Share and discuss ideas and insights regarding Streetcar Named Desire. As you read the play, research and find reliable viewpoints regarding the play. Post the link and summarize the content. React to another person post.
Share and discuss ideas and insights regarding Streetcar Named Desire. As you read the play, research and find reliable viewpoints regarding the play. Post the link and summarize the content. React to another person post.
I like Steve..., he's cool. Stanley is a hyper masculine man who reminds me, in his misogynistic ways, of the father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Blanche is a wilted flower, made bitter by troubles that have befallen Belle Reve. She tries to compensate with makeup and expensive furs, but this just shows her materialistic ways and lurking insecurities. She is like a thin skeleton, with barely any of her left after she had to weather the storm of plantation troubles. She is also hollowed out of emotions, as she devotes herself to her self-pity and as she treats others with contempt. Stella is a nice, sweet, and blossoming woman. She is taken aback by Blanche's caustic attitude, but when she learns of the troubles of Belle Reve, she wants to help. However, Blanche spurns her generous offer. Stella is level-headed girl who left to pursue her dream. Thus, she shot for the stars to achieve her goals, and is made all the brighter as a character for it.
ReplyDeleteSteven. Is there an article on which this reaction is based? You need to post it, or find an article that speaks to your reflection.
ReplyDeleteHey Mrs. Edwards, I'm having a really hard time finding any articles. Do you have any suggestions?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite/essays/street.html
ReplyDeleteThis article was written by someone with a (claimed) Masters in English...
This article was very interesting as it discussed the power struggle that is visibly seen between two very present figures in the play, Stanley and Blanche. The article states how there is a constant back and forth hostility between the two protagonists and friction arises out of the many differences they have. I agree with the writer of the article in this regard as Blanche is a delicate, sensitive, and upper class woman while Stanley is manly, common, and more of a brute who uses body over mind in most instances. These differences do cause friction from the start of their relationship as seen in heated, accusing conversations they have with Stella. However, despite their differences they both share a tendency to fall into their basic human desires and passions, the primary being sex and aggression. This common tendency only adds fuel to the fire burning between them as it causes both characters to see each other as rivals in some way. Stanley and Blanche compete for the love of Stella in the first few acts, but ultimately Stanley realizes he had won the fight after overhearing Stella's defense of him. He then manifests his victory over Blanche with a hug and tender moment with Stella, all while looking at Blanche. Other moments can be seen where there is opposition between these two very different personality types, which helps peel back the layers of both characters and display all the positive and negative aspects of their character.
http://research.cincinnatilibrary.org:2085/servlet/LitCrit?vrsn=1.0&dd=0&srs=ALL&locID=cinc37305&b1=KE&srchtp=b&d1=CLCX_111_0010&c=2&ste=10&stp=DateDescend&dc=tiPG&d4=0.25&n=10&docNum=FJ3529550010&b0=a+streetcar+named+desire&tiPG=0
ReplyDeleteI found a literary criticism in an encyclopedia series from the library online research database.
I agree with the article on the idea of desire as portrayed in the play. Blanche represents this desire through both her wishes to appeal to society as well as appear superior to the lowly Stanley. The article also discusses who the audience should perceive as the protagonist, which I found very interesting. The audience feels pity for Blanche because of her troubled past and the multiple deaths she has painfully suffered through. She is also a pitiful figure in her attempts to remain above the levels of society found in the New Orleans town. Stanley can also be viewed as the protagonist, however, because of how Williams portrays him. The audience is drawn to his appealing looks and personality, and a sense of empathy can be gained when watching Blanche attack his poor background and lifestyle. Through her desire for Stanley, both Blanche and Stanley undergo a dramatic demise that evokes pity in the audience. Another interesting topic explored is the idea of social class conflict. Blanche clearly represents the upper class with her fancy dress and speech, and she is contrasted with Stanley's simple way of life. It is interesting to observe the developments and conflicts between the two that arise simply because of the differences of their social standings
Okay so I was having some computer error while posting my Salesman reaction so I'm just going to post it here instead.
