Streetcar Named Desire

‘Streetcar’ Dilemmas

 This screenplay takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotion. The main characters all have their own demons that they are constantly battling against and when their turbulent lives become intertwined, it changes everybody’s lives.

Blanche- Blanche is a character that is extremely complicated, who struggles with internal conflicts throughout the play. Upon first meeting her, she is shown to be more sophisticated than the people who live in the ‘Elysian fields’. She appears to be daintily dressed in a white suit which suggests her purity and innocence’ but it’s soon realised she is far from that as she attempts to hide her drinking problem and  hiding her recent behaviour which all foreshadows further events in the play. Her life is in turmoil and as she ingratiates herself into the lives of her sister and her brother in law, she becomes the catalyst that sets off a chain of events that effect everyone. Her insecurities about her fading beauty are continuously emphasised by her need to be hidden from bright lights and her need for sexual desire from men in order to maintain her self-esteem. This is emphasised by her flirtatious actions towards Mitch but also Stanley. One of Blanche’s main dilemmas is her feeling that her beauty and her appearance are fading and therefore she wonders if she is ever going to find a man.  A good example of this is when she says to Stanley “I was fishing for a compliment, Stanley”. This demonstrates that Blanche continuously needs to be complimented on her physical appearance as she is aware that her ‘looks are slipping’ as she ages. However her beauty is the only means, she sees herself as having, in order to attract men to fulfil her sexual desires. She flaunts herself in front of Stanley and knowingly or unknowingly evokes feelings in her brother in law. The effect of her flirtatious behaviour gives the audience the impression that she isn’t so ‘innocent and pure’ as she portrays herself to be. Blanche feels guilt ridden over the loss of her family home and feels that her life is one long succession of failure. An example of this is when she says to Stella “You left- I stayed and struggled! You came to New Orleans and looked out for yourself. I stayed at Belle Reve and tried to hold it together”. This illustrates that Blanche is laying her failures onto Stella. She is already blaming Stella for leaving and trying to make excuses for losing the family home.

Stella- The contrast between Stanley and Blanche is a main dilemma for Stella. Stella’s sister and husband come from totally different worlds, they are diametrically opposed and there is clear tension between them from the first meeting. They both try to manipulate Stella but as she comes from the refined and wealthy environment of her sister but now lives in the tough, rough and ready world of Stanley she has to constantly act as go between for them and she is the metaphorical bridge that is attempting to link them. From the moment that Blanche sees Stella being hit by her husband, she continually tries to convince her to leave. She belittles Stanley at every opportunity. She says he’s bestial. ‘He acts like an animal, has an animal’s habits! Eats like one, moves like one talks like one.’ The use of the animal imagery gives the audience an animal view on Stanley which links back to the first scene when Stanley threw a bit of meat up to Stella. When Stanley throws the meat he shouts “catch” which suggests that he is feeding his prey which also links to his animal like behaviour. Also the repetition of ‘like one’ creates a narrative element to her speech. The way she describes him sounds as if she is describing a villainous character in a fairy-tale. Williams generally creates a view that Stanley and Blanche are polar opposites but on close analysis they have some similar characteristics Blanche tries desperately to convince her sister to leave her violent and volatile husband. “Pull yourself together and face the facts” “you’re married to a madman.” Stella is trying to juggle mixed emotions. She is having to deal with her husband, who drinks and becomes violent and her sister, who has inserted herself into Stella’s life and is now attempting to take over, trying to get her to leave Stanley and to in Blanche’s eyes improve her life. This may be because of her genuine concern for her sister’s safety but could equally be because of the fact that she has made a mess of her own life and so wants to make sure that Stella’s life does not follow the same path. But Blanche is not the only one who is trying to win over Stella opinion. Stanley continuously tries to convince Stella that their life was better off without her sister. He wants Stella to ask Blanche to leave and he continuously does this. Stanley doesn’t need Stella’s consent to throw Blanche out but he strives for his wife’s’ approval.. This is why this is one of Stella’s dilemmas as she doesn’t know if she should be with Stanley because she is constantly being reminded of his violence and animal like behaviour.