Essay, Research Paper
The Characters of A Streetcar Named Desire
Tennessee Williams gives insight into three ordinary lives in his play, A Streetcar Named Desire which is set in the post world war 2 era, in New Orleans. The main characters in the play are Blanche, Stanley, and Stella. All three of these characters suffer from personalities that differentiate each of them to great extremes. Stanley and Stella are form the city and Blanch is from the country. Their lifestyles are quite different. Because of these dramatic contrarieties in attitudes, there are mounting conflicts between the characters throughout the play. The principal conflict lies between Blanche and Stanley, due to their conflicting ideals of happiness and the way things “ought to be”.
Williams begins by introducing you to the happy couple, Stanley and Stella Kowalski. The two live in a run-down part of New Orleans, but are content in their surroundings and their lifestyle. Stanley Kowalski is the son of a Polish immigrant who strongly believes in the role of a man in his own household. The man works and the woman is supposed to cook, clean, and take care of other house-hold chores. One may perceive him as being unrefined and rude, due to his blunt nature, but to himself and Stella, it is just his practical attitude towards life. Evident, through his interaction and dialogue with Stella and other characters, is his need to prove his masculinity by being dominant and imposing.
In contrast, Stella is overly mild-tempered and always striving to please. Generally, she is able to adapt to all situations. This ability to adapt proves to be useful, as both her husband and her sister, Blanche, have such strong personalities. From the beginning, it is apparent that Stella often plays the peacemaker. She is able to foresee that Stanley and her visiting sister would clash. In hopes of avoiding any confrontation, she warns them both to be on their best behavior. Stella is soft-spoken, speaking only when it is needed, and expressing her grief only when it overwhelms her, whereas Blanche is the opposite: an outspoken woman, with many opinions.
Superficial is the first impression that Blanche gives when she enters the play. Consumed by appearance and face value, she is unable to see that Stella’s new lifestyle is not as horrid as she imagines. In comparison to Belle Reeve, it is true that these New Orleans slums may not meet Dubois standards, but Blanche is unable to see beyond the way things appear in order to realize that Stella’s world does not revolve around material items. This flaw is intertwined with her vanity and the need keep up appearances.
On the surface, Blanche appears to be snobbish and conceited. She comes to visit Stella with a trunk full of decorative dresses and fancy jewels, and although it was obvious that these items are superfluous in Stella and Stanley’s lifestyle, she parades them about as if to show her true importance and beauty. When more thought is dispenses on this matter, there lies the question of whether Blanche is as confident in herself and her beauty as she seems. Surely, when one is as confident as Blanche seems, it is not necessary to fish for compliments from others. Nor is it necessary to worry, as much as she does, about what others think. Blanche was never sincerely confident. She was a young girl trapped in a woman’s body. Her youthful insecurities lingered with her as she matured physically, but her mind is still that of a young girl.
From the beginning, it is clear that Stanley and Blanche have irreconcilable differences. Their confrontation is inevitable. The two characters are very much alike, but to opposite extremes. Both are stubborn and imposing, but the attitudes behind these traits are emphatically different. Blanche puts in great efforts to “save” Stella from what she sees as a horrible life with the drunken tyrant, Stanley. Stella’s view on her life with Stanley is a picture of a typical, loving and somewhat thrilling relationship. Stanley sees his life as perfectly satisfying, maintaining a steady job, friends who appreciate him, and control over a wife whom he does love, although he occasionally loses control of his temper.
Because Blanche and Stanley are so dominant, it was impossible for them both to stay in such proximity to one another and not get in each other’s way. Both were fighting for their own cause, trying to justify themselves and destroy each other. It seemed as if they were both concerned for Stella’s well-being, but inwardly both were fighting for the pride of the lifestyle they maintained, or in Blanche’s case, the lifestyle she once had, and longs to have once again.
Through many mind games Stanley and Blanch characters combat each other and Stella is stuck playing the mediator. But in the end Stanly wins and Blanch is sent away to the asylum.
The characters in this play are quite intriguing. Wither it is Stanley as the dominant male, or Stella as the peace maker, or even Blanch’s desire to appear wholesome and youthful. Their ideals differ greatly and that is what makes this an interesting play.
Другие работы по теме:
StreetcarVirginia Woolf Essay Research Paper In both
Streetcar/Virginia Woolf Essay, Research Paper In both, Who s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and A Streetcar name Desire , the roles of sex and power are of paramount importance and are a constant feature throughout the play. The emergence of certain characters from these two plays are emphasised by the way they portray sex and power.
