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A Streetcar Named Desire And Richard Wright's Victims Of Oppression

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In America today, many are standing up to their oppressors. Many women have come forth with harassment and discrimination allegations. Many African Americans are standing up to prejudiced police forces. The “Me Too” and “Black Lives Matter” movements give a voice to those who are oppressed. Although it still exists, oppression today pales in comparison to the realities certain groups of Americans encountered in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Analysing two different works, Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire and Richard Wright’s Native Son, oppression in America is evident in two very different cases. Wright’s work depicts racism while William’s exemplifies sexism. A common theme Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire and Richard Wright’s …show more content…

In Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire, the women are oppressed. First, Stanley is bigger than Blanche and easily overpowers her, taking advantage of her inability to fight back. While Stanley’s wife, Stella, is in the hospital giving birth to their child, Stanley rapes Blanche. He says, “Let’s have some rough house… We’ve had this date with each other from the beginning!” (162). This was one of Blanche’s last interactions with Stanley before being sent away to a mental institution. People did not believe her. When she reported the rape, her own sister, Stella took Stanley’s word over hers in an attempt to protect Stella’s own future with Stanley. Bad things can happen to good people; in this case, Stanley raped Blanche and she is the one who ends up being punished while Stanley goes on with his life without repercussion. Second, Stanley acts with no regard for his pregnant wife in the hospital. He cheats on Stella with her sister. It is implied that Stella is aware, but she does not confront Stanley about it and they continue with their unhealthy relationship which is controlled by Stanley. Stanley’s cheating on Stella and raping Blanche exemplify that he does not value the rights or wishes of the women in his life. His actions depict oppression through sexism as it was in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Similarly to Stella and Blanche, in Richard Wright’s Native Son, the main character, …show more content…

Society is not solely to blame for the treatment Blanche receives. Some of the poor treatment is a direct result of the things she has done. Blanche worsens her situation with unhealthy coping mechanisms. She tries to fill the void left by her husband with meaningless, short sexual encounters with strangers. When Blanche is in the bath, Stanley tells Stella the true reasons behind Blanche’s unwanted presence. In scene 7, he says about Blanche’s employment, “She didn’t resign… they kicked her out of that high school… –and I hate to tell you the reason why that action was taken–a seventeen-year-old boy she’d gotten mixed up with!” (Williams 122). Blanche was also kicked out of the Flamingo Hotel for similar reasons. It is clear the reputation she creates has left her without options. Blanche is not alone in making bad decisions. Although society may have drastically stifled Wright’s characters’ freedoms and opportunities, it is not alone to blame for the oppression Bigger faces. Some decisions and actions he takes deeply worsen his situation. For example, Bigger is not just a product of the environment he grew up with. Bigger chose to be part of a gang. He wasn’t born into it like the kids of Harper High School in southern Chicago today. His siblings are not involved in crime the same way he is. Bigger chooses his life of crime: robbing,

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