Tennessee Williams’s play. A Streetcar Named Desire, was different than many of the readings we have read in class. This play was a much easier read for the fact that it was a play with characters that consisted mainly of dialogue. I liked this style of writing because it flowed well and wasn’t dry or difficult to understand. I have not read a play in awhile, and it was different to read this style of writing and to have to imagine everything that was occurring whenever Williams wrote in italics to let the reader know what was occurring.
As well, I enjoyed Williams’ play overall for the plot and the messages that were being demonstrated. This play was written in a time of male dominance, where women were supposed to act like cliché southern belles. Stanley was a perfect example of what was expected of the males, in the way that he made all of the decisions for Stella and Blanche and let them both know what was expected of them. Stanley loved Stella in an abusive way, because he would beat her whenever she didn’t do exactly what he wanted her to do, the “right” way, but at the same time was still a good husband to her in most aspects. I think that Stanley was abusive to Stella because he wanted to make sure at all times that he had authority over her. Stanley was an insecure man, and needed to know that Stella was his and would never leave him. Stanley would abuse Stella in front of their friends and Blanche, Stella’s sister, which I felt was a sign of disrespect. Stanley knew he had complete control over Stella, and I felt this was unnecessary to not only abuse Stella in front of their friends, and especially Stella’s sister. Stanley could have had more respect for Stella if he accepted her sister, Blanche, and didn’t try to ruin everything for Blanche. This was a common theme that was found throughout the whole play. From the start, Stanley didn’t like Blanche, and his goal throughout the entire play was to ruin her reputation. Whenever Stanley got an opportunity to knock Blanche down, he did and made sure that she knew he didn’t like her. I feel that Stanley raped Blanche at the end of the play to show that he still had the upper hand regardless of their situation and regardless that Stella was in the process of having a child. I feel that Stanley raped Blanche at this specific time to show the extent to his authority, and to show the extent to which he had authority. If Stanley could get away with raping Blanche while Stella was in labor, and would still be able to keep his wife, this shows the extent to which Stanley held power over Stella.
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6 comments:
I really like how you brought up the part about Stanley having control over Stella and Blanche. This is the same kind of situation that Tea Cake and Janie were in. Tea Cake only hit Janie because he had to show that wore the pants in the relationship and that he was in charge. Stanley does the same thing to Stella and eventually Blanche. Why do men have to be so controlling? Why can't they just let women have some say in relation ships instead of making the women their inferior?
I agree (obviously) with your point that Stanley is really controlling and abusive. I saw this as being a sign of the times, and didn't see Stanley as being truly bad until he rapes Blanche. In the movie the other day, we see a woman (who I think was Eunice) fight with her husband and then come back the same way Stella came back to Stanley. This shows that their relationship is not unique. Stanley tries to destroy Blanche because he sees through her from the start and doesn't want Blanche's deceitful ways to get in the way of his and Stella's relationship.
I agree, that the play was a very easy reading, compared to some of the readings we have read this semester. Stanley was very controlling and abusive. He almosted needed control and power constently. His way to have power, was to have it over the girls; Stella and Blanche. He also tried to have power and control over some of this guy friends, while they were playing cards. I did not like Stanley fron the beginning of the play, becuase of the way he came off. He was very arrogant. I think his power was wearing off of Blanche and he raped her to get power and control over her again.Which is very immoral.
Stanley really was trying to assert his control over his wife and her sister, and although I hadn't thought about it but Colleen's remberance of Tea Cake and Janie's relationship is very similar to that of Stanley and Stella. However I see Stanley as a much more controlling husband then Tea Cake, and he may even be a little crazy.
You definately made a point with talking about how controlling Stanley is, both over Stella and Blanche. It is hard to understand how Stella could seem to be so blind to the situation at hand, but understandable in a way because she is blinded by her love for him. In a similar situation I would hope that I would chose family over a husband, especially when her sister is in the condition Blanche is in.
I agree that Stanley is very controlling and extremely insecure, even with the other men in the play. He uses violence to show that he is th "top dog" so to speak. Stanley finds it easy to use force to control women and raping Blanche was an easy way to completely break her and ensure that Stella would choose him.
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