Streetcar Named Desire

(59). Stella decides to forgive Stanley, as she allows him to take her back into the apartment, suggesting she wants to stay with his after his abusive actions. As the story continues, Stanley reveals that he cannot forgive or stand to live with Blanche for what she has done in Laurel. Stanley states, Blanche was “told by the

Stella abandons Blanche in her time of need, partly responsible for Blanche’s struggles prior to the plays events. Struggles that played a role in Blanche's overall instabilities and insecurities. But why is Stanley the one that's ultimately responsible? Aside from verbally and physically abusing Blanche, He isolates Blanche from the people she loves, the only people she has left. He was the one who convinced Mitch to abandon Blanche by telling him about her past. “You're goddamn right I told him! I'd have that on my conscience the rest of my life if I knew all that stuff and let my best friend get caught!”(Williams,126) He is the one that silences Stella. He is aware of his power over Stella. He is the reason why Stella abandons Blanche. He manipulates Stella into forgiving him even when he abuses her. He makes sure she is dependent of him so she never leaves while also subtly attempting to persuade her into taking his side instead of Blanches. “Stella, it's gonna be all right after she goes and after you've had the baby. It's gonna be all right again between you and me the way that it was. You remember that way that it was?”.

Finally, Stanley rapes Blanche because “he has tried and tried to keep her down to his level” (Kagan 26) but she cannot go there.  The rape is his way of getting her there.  In the powerful scene where Stanley loses total control of his actions and strikes the person whom he has sworn to protect, love and cherish, William's shows Stanley's lack of control and hatred of the new threat in his life, Blanche.  What makes this scene so important to the topic is the way that the three characters react once the party has broken up.  Blanche is in her usual state of panic; Stella has retreated upstairs, while Stanley stumbles around calling out 'Steeelllaaa' in a drunken sweaty animal-like manner.  Surprisingly Stella answers her mate's calls and embraces him, the two of them exchanging words of compassion and kisses.  Stanley then picks up Stella and carries her off to his den to make love, which is Stanley's way of apologizing.  Stanley has to be the dominant male figure in all his relationships, not only with Stella and Blanche, but with his friends as well.  He is a leader and instantly rises to the challenge whenever his status is threatened.

Instead of trying to solve the problem Stella allows it to be brushed over by a bribe. The issues with this is that it is only going to allow the problem to continue to happen. Stanley is going to keep abusing her and she is just going to take it. This connects to the issue with gender roles and how women allow men to control and abuse

In Streetcar Named Desire, domestic violence is a major theme. Williams uses the plot in this scene to spotlight violence. Stanley feels he has to show that he has all the power in the relationship over Stella so he uses violence to show it. Stanley would hit Stella and violently break stuff to prove that he is in charge. When Stanley got mad at Stella, he threw the radio out the window and attacked her. She left with Eunice and Blanche, Stanley begged for her back. Eunice said to Stanley "You can't beat on a woman an' then call' er back! She won't come! And her goin' t' have a baby!... You stinker! You whelp of a Polack, you! I hope they do haul you in and turn the fire hose on you, same as the last time!”(Williams 1. 3). Eunice is trying to protect Stella

Much like Mitch, Stella does nothing to address Stanley’s overemphasized masculinity. Stella has convinced herself that she enjoys her role as Stanley’s sexual object, which allows him to continue his problematic behavior. She is there for his gratification and her well-being is irrelevant. To be fair, during this time period Stella did not have many options for herself if she were to leave Stanley, but her complacency speaks volumes. Stella is the example of what happens when no one challenges a patriarchal society. She is complacent and therefore in part responsible for her own downfall as well as Blanche’s. Her failure to acknowledge the assault Stanley carried out on her sister is almost just as bad as the assault itself. The reader is left to assume that because she has refused to stand up to Stanley for herself or for her sister, her son will grow up to be like his father, creating another generation of Kowalski men who believe that being a man means being brutal and oversexualized. Stella is undeniably in a tough situation and her fear of ending up like her

In Streetcar Named Desire, domestic violence is a major theme. At the time that Streetcar was written, society ignored domestic violence. People knew that it happened, but they pretended that it wasn't important. Stella is married to Stanley and is part of a very abusive relationship. Stanley feels he has to show that he has all the power in the relationship over Stella which often leads to violence where Stanley would hit Stella or violently break stuff proving that he is the boss and more powerful than his wife. When Stanley got mad at Stella and he threw the radio out the window and attacked Stella. She left with Eunice and Blanche and Stanley begged for her back. Eunice said to Stanley "You can't beat on a woman an' then call' er back! She won't come! And her goin' t' have a baby!... You stinker! You whelp of a Polack, you! I hope they do haul you in and turn the fire hose on you, same as the last time!”(Williams 1. 3). The role of violence relates to this quote because it shows how even Stanley is affected by his own actions. His drinking causes him to weep after he feels sorrow from hitting Stella, but all he does the next day is give her money to show that he still loves her. Women were very easy to please in the past and would go back. Mitch said "Ho, ho! There's nothing to be scared of. They're crazy about each other" (Williams 1. 3.). By Mitch saying that shows that he either doesn't care that Stanley hits Stella, or he just doesn't think that it is big enough to be a problem. He doesn’t think it

