Reader Response: A Streetcar Named Desire

Reader Response- “Streetcar Named Desire” Stella Kowalski is one of the main characters in the Tennessee William’s, “ A Streetcar Named Desire”. She is presented as a woman who has an older sister Blanch and a husband named Stanley. She is often overlooked in the play because of her husband Stanley and her sister Blanche are much more dynamic. However, Stella plays an important role that without her, Stanley and Blanche who are considered, as two major characters of the play throughout the story would have no reason to have made contact and fight. At first it seems like Stella actually has some power over her husband Stanley when she says, “Don’t holler at me like that. Hi, Mitch”(1166), toward his husband at the very beginning of the story. However, when Stanley shows his disrespectful attitude and throws the meat to her, it is predictable that she is not truly being respected and has no control in their relationship. And she always tries to understand whatever her husband does and just ends up following whatever he wants her to do. Having no control of his husband seems apparent when she says, “Yes, you are, Blanche. I know… but it wasn’t anything as serious as you seem to take it. In the first place, when men are drinking and playing poker anything can happen…” where she easily admits what happened to her even if she was hurt by her husband. Stella seems to be the caring one especially towards her sister Blanche, as the scene passes. The way she talks and behaves to her sister shows how much she cares about Blanche. When Stella says, “And try to understand her and be nice to her, Stan” (1177) to her husband, the reader can see that she is willing everyone around her to treat her nice like she does. Stella again says to Stanley and Eunice, “And admire her dress and tell her she’s looking wonderful. That’s important with Blanche. Her little weakness!” and “Tell her how well she’s looking”. The two quotations show that Stella is being considerate towards