Streetcar Named Desire

Drama is a very interesting form of literary work, which can be read as a story and used in stage show performance. When a reader reads and examine a play, they will find that the plot has linear unfolding from scene to scene. Also, there will be various types of characters with different types of personalities and behavior such as the protagonist and antagonist. The play, A StreetCar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, shows characteristics of protagonist and antagonist. This play is about a woman named Blanche DuBois, who moves with her sister, Stella Kowalski, and her husband, Stanley Kowalski, in New Orleans. Blanche's flirtatious behavior causes a lot of problems in Stella and Stanley life. Stanley and Blanche display qualities of antagonists
He provided the evidence from the play to prove argument. Brooks stated, “she also keeps him from his brand of sexual intimacy with Stella…he demonstrates determination to get rid of Blanche and regain his position of control… He smashes it, then belts his wife when she confronts him” (179). This statement is referring to Stanley’s frustration which provoked his abusive nature when he was drunk. Blanche presences also interfere in their sexual life and that is one reason he wants her to leave his place. He also state that on the poker night, Stanley’s became angrier and he ended up beating her because she told everyone to leave the place since it too late. He was violent toward his pregnant wife and didn’t realize that he could have hurt his unborn baby. The movie A StreeCar Named Desire also gives great visual presentation of the play which helps reader to understand it better. Nina C. Leibman, Cinema Journal writer, focuses on some Hollywood's films which dealing with female mental illness. Leibman writes, “Blanche’s breakdown occurs as a result of Stanley’s rape – a rape which on a closer reading is presented as a seduction” (34). This statement proves that Stanley abuse Blanche physically, he rape her in absence of Stella. He wanted to break her down because she criticized him by comparing to animal. Basically,
He doesn’t trust her at all and secretly investigate her past to prove that she is trying hiding something from everyone. Based on the Stanley’s conversation with Blanche, he told her, “There is such a thing in this state of Louisiana as the Napoleonic code, according to which whatever belongs to my wife is also mine—and vice versa” (Williams 2200). According to this conversation, he was trying to find out what actually happen to plantation in Belle Reve. He didn’t believe when she said, she lost it. He also had doubt on his mind that she sold everything and don’t want to give Stella her share. He reminds her of the Napoleonic code which states that any property that belongs to his wife is also consider his. He also investigate Blanche’s her suitcase to prove that she sold the plantation and spent all the money on herself. Leibman writes, “The fact that we learn of her digressions second-hand presents her in a less sympathetic light than were we to witness the actual events through Blanche’s point of view. Instead, the facts and castigation are expressed as one, via the judgmental Stanley” (30). This statement shows that everyone learned about Blanche past because of his investigation. He learns about her past through few different people and shared it with Stella and Mitch. Stanley’s male ego and greed of regaining the power of his house provoked him to inspect her past.