ReplyDeleteI read the existentialist viewpoint and I agree that it is the character as an individual that is responsible for what becomes of them. The play is not about the corrupt society, as the article stated, but of the corrupt person. When Willy decided to leave his job and cheat on his wife, he was making those decisions, not society. Just because it is set in a business world does not mean Arthur Miller intended it to be the stereotypical corrupt setting. Anything that happens to any character, whether good or bad, stems from their own personal choice. Their lives are their own, not society's.
Now here's Streetcar. I used an article by a college english professor named Shirley Galloway.
http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/bin/litcrit.out.pl?ti=str-927
This article deals a lot with the aspects of desire and differing classes throughout Streetcar. I agree with this author in that Blanche and Stanley do represent opposite ends of the spectrum: Blanche is a woman, frail yet upper class, and Stanley is a macho man, quick-tempered and lower class. The Galloway describes and analyses scene ten, the last scene of the play. This scene shows how, throughout the play, Stanley struggles for control over everything while internally struggling for control over himself, and Blanche, being subdued by Stanley, outwardly is infuriated and repulsed by Stanley but inside, she truly wants him. The author also mentions in the beginning that there are no clear "good" or "bad" characters in the play, simply realistic characters. Williams took time to create the perfect characters and the fact that they are flawed yet readers can still relate to them makes this such a tragic play.
First of all, this is the prettiest blog yet! I love the colors!
ReplyDeleteSecond of all, these articles are really difficult to find considering that when you google “streetcar named desire articles” all you get are reviews and offers to write essays for you. After a long time of searching I tumbled upon this which I didn’t notice was the same article Jake did until I was ready to post. Anyway…
The article “Last stop, Blanche’s Breakdown” by Shirley Galloway explores the fiery power struggle between Stanley and Blanche. I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Galloway’s assertions. The passion manifested between the two characters comes from their individual desires to maintain control. Blanche demonstrates from the beginning her need to be focused upon. She is able to draw the spotlight towards her by controlling the situations in which she is placed. Stanley harshly contrasts with Blanche in the way he seeks control. He utilizes his masculinity and physicality to keep power over Stella, their houseguest, and his friends. Blanche on the other hand uses her feminine charm and flirtatious nature to maintain stability and predictability. She even controls how others physically see her by keeping the lights dimmed. The tension between the two titans steadily builds as Stanley pursues the question of what happened to the property the girls had once inhabited, and the struggle is eventually resolved. Although Blanche repeatedly refers to Stanley in derogatory terms and looks down on him because of his place in society, she is attracted to him because of these same base, animalistic qualities she accuses him of possessing. Galloway points out that although Williams never fully articulates the female protagonist’s past, he makes the emotional tremors it produced in Blanche’s character extremely visible. It’s no wonder she is looking for a sturdy, plain man who would be able to protect her. This article was not particularly earth-shattering or controversial, but it managed to better illuminate aspects of the foes’ relationship.
http://www.ayjw.org/articles.php?id=618557
ReplyDeleteI found an article on the Association of Young Journalists and Writers website. I agree with the comparisons of Blanche's social downfall to the replacement of the old aristocratic South with the new post-war South and the American economic working class; including the replacement of chivalry with sexual desire. Blanche's social downfall is immediately foreshadowed in the line "They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at Elysian Fields," which depicts her sexual desire as the cause of her social "death" and expulsion. She is caught up in her own romantic fantasy of the old Southern aristocracy (evident in her showy wardrobe and obsession with beauty)in which women depended on men for status and comfort. She refuses to accept the transition into the post-war South which features the American working class and tries to hide her own decline in beauty and dignity. She also uses her drinking as an escape into her fantasy. Blanche may also represent the demise of chivalry to sexual desire. She tries to appear gentle and pure, however her past has been ruled by sexual desire, which became the driving force for her dependence on men. She was evicted from one of her past residences apparently due to her frequent sexual liaisons. Her dependence on men for sexual desire ultimately resulted in her social downfall and expulsion.
In all honesty i'm a little shakey on this one but this is what i eventually came up with. Im definately better with salesman as of now.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite/essays/street.html
I agree that Blanche and Stanley are battling opposites. Blanche, being a woman of higher social class, and Stanley, a Polish man who seeks domination over women, both seek control so it is natural that they would have conflicts and attractions "like a moth to the light." Blanche from her arrival showed that she craves attention and manipulates people to believe what she wants them to in order to suppress her own insecurities, as she did when she reunited with Stella. She also shows that she feels superior to the diverse New Orleans citizens. Stanley's need to be in control centers around his view that the man rules the house, and he being Polish and feeling threatened by a women brings them to both repel and attract each other.
