The Conflict Between Stanley & Blanche in a Streetcar Named Desire
"A Streetcar Named Desire works as a drama because of the
conflicts between Stanley and Blanche." Discuss.
The themes of A streetcar Named Desire are mainly built on conflict, the conflicts between men and women, the conflicts of race, class and attitude to life, and these are especially embodied in Stanley and Blanche. Even in Blanche's own mind there are conflicts of truth and lies, reality and illusion, and by the end of the play, most of these conflicts have been resolved.
At the beginning of the play, there is an equilibrium, Stanley and Stella have been living happily together in Elysian Fields, however the arrival of Blanche acts as a catalyst and immediately she begins to challenge their way of life with her values.
Blanche represents the Old American South, she was well educated, appreciates poetry and music, but The South is never glorified in the play, Blanche recollects the poverty and squalor of death there, "Funerals are pretty compared to death".
However the society that was insistent on cultural values, on beauty and loyalty is portrayed through Blanche's behaviour, and in her expectancy of others, "I guess ... I have - old fashioned ideals!"
In contrast Stanley represents the immigrant New American, he is "proud as hell" of being "one hundred per cent American", and can see no place for the old order of the Southern aristocracy who are incapable of holding on to their inherited wealth.
Stanley also represents the primitive side of man, and Blanche sees this, she describes him with insight in her speech in Scene Four, "Stanley Kowalski - survivor of the Stone Age!"
Stanley is very male in the sense that he feels men should be superior to women in every way. 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
conflicts between Stanley and Blanche." Discuss.
The themes of A streetcar Named Desire are mainly built on conflict, the conflicts between men and women, the conflicts of race, class and attitude to life, and these are especially embodied in Stanley and Blanche. Even in Blanche's own mind there are conflicts of truth and lies, reality and illusion, and by the end of the play, most of these conflicts have been resolved.
At the beginning of the play, there is an equilibrium, Stanley and Stella have been living happily together in Elysian Fields, however the arrival of Blanche acts as a catalyst and immediately she begins to challenge their way of life with her values.
Blanche represents the Old American South, she was well educated, appreciates poetry and music, but The South is never glorified in the play, Blanche recollects the poverty and squalor of death there, "Funerals are pretty compared to death".
However the society that was insistent on cultural values, on beauty and loyalty is portrayed through Blanche's behaviour, and in her expectancy of others, "I guess ... I have - old fashioned ideals!"
In contrast Stanley represents the immigrant New American, he is "proud as hell" of being "one hundred per cent American", and can see no place for the old order of the Southern aristocracy who are incapable of holding on to their inherited wealth.
Stanley also represents the primitive side of man, and Blanche sees this, she describes him with insight in her speech in Scene Four, "Stanley Kowalski - survivor of the Stone Age!"
Stanley is very male in the sense that he feels men should be superior to women in every way. 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