Streetcar Named Desire 2 Essay Research Paper
The main character, Blanche from the play A Streetcar Named Desire witnesses many tragedies. These incidents are forever etched in her memory. She comes to stay with her sister Stella thinking she is running away from her past but instead her past catches up with her and from depression gradually turns insane.
Tennesse Williams
’s Autobiographical Plays Essay, Research Paper Tennessee Williams incorporates numerous aspects of his life in his plays; The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire illustrate these autobiographical tendencies. He once said, “My work is emotionally autobiographical. It has no relationship to the actual events of my life, but it reflects the emotional currents of my life” .
Expository Essay On
‘A Street Car Named Desire’ Essay, Research Paper A Streetcar Named Desire By: Tennessee Williams One of the main themes expressed by Tennessee Williams in his play, A Streetcar Named Desire, is to condemn those who display cruelty and harshness in their treatment of others, especially those who are weak and vulnerable.
A Streetcar Essay Research Paper Directing ConceptTennessee
A Streetcar Essay, Research Paper Directing Concept: Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire brings reality to a woman in desperate need of attention. In the production that this design team will put together from the lights to the set will be created a colorful outlook on life from the view of Blanche DuBois.
Symbolism In A Streetcar Named Desire And
Long Day Essay, Research Paper Symbolism This essay will put Eugene O’Neill’s, Long Day’s Journey into Night, and Tennessee William’s, A Streetcar Named Desire into perspective with the symbols that are used. The significance of the title Long Day’s Journey into Night presents the universal symbols of day and night or light and dark.
Stellar Stella Essay Research Paper Stellar StellaAfter
Stellar Stella Essay, Research Paper Stellar Stella After the reading of a play entitled A Streetcar Named Desire, written by Tennessee Williams, there was quite a discussion on what women thought of as the ideal man. Was Stanley Kawalski the type of guy women secretly yearned for their whole lives? Although many responses came up, a few questions were not mentioned: What makes the ideal woman? What is it that attracts men to women? Stanley Kawalski may be the ideal ?macho? man, but what about his wife, Stella? Upon closer investigation, I have concluded that indeed Stella is the ideal woman.
The Tragic Character Of Blanche Dubois Essay
, Research Paper A Streetcar Named Desire To state the obvious, a tragic agent is one that is the subject of a tragic event or happening. In A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche Dubois is this agent. She experiences numerous things, and has certain dynamics that solidify her tragic elements. Many essayists describe these elements and they give clear conceptions of her tragic nature.
Critisism Of Tennesse Williams Essay Research Paper
Tennessee Williams plays were influenced by the events of his life, which include his illness, his sister s breakdown, his family relations, his reaction to fame, and also his relationships with men and women. The personal events that took place in his life were depicted in his setting, events, themes, and characterization in his plays.
Streetcar Named Desire Essay Research Paper It
Streetcar Named Desire Essay, Research Paper It is the complexity of the main characters and their interactions that make A Streetcar Named Desire such a successful and challenging play.
Streetcar Named Desire Essay Research Paper A
Streetcar Named Desire Essay, Research Paper A Streetcar Named Desire What do you call a drama that threads together all the aspects needed to create a masterpiece of literature? It is a play entitled A Streetcar Named Desire. In this drama each actor conveys a story about life, emotion and circumstance that weaves the play together.
The Real Blanche DuBois Essay Research Paper
The moment Blanche DuBois, Tennessee William?s central character in A Streetcar Named Desire, enters the small New Orleans apartment that Stanley and Stella Kowalski share, one can sense exactly what Blanche is, or at least what she chooses to be. In appearance, she is a glamorous, ladylike aristocrat, who is perhaps slightly nervous.
A Streetcar Named Desire Themes Essay Research
Paper March 26, 2000 A Streetcar Named Desire: Themes The main theme of A Streetcar Named Desire is that reflected in the characters of Blanche and Stanley. The author presents the conflict between Blanche and Stanley as well as its inevitable conclusion, to criticize the extremes people envision when they consider love.
Street Car Named Desire 2 Essay Research
Paper Street Car Named Desire Essay Our lives are consumed by the past. The past of what we once did, what we once accomplished, and what we once could call our own. As we look back on these past memories we seldom realize the impact these events have on our present lives. The loss of a past love mars are future relationships, the loss of our family influences the choices we make today, and the loss of our dignity can confuse the life we live in the present.