I also chose the article by Shirley Galloway, titled "Last Stop: Blanche's Breakdown." http://www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite/essays/street.html
ReplyDeleteIn this article, Galloway considers the concept of Blanche and Stanley's contrasting characters and their commanding need for control and power. I agree with the idea, in that although they are entirely different characters personality-wise and in terms of social class, Stanley and Blanche are aggressively power hungry. In the first scene, Blanche shows up to her sister's home and immediately conflicts with Stanley, despite her attraction to him. She finds power in attention paid to her, which she receives from Stanley, although it is negative and catechizing. In addition, she attempts to draw attention to herself during the poker game by stripping down. Contrastingly, Stanley tries to demonstrate his authority by means of physicality and strength. His masculinity and animalistic qualities portray him to be alike to 'the king of the animal kingdom,' which I believe that he sees achievable through brawn and physique. Stanley asserts his power to Stella by acting out frequently and yelling at her violently, and likewise to Blanche. Eventually, though, in a feeble attempt to prove their 'power' to one another, Stanley seduces Blanche, suggesting that "interfering with [her]" may not be such a bad idea after all. This act would ultimately satisfy Blanche's 'subconcious desires' while gratifying Stanley's male ego, thus enforcing their power by appeasing both of their initial desires.
http://cscanada.net/index.php/css/article/viewFile/451/pdf_290
ReplyDeleteI focused on the woman's psychology aspect of this article. It was discussed that it is the desires of the entire DuBois family that brought upon its downfall just as Blanche's desire brought about her demise. As Blanche stated that the loss of Belle Reve was due to the "epic fornications" of her grandfathers and fathers. In the case of Blanche's mental state, her distress stems from her sexual desires overpowering her reasoning. After her husband's suicide, her promiscuity just about did her in. A scandal led her to leave her lost home and head to New Orleans. There she entertains a flirtation with Mitch that doesn't last. This ends in tragedy for Blanche because she is ultimately raped and sent to an institution because of the mental distress it puts her in.
I have noticed this aspect in our reading. It is fascinating how much and how often Blanche's desires take over reason and it is saddening how it ends for Blanche, as it was her fatal flaw to desire so deeply.
The article I found goes over the degeneration of Blanche: http://ayjw.org/articles.php?id=579911
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how this article shows parallels between the play and The Great Gatsby. But I mainly liked how the article showed that in Streetcar it seems that Blanche is more affected by decisions and actions in the play, than are the males. Stanley stays the same throughout the play, but Blanche ends up going insane by the play's close. Mitch starts hurting Blanche after they were initially in love and Stanley rapes Blanche because of his male dominance over her. From this Blanche emerges totally distraught and crazy, while the boys go back to playing their poker games. Blanche, as we learn, lost her husband because of how she chastises him for his homosexuality, while Stanley, no matter what he does, never loses Stella. In the end, Stanley is chosen by Stella over Blanche, sealing Blanche's fate. This play seems to be more of a reversal of mythology, in that males seem to bring the downfall of women, not the other way around.
