowing he cannot see her’ this action symbolizes dishonesty and frustration that she has to pretend to be someone she’s not. Additionally we are shown how desperate Blanche is just as she is being dragged away to the asylum: she exclaims “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers” indicating that Blanche is desperate for kindness and companionship and her main fear in this world is being alone.
In every encounter between Stanley and Blanche we see both of them struggle to establish a position of power above the other. During the first encounter Stanley asks “do you mind if I make myself comfortable?” and proceeds to remove his shirt; this is a symbolic masculine action that demonstrates that she is in his territory and he possesses all the power. Then we see Blanche Take power in the second encounter she tells Stanley he has a ‘Little boy’s mind” when he can’t make sense of the legal papers of Belle Reeve and this statement totally undermines Stanley’s masculinity essentially stripping him of his power. Sadly though there power struggle ends with Stanley raping dear Blanche as she anxiously slips into her fantasy world to say “in desperate desperate circumstance! Help me! Caught in a trap” demonstrating for us that she has finally lost all her power and Stanley is using the rape as a final proof of his relentless power over her helpless position.
In Conclusion Stella, Stanley and Blanche all experience situations in which they possess varying quantities of power. They all have aspects of their personalities that shows us that they have a fundamental weakness whilst simultaneously we watch them take control and manipulate other into desperate and dependant roles. They also have the potential to dominate others whilst other moments they are helpless to the strength of the other characters. So the statement that the characters display strength and weakness has evidently been proven.