Desire is prominent in Stella and Stanley’s relationship; Stella is drawn to Stanley because he has a strong male sexuality and he is drawn to her because of her traditional feminine sexuality. Stanley abuses Stella, and when Blanche finds out she is perplexed. Stella explains that, “there are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark—that sort of make everything else seem—unimportant.”(1.4). Stella and Stanley stay together because they use sex to smooth out their disputes. Stanley views sex as an important aspect in marriage (Panda ). He views women as sexual objects; Williams gives an insight on Stanley, he says, “[Stanley] sizes women up at a glance, with sexual classifications, crude images flashing through his mind”(1.1). Stanley ends up raping Blanche at the end of the play; thus causing Blanche to lose her sanity. Although Blanche’s husband is only mentioned a few times in the play, the audience is able to see that his own sexual desire leads to his

Stella falls under the gender role of women. She does not have much of a say at all, “You come out with me while Blanche is getting dressed”(31). Stella says to Stanley. Stanley responds back to her saying, “Since when do you give me orders?(31). Stanley does not let Stella have a voice in the house, and Stella accepts it. She rarely fights back and the few times she does it ends in either her getting hit or Stanley's yelling at her and throwing her plate at the wall. Stella also falls under this stereotypical household because she is quiet, when arguments occur she usually makes sure to not involve herself and say as little as possible. Whenever Stanley and Blanche argue, Blanche complains to Stella but Stella does not do anything to help Blanche. Except for one time when Blanche and Stanley have one of many arguments. “There’s no excuse for it, Stella. I don’t have to put up with insults. I won’t be taken for granted”(134). Blanche complains to Stella about Stanley's cruel behavior, and Stella for once stands up to Stanley. Stella asked Stanley why he even treats Blanche so poorly. Stanley only responds blaming Blanche for everything instead of taking some of the blame himself. He doesn't even consider what Stella has told him. This exemplifies how Stanley is oblivious to everyone's voice but his, and how Stella relates to the stereotypical women of the house.

It was not just her self that put her in the lime light of being a victim; it is also her new change of environment and people. Stanley is Stella's husband; he is described to be very masculine and aware of his sexual magnetism. “Strongly, compactly built”. He is mostly at ease with people however, if they lack loyalty and affection to him, he will bully them. Especially women, as he believes them just to be easy conflict. It is seen in scene 3 that Stanley has little respect for women. “I said to hush up!” This is addressed to his wife who is seen emotionless and impassive in this play. As for Blanche how is fussy and at edge, she would be very effected by the crude attitude that Stanley presents and so tries to hysterical take Stella away from her husband. Stanley does not forget of this act of interference and makes him all the more determined to be rid of Stella’s “charity case”. The real reason for Stanley’s bulling is that Blanche immediately received all Stella’s attention. “How about my supper huh? I’m not going to no Galatorires’ for supper” This made Stella dominant in power over Stanley and Blanche, something Stanley was not used to. “I put you a cold plate on ice”.

In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, Stella and Stanley Kowalski have a far from perfect marriage. In the Kowalski household ranking is set in stone; Stanley is the alpha and protects his ranking by emotionally and physically abusing Stella. Stanley is an aggressive husband but signs of a softer side peak through Stanley’s hard exterior creating two personalities. Stanley has destroyed the meaning of sex, using sex for physical satisfaction and creating a sense of desire for Stella. By using sex as a type of desire Stanley has created an animalistic need for sex. Stanley has contrived authority over Stella, creating a strained marriage. Out of panic, Stella has become Stanley’s enabler, returning to him regardless how hard the hit, Stella accepts the abuse. Stella has become so manipulated by Stanley that she believes that the abuse is a large part of marriage. Stella has grown so dependant on Stanley that Stella grows panicked by the thought of being without Stanley. The Kowalskis have become trapped in an endless cycle of domestic abuse. Stanley Kowalski’s control over Stella Kowalski creates an environment of fear.

He likes to possess and control everything around him, he almost ‘owns’ Stella, and he has changed from her days at Belle Reve, pulling her “down off them columns and how [she] loved it”. But the arrival of Blanche, and her aristocratic ways annoys Stanley, as Stella begins to revert to her old ways. Blanche encourages her to stand up to him, and continually stresses the difference in their levels, although Stanley is not ashamed that he “was common as dirt”. Therefore, the only way that he can overcome Blanche and restore his authority is to beat her and triumph over her physically, which he eventually does. Although ironically, it is the effect of Stanley and his actions on her mind that finally provokes her downfall.

Although Stanley’s power works mainly to downgrade Blanche, his violent and aggressive nature also disempowers Stella. She is abused during poker night, a moment of masculine bonding. Following the poker night she is made powerful when she retreats to Eunice’s Flat. However, she returns to disempowerment when she leaves Eunice’s flat and Stanley ‘bears her into the dark flat’. Stella’s decision to stay with Stanley is not based on choice, but rather on the fact that she must. This enforces the dominant belief that women are unable to support themselves, emotionally and financially.

Stanley overhears these comments as they are ‘unaware of his presence’ (S4:pg.164*; and wants to dispose of Blanche to protect his marriage as Blanche has a hysterical determination to urge Stella to leave Stanley. Stanley refuses to accept Blanches’ conduct as she had no right to intervene and arbitrate as a guest in Stanley’s home supporting the idea that Stanley was preparing her downfall all along.

The Character of Stella, in “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams, can be summed up quite concisely, she is the stereotypical housewife character, never breaking the mold or going out of character. Even when Stanley beats her for wholly arbitrary reasons, such as being seen while he played poker. She undergoes no character arcs and chooses to remain ignorant of her husband’s misdeeds at the end of the play. Stella is characterized throughout the play as being a submissive and forgiving housewife archetype. She accepts that Stanly beats her, she accepts that “It wasn’t anything serious” and that “he didn’t know what he was doing”.