Here is a website that i found that has a lof of information about the characters and metaphors in the book. Its not an essay, just somewhere to find information on the analysis of the play.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.novelguide.com/streetcar/index.html
http://www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite/essays/street.html
I thought that this article was very interesting and that it explained the relationship between Blanche and Stanley very well. I really liked the paragraph that discussed how complex of a character Blanche. Blanche has a desire to be loved and accepted by all, especially men, but she does not want to hurt her sister. She is also very afraid of judgement by society and rejection. She is curious about Stanley and she has a desire to be accepted by him but she is also very afraid of him because she sees him as an animal. He is unpredictable and of a different social class but she sees him as a challenge, which is how he sees her. They both hate each other, but at the same time they are attracted to each other. They hurt and insult each other every time they talk but neither of them stop talking to the other because of this undeniable attraction
The article I used compared Blanche and Stanley.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/bin/litcrit.out.pl?ti=str-927
From the article I found the complexity between the primitive and modern views Williams portrays in his novel A Streetcar Named Desire, between Stanley and Blanche to be very fascinating and decided to divulge further into these opposites. Stanley stands for the very basis of man he is categorized as common. In the core of everyman there is a primitive side which will forever stand the test of time. Contrastingly, Blanche is very materialistic and represents more of the modern side of society. Blanche’s character is attracted to the rough and rugged ways of Stanley. I believe this represents that Blanche in her time of need retreats to the basic needs that she feels which can be shown in Stanley’s character. Also, Stanley is not always perceptive to boundaries that are put up and if he is aware of these boundaries he does not care and oversteps them. This is exemplified when Stanley decided to stay in the room to talk to Blanche while she is dressing and getting ready for the day. This action is not regular during these times but Stanley doe not find anything wrong with it. Furthermore, Blanche is exceedingly occupied with what people think of her and how she looks. The contradiction between these two characters is also illustrated through the defensive mode Stanley takes against Blanche when she first comes and enters into their home. With his primitive characteristics it is natural for him to be weary of people that are different; Blanche is a model example of this. She comes into their home without him knowing and he views her as a threat to his family and himself. Thus his natural instincts kick in to investigate who she truly is and why she is there. These two characters are distinctly contrary to one another. Blanche lives in a very materialistic and ideal world, while Stanley lives with bare necessities.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6310948/Gender-Roles-in-A-Streetcar-Named-Desire
ReplyDeleteIn A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams the reader sees that the stereotypical roles of men and women are portrayed in the characters of Blanche, Stella, and Stanley. Stanley, being the lead male character, is dominant over both female identities because of his brute strength and animosity. Blanche fights for power using social class and sexuality as her weapons. This is an example of women having to compensate for their lack of physicality in comparison to males. The selected article not only supports this view, but states also that “empowerment and marginalization throughout history is based primarily on gender.” The prevalence of a dominant male character in A Streetcar Named Desire speaks to this theme. Stanley, though usually outnumbered by women, always finds a way to maintain his authority. When he feels he has lost this power he usually reacts with some sort of physical demonstration, such as a violent rage, which results in a reclaiming of his supremacy in the events proceeding. For the most part Stella, Stanley’s wife, is submissive to him. In the opening scene of the play Tennessee Williams has the character of Stella request she be allowed to follow Stanley to the bowling alley and watch him play. Thus, showing the dependency she has on him. She is unabashed by his rude and careless comments to her. However, she is upset by his crudeness towards her in public, yet Stanley pays no mind to her protests because he is the man and he feels he has the authority to decide what he will and won’t do to his wife. Blanche, on the other hand, tries to challenge the power Stanley holds. In this way she upsets the natural order of things. Blanche uses her social standing to try to intimidate Stanley and uses sexuality to try to tempt him. Stanley feels the tension Blanche brings to the house and is threatened by her. Once again he turns to his bestial strength for intimidation to keep himself in control. The gender roles in history seem to be harmonious with those same roles in A Streetcar Named Desire speaking to the validity of the masterful Tennessee Williams gender characterization.
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr&id=zX4hE7_w09IC&oi=fnd&pg=PA45&dq=Streetcar+Named+Desire+%22analysis%22&ots=ej7UHejSxl&sig=CvLyAw_9Axm3yxhSA5VPCjzCWIQ#v=onepage&q=Streetcar%20Named%20Desire%20%22analysis%22&f=false
ReplyDeleteThis is an online version of the book "The Cambridge companion to Tenesee Williams." I focused on pages 48- , specifically playing close attention to the description of Blanche.
It is stated that Williams was quick to introduce Blanche's character flaws, such as her drinking habits, her vanity, and her desire for companionship. Furthermore, the way in which Williams utilizes the scenery to enhance the actions and the characterization of the play is very interesting. Firstly, the collapsible bed that Blanche critisizes is ironic because it serves as a representation of Blanche herself. For she is worn down from the adversity of death she dealt with at Belle Reve and "past her prime" in the sense of dating or courting men. Also, the emphasis of the bathroom in Stella's apartment is interesting. The bathroom serves as a place of retreat and relaxation for Blanche. Her constant bathing is a way in which she deals with her exhaustion and functions as a sort of purification for her. Lighting is also used to cahracterize Blanche. She often finds the lighted areas to draw attention to herself. I believe this embodies her struggle of trying to find herself in the postwar era and after so many hardships. The characterization of Blanche in which Williams uses setting to emphasize her personality creates emotional descriptions and foreshadowing in A Streetcar Named Desire.
http://www.bu.edu/writingprogram/journal/issue-2/seigle/
ReplyDeleteThis article was written and published by Lauren Siegle, a student at Boston University studying in the Arts & Sciences program.