A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Research Paper
The Realistic View-Point of A Streetcar Named Desire Through out the twentieth century, many great writers have come along and altered the public?s thoughts of normality, and in many cases shocked their audiences by
A Streetcar Named Desire As Related To
Setiing Essay, Research Paper A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams uses setting to illustrate various themes and messages as they pertain to the events of the play. The setting plays a crucial role in the story line and the outcome of the play.
Comparing A Streetcar Named Desire
And The Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menageries were written by Tennessee William in the late Thirties, where the depression made countless of people struggled in poverty. Both of the plays used the typical American family during the Thirties as the background setting.
Streetcar Essay Research Paper A Streetcar Named
Streetcar Essay, Research Paper A Streetcar Named Desire In the play A Streetcar Named Desire , Tennessee Williams uses his brilliant writing to bring life to his characters in the story. I will be composing a character sketch on Stanley, one of the main actors in the play. I will focus on evaluating Stanley s ever-changing character traits in the role he plays.
Tennessee Williams Essay Research Paper Adcock 1Tennessee
Tennessee Williams Essay, Research Paper Adcock 1 Tennessee Williams, an American playwright, has been known as the most prominent American southern dramatist. He won his first Pulitzer Prize with Streetcar Named Desire. In this play, Williams shows the need for belief in human value against the natural realistic world.
Streetcar Named Desire Essay Research Paper Analyzing
Streetcar Named Desire Essay, Research Paper Analyzing A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams?, A Streetcar Named Desire is considered by most people to be his most flawless masterpiece. This is because Williams work blends both tragic and comic elements together. He shows the true nature of the hero and doesn?t let the reader judge the characters based on one single action.
Literature Essay- A StreetCar Named Desire By
Tennessee Willi Essay, Research Paper Junior English Midterm ?Literature Essay ?A Street Car Named Desire? by Tennessee Williams Q: Discuss the theme of reality vs. illusion as it applies to this play.
Reality And Illusion In A Streetcar Named
Desire Essay, Research Paper Reality Defined Every human being has a vision of a perfect life. If they did not it would be somewhat immortal. So does Blanche the main character of A Streetcar Named Desire. The only difference is Blanche has sunken to the greatest depths of her illusion and isn t willing to except the reality of her life.
Street Car Named Desire Essay Research Paper
Tennessee William’s novel, A Streetcar Named Desire, is the story of the brutish Stanley Kowalski and his meek wife Stella, a New Orleans couple whose lives are turned upside down with the arrival of Stella’s neurotic, Southern belle sister Blanche who is immediately drawn into a battle of wills with Stanley.
Streetcar Named Desire Essay Research Paper Streetcar
Streetcar Named Desire Essay, Research Paper Streetcar Named Desire In the play, Streetcar Named Desire, the author shows two different characters, who try to conceal from their true needs through hiding and fantasizing about their own way of desire. Particularly, Stella DuBois Kowalskis, who is in the middle of every conflict in the play, is doomed from using temporary solution.
Farenheit 451 Essay Research Paper David Finch
Farenheit 451 Essay, Research Paper David Finch August 30, 1996 Civics Essay Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 forces us to envision a world that is so structured and censored fireman exist not to fight fires ,for all buildings are fireproof, but instead to burn books.
The Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper Tennessee
Williams? The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams is one the major writers of the mid-twentieth century. He has written plays like The Glass Managerie and A Streetcar Named Desire. The common theme of The Glass Menagerie is that hopeful aspirations are followed by inevitable disappointments. This theme is common throughout all of Williams? books and throughout his own life as well.
Scoop Essay Research Paper Tennessee Williams 1911
Scoop Essay, Research Paper Tennessee Williams (1911 ? 1983) Thomas Lanier Williams was born on March 26, 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi. The second of three children, his family life was full of tension. His parents, a shoe salesman and the daughter of a minister, often engaged in violent arguments that frightened his sister Rose.
Illusion And Reality In A Streetcar Named
Desire Essay, Research Paper #6 – Illusion and Reality Is illusion necessary to life? Discuss the role of illusion in the play. I believe that illusion is not necessary to everyone?s life but rather it helps them to avoid the harsh realities that they may have to deal with in their lives. I also believe that a major theme of this play was how our lives can often experience a fierce battle between these illusions.
Apparent Mental Illness In A S Essay
, Research Paper In the time that Tennessee Williams’ Streetcar Named Desire transpires, depression is not recognized as a valid mental illness. People that were depressed, or suffered from various other chemical imbalances were called crazy and carted off to insane asylums by friendly strangers. Depression is now recognized as a valid mental illness worldwide, for the most part in countries that are developed.