Siegle explores two different viewpoints on Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire”. I agree with the view that Tennessee Williams sympathizes with Blanche throughout the play and condemns society for her downfall. Williams uses his play to make a statement about society. Blanche’s weakness began with the loss of her husband, Allan Grey. Williams shows Blanche’s heartbreak openly and she receives pity from the reader. Some critics believe Williams condemns Blanch as a victim of rape and her promiscuity caused her to bring the act upon herself. I disagree. The dark mood of the rape scene does not support this theory. Blanche was not compliant with the rape and Williams does not approve of the act. Williams skillfully uses stage directions to foreshadow Stanley’s victimization of Blanche. Blanche is characterized as being mentally insecure. This is shown through her obvious need for attention and constant worry about her looks. Stanley’s characterization is also important. Stanley is bestial and rough. Studying both of these characters, we can see that Williams sympathizes with Blanche in the situation and Stanley could have raped any woman. The ending of the play is where Williams makes his big statement on society. All of the characters choose to ignore Blanche’s claim to rape and are indifferent. Instead of facing the issue, they would rather just ignore it and go on with their everyday lives. Williams condemns society for this kind of behavior.
My anaylsis was about violience of and individual and society, an I agree with it all the way. Stanely is a very violent person who, through his cruelty, ultimately leads Blanche to her psychological demise. He is like an animal in everything he does, and his viloence progressively increases, like a lion stalking its prey. When he gets to the point where he cannot tolerate Blanche's deception and illusions, he snaps and agressively rapes her.
ReplyDeleteOn the other side of violence, the society part, Stella and Stanley represent certain families in America, where the man is violent and dominant over the woman. Although his violence sometimes excites Stella, like at their wedding night, she is also upset about it and does not want to tolerate it. This shows the link between violence and passion and sex. This speaks to how some relationships actually are like this, where the woman has to deal with violence in her love relationship. Another thing that connects violence to society is how Blanche loses Belle Reve. This was a terrible experience and was very emotional for her. Lastly, the fact that Blanche's husband kills himself because society cannot accept the fact that he is gay.
"Last Stop: Blanche's Breakdown"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite/essays/street.html
I apologize, this article seemed to fit what I was looking for. Even though I already know people have used it.
The idea that Blanche and Stanley are opposing is completely right. I hadn't looked at it that way before. Blanche is also very torn on everything she wants in life. Plus, she is very conscious on her appearance. I also agree that it is not sexual tension between Blanche and Stanley. Power is key to both characters. Blanche tends to manipulate people in order to get her way. Whereas Stanley uses his big, manly power. I believe on a deeper level that Blanche does want someone like Stanley, to protect her. But on her conscious level she strongly dislikes him.
I found a really interesting article that compares "Death of a Salesman" and "A Streetcar Named Desire".
ReplyDeletehttp://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/american_literature_drama_cinema/13541/1
"A Desire That Transcends Death" by College of William and Mary English graduate Emily Woodward, examines both Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" and Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" and accents both plays interesting connection of tragedy and the way that both plays portray different spectrums of a run-down country. I found Woodwards ideas of the themes of death in each play to be interesting. Although Blanche and Willy are greatly different characters (one representing the surreal, the other the down-to-earth aspects of American tragedy) they both have their desires and deaths intertwined in their fated lives. Blanche's sexual desire corrupts her morality, she becomes weak, she becomes a damaged individual, suffering a crisis of maintaining what little humanity society has left her with. Her desire becomes her death. Similarly, Willy Loman's desperate attempt to be something he is not and his extreme desire to pursue the American Dream, not matter what the repercussions, causes him to also identify himself as a failure in society and desperate to maintain the little promise he has left for anything in this world. Willy, therefore becomes weak as well. Both Blanche and Willy represent the idea of tragedy, with both being seen as immoral and failures of society, which crushes them to a state where they cannot even deal with their own reality. However their tragic impact may contrast, between Blanche's cosmic tragedy and Willy's immediate (which Woodward also notes), the driving forces behind each play both contribute to the idea of American tragedy as a whole; somewhere that is so broken that society and the inevitable desire to be something or be someone you are not and to avoid reality altogether, is vividly apparent.
The article I found is actually an essay which analyzes why Blanche acts the way she does. I found it when I searched "female role" on Google.
ReplyDeletehttp://cscanada.net/index.php/css/article/viewFile/451/pdf_290
I read an article which gives an analysis of Blanche and why she does the things she does in the play called “Blanche’s Destruction: Feminist Analysis on A Streetcar Named Desire.” The article identified that Blanche is ruled by her sexual desire and her fantasies and that each of these comes from a deep notion that men solve all women’s problems (due to the patriarchal society of the day). I think each one of these makes sense because Blanche does use her sexual desire in order to make herself feel better and to find some support in her life. When she “turns the charm on,” Blanche gets a kind of euphoria knowing that she is pretty, but she also gets the satisfaction that the man to whom she has. It is sensible that she would get attention and care from men by placing them in situations to see her features like when she has Stanley button her dress or she deliberately flirts with him. This is all part of her scheme to get support and attention from men, no matter what kind. I also agree with the fact that her fantasies are used to “solve” her problems like when she tries to attract the love of Shep so he can give her money and diminish her lack of funds. Once again, she relies on a male character to give her support and fix her issues. This is also prevalent when she leaves her town because of her unclean past, one in which she sought the support and care of men to bring happiness. This article overall showed that women look to men for support and stability, using Blanche as a vehicle, in the play. I think that this idea is correct because it not only is common in the play, but it is also frequent in our world today. This is seen when women seem to always need to have boyfriend in their lives because they do not think that they can survive without one. The mindset of that day has not changed in this day. Therefore, if I can see the same need for male support in today’s society, it makes sense to me why the same idea would be seen in A Streetcar Named Desire.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehttp://research.cincinnatilibrary.org:2085/servlet/LitCrit?dd=0&locID=cinc37305&d1=CLCX_111_0010&srchtp=b&c=1&d7=421&docNum=FJ3529550010&b0=streetcar+named+desire&vrsn=1.0&srs=ALL&b1=NW&d3=1&ste=10&dc=tiPG&d4=0.33&stp=DateDescend&n=10&d5=d7&tiPG=0
ReplyDeleteI found an article in our public library's online literary criticism database.
The aspect of this article to which I chose to respond was the theme of the clash between social classes in Tennessee Williams' popular play "A Streetcar Named Desire." This clash between social classes is very prevalent in the play, especially manifested through the characters of Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski. Blanche represents the traditional, aristocratic Southern woman. She is portrayed as a fragile character who has fallen from her former position of power. Stanley, on the other hand, represents the modern, urban man during this time period. He is rough, crude, and strong, standing in direct contrast to the weak Blanche. Blanche is unable to stand up to Stanley, and is therefore 'crushed' by his power. According to the article, this crushing could represent the victory of modern, urban society over the traditional aristocratic lifestyle during this period. I thought that the viewpoint of this article was very interesting because I would probably not have thought of Blanche and Stanley as symbols for clashing social classes. I believe that Tennessee Williams used characterization to make societal statements about this time period.
"Last Stop: Blanche's Breakdown"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite/essays/street.html
I found this article quite interesting and I agree with it. The article dicusses the tension and actions between Stanley and Blanche. The focus point mainly delt with the sexual aspect between the two characters and their power collision. Stanley and Blanche are both power houses living under the same roof. One will ultimately be the victor while the other shall fall defeated. Stanley unravels Blanche's lies and fulfills her secret desire. Blanche felt that Stanley could fit the man who could protect her and would definantly not fall towards homosexuality. After the sex, Blanche becomes mentally and emotionally unstable and loses her dominance. On the other hand, Stanley is victories; however, he may have hurt his relationship with Stella do to having sex with Blanche and then denying it. The article also dicusses how the two characters are different and represent different lives of Stella. As stated, Blanche is her past, while Stanley is her present. Opposites do attract and Stanley and Blanche are a prime example of how two people repel and attract one another.
I found an article about Tennessee Williams and his work through the Scribner Writers Series in the media center. The characterization of Stanley as an insensitive brute who drives Blanche to destruction was extremely interesting to me. The article states that the rape of Blanche by Stanley symbolizes the ravishment of the delicate by the brutal forces of modern society. When I read this particular scene I agreed with Stanley in that all their previous encounters had been leading up to this. At the time I saw no further meaning, but now it makes more sense to me. Blanche stands for the aristocratic ideals of older times as a delicate, weak woman. Stanley is the strong, overwhelming modern society/ New Orleans that has dominated over the old way of life. The article also says that Blanche is destructive by complicating Stella’s marriage, but more importantly she is self destructive. Throughout the play Blanche unraveled, which can again be linked to the old aristocracy of the south. Plantations like Belle Reve were failing because of the changing times, like slavery being abolished and advances in technology.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite/essays/street.html
ReplyDeleteThis article interested me because it clearly illustrates a motif of Streetcar that I had never noticed before. In this article, Blanche is made to symbolize old fashioned ideals and "a dying aristocracy" while Stanley, being a Polish immigrant, represents a new era for America. Both Blanche's tragic, personal history and Stanley's present domination of her illustrate that the old-fashioned aristocracy is coming appart and cannot defend itself against the new age in America. I also found it interesting that the author of my article claimed that though this new age may have more physical power, it is still not truely superior to the aristocratic ideals. I feel that this interpretation must embody some of Tennessee Williams' opinions on immigration and new government.
I read the same article as many others did, but I found it very interesting.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite/essays/street.html
I agree with this article completely. I had never really thought of the conflicts between Blanche and Stanley being completely over power but after reading this article, it makes sense. Blanche is used to being able to easily manipulate people as she can with Mitch and the Young Man. Stanley is also used to manipulating people, but he only uses physical force. Since Blanche was hurt when she was younger by her husband who turned out to be a homosexual, she is attracted to Stanley, although she does not like him personally, who is pretty much the most heterosexual brute she's ever met. Stanley finds Blanche as a threat, especially relating to his relationship with Stella. Blanche represents Stella's past and he fears that Blanche is bringing back Stella's aristocratic prejudices. In the end, Stanley overcomes Blanche and regains power. He is able to deceive Stella and his friends. Stella believes Stanley so as not to deal with the emotional tragedy of facing the truth, especially with a baby coming. The conflict between Blanche and Stanley which ultimately leads to rape, is a conflict of power. Blanche represents a dying aristocracy and Stanley represents the immigrant class. I especially liked what the article said relating to human society, "each succeeding generation deceives itself into believing that it represents the pinnacle of human development: Surely another form of self-deception, this on a mass scale". I agree with this view of society and with the artcile as a whole.
http://www.suite101.com/content/blanche-du-bois-in-a-streetcar-named-desire-a98438
ReplyDelete"Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire" by Leigh Ivey, an English major from Centre College, elaborates on the "southern belle" quality that Blanche possessess throughout the play. In this article, Ivey defines a southern belle as one with a "flare for drama" and "overly-theatrical." She visits the idea of Blanche's line "The finer things in life must be held up like a flag." In this scene, Blanche is feverishly trying to persuade Stella to leave "that brute of a man." Ivey uses historical allusions to the civil war in that the conferderates were devistated with defeat and violence and that the south had much difficulty accepting the change. She compares this aspect to the southern belle-like characteristic of Blanche in the sense that Blanche has difficulty accepting Stanley's character and becomes overdramatic about the whole thing. While I agree with this concept for the most part, I feel that Blanche's personal past has some significance in the way she behaves around Stella and Stanley. I feel that Blanche sees a similarity between Stella and Stanley's relationship to the one she once endured. Blinded by sheer love, Blanche dove into an unhealthy marriage, much like Stella and Stanley's. Completely hypnotized through desire, both women lose themselves within their man and are blinded to the realities of life; Stella being blind to the history of Blanche in Laurel and Blanche to the true feelings of her once young husband. In my opinion, I feel that Blanche, in some subconscious way, may be trying to prevent her sister from living an unhealthy relationship such as the one she once lived.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6310948/Gender-Roles-in-A-Streetcar-Named-Desire
ReplyDeleteThis essay talks about control issues between Blanche and Stanley. Stanley controls through his physicality. He must control through physically harming and disrupting the nature around him. He feels threatened when Blanche, a Southern artistocrat, enters his life. He becomes even more violent and constantly acts childish for control. Blanche struggles for control too. She controls through her sexuality, words, and touch. Through her words, she controls Mitch and tries to control Stanley and Stella. She tries to use her sexuality, lost with age, but does not succeed. As a last resort, discovered through watching the movie, she touches to gain control. She touches Stella, her face, and when she tries to step out of her boundaries to control Stanely, he overpowers her and wins. Just like a brute!
I also read this article over the relationship between Stanley and Blanche. http://www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite/essays/street.html
ReplyDeleteThe author addresses that they are both victims of desire and are as well desired. I agree with the author's idea that Blanche is conflicted with facing reality and chooses to live in illusion. I believe her ultimate desire is to live in her illusions, and to accept them wholely as her personal truth (although they are in actuallity lies). It is also mentioned in this article that Stanley is only able to survive as the "victor" via his physical stature, and that he really isn't entirely honest as he claims himself to be. He deceives Stella and others of his night with Blanche, and therefore it seems he must have his own guilty conscience that he does not want to come to terms with. Blanche on the otherhand, is much more vunerable due to her years of repression and being taken advantage of, and the author mentions that this all began with her love from her youth. In her young relationship she was deceived that she had found perfection, and the startling revalation of it's falsehood struck Blanche to the core.
The author also mentions that Stanley acts in accordance to his desire to remain in control of his household, and I believe that in some twisted way he saw his actions as a reasonable solution to maintaining dominance. While the author addresses that the power of southern aristocracy was dying out, I believe as well that the statement on this part of society was that for those who live lives of luxury, there is only the possibility of what is of current, in their minds. I think that the author of the article's interpretation of the rising proletariat as being more crude is an interesting point, in that it shows that Arthur Miller was attempting to reveal the faults of American Society in general not just one class.
Well, I really struggled finding a good article that wasn't on Sparknotes or something like that, so I borrowed Jason's article
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ayjw.org/articles.php?id=618557
This article shed a new light on an important quote in the play: "They told me to take a streetcar named Dersire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ridesix blocks and get off at Elysians Fields." The author of this aticle expertly pointed out how this quote describes Blanche's sexual desire and how it causes her social death and expulsion/ wandering through life. I reallyyy enjoyed how this article highlighted the dependence of Southern women on men and the shift of the Old South to the New. "In the Old South, women depended on men for comfort and status. As the New South becomes a reality, women's dependence on men shifts to a sexual requirement." Stella makes this clear when she jumps back into the arms of Stanley and starts swapping spit with him right after they got into a fight. This observation made me realize how generation-friendly this play is, because we see this same behavior in women today; sex has become so previlent in the lives of young men and women, causing adolescents to commit acts their parents couldn't have even imagined. I agree with the author that the Southern aristocracy struggles with the American working class and immigrants throughout the play, proving to be a major theme. An example of this is definitely Blanche's prejudice against Stanley. One idea of the author that I thought was kind of a stretch was her opinion that Blanche takes long baths as a symbol of "cleansing her past." I believe that Blanche just took these to look fresh and young as long as possible. I think she understands that her past will always haunt her. It's clear her past will always haunt her through her fear of the light, the ligth representing reality, fading beauty, and a fate Blnach doesn't want to accept.
http://www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite/essays/street.html
ReplyDeleteI found an article titled "Last Stop: Blanche's Breakdown" by Shirley Galloway. This article discusses the sexual tension between Blanche and Stanley, which climaxes in scene ten where they do "make love". Through out the play the attraction to one another is evident especially in scene two. When Stanley and Blanche are discussing Belle Reve and her past there are small clues. In a sense Blanche is flirting with him the entire time when she is in "the present". Also, Stanley, with his animal like nature, shows signs of aggression and forcefulness which can be sexual in nature. Overall, I do not find it surprising that these two characters make love; rather I find it logical